Chapter 7

History, Profiles &

Interviews

Ultimate is a global sport played in over forty countries. Ultimate started as a simple game with no referees that relied upon spirit and sportsmanship among its competitors. In thirty years, the sport has grown in prominence and stature all over the globe while staying in touch with its innocent roots. Ultimate is now played throughout the world at casual pickup games to world-class champion-ships.

Discs were first thrown in the late 1800’s when New England college students hurled baking dishes from the Frisbie Baking Company of Connecticut. Discs be-came part of popular culture with Wham-O’s discs in the mid 1960’s. Ultimate followed a few years later when Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey began playing a form of field disc 1967. Joel Silver started the first team and played the first official game in 1968 in New Jersey.

Graduates of the Columbia High School team developed college teams. In 1972, Rutgers and Princeton played the first collegiate game. The first official tournament was held in 1975 at Yale with eight teams participating. This tournament was expanded and renamed the National Ultimate Championships. The tournament used spirit of the game to allow the players to self-referee. Rutgers dominated the first few years of the tournament. The Santa Barbara Condors won the tournament in 1977, proving that ultimate was a mainstay on both coasts. In 1979, the Ultimate Players Association (UPA) was formed with Tom Kennedy becoming the first director. This same year, the first UPA Nationals were held in Pennsylvania. Two years later, a women’s division was added to UPA Nationals. Ultimate leagues began springing up in cities and colleges throughout the US.

Ultimate spread as a global sport with players from all over the world participating. In 1980, the first European Ultimate Championships were held in Paris. Three years later, the first World Championships were held in Sweden with teams from Europe and the United States participating in this historic event. A year later, Japan participated in the World Championships; cementing ultimate’s global trend. Also in 1984, the first UPA College Nationals were held; three years later the women’s division was added. College ultimate has grown tremendously in the United States and has become very important for the sport’s growth and level of ability.

Ultimate has risen in stature with the emergence of teams that push the games limits and boundaries. New York New York dominated men’s ultimate during the early 1990’s, elevating the sport to a new level with athleticism and team strategy. On New York’s heels, Boston’s Death or Glory again raised the level of play with their dominance in the late 90’s. The Lady Condors elevated the women’s game during the 1980’s, winning numerous World and National Championships. Boston’s Lady Godiva has established a new threshold of how to play the game with their athleticism, disc skills and execution. These teams have inspired players across the globe to perform better and take the game to new heights.

Tremendous strides have been taken since its humble beginnings. Tournaments all over the world still rely upon spirit of the game, bringing players to judge their own actions, balancing competition with fairness. Ultimate has not achieved huge commercial success, which causes many to raise questions about the sport’s stature. Yet, ultimate has persevered, continuing to grow and evolve as an exciting and fun sport. Players from high school students to executives all over this world play this sport. Many more will learn and teach this sport as its appeal increases. As strikes, scandals and allegations mar many sports, ultimate has remained with its roots, playing with spirit and for the enjoyment of the game.