A disc, a field, and eight cones. They can capture the imagination of all ages.
Entering the Chinese mainland nearly a decade ago, Ultimate Frisbee is fast becoming a big hit. A growing number of players gather at the Peking University every Saturday to indulge in its thrills.
For players in the Beijing Ultimate Frisbee, the "ultimate" is no longer a leisurely toss across the beach, but more of a competitive sport. It has graduated from a robust and entertaining beach activity to a highly competitive sport, over the past few years.
"It is really taking off," says 30-year-old Zhao Bin who has been playing since the age of 23. "It's a simple sport to get into. Unlike most other sports, it only requires a disc and space."
Ultimate Frisbee is a team sport played with a flying disc. It is unique in that players are responsible for making their own calls, and working out all disputed calls with each other. In order to make it work, players must respect one another and the calls they make. This respect is referred to as the "spirit of the game".
The code places the responsibility for fair play on the participants themselves. The most serious violation is contact. There are a variety of minor infringements, but contact between players is the big one.
Some might find it hard to believe, but the sport's system of self-refereeing works beautifully, says Zhao.
The spirit in which the game is played pervades all levels - from national to world championships.
"The spirit of the game at lower levels is of helping one another to learn the game, and be a little more accepting. At higher levels, it's more about respecting your opponent and taking responsibility to know the rules," says Wang Lei, a 20-year-old who joined the club two years ago.
The top players may be very competitive, but they still manage to keep the flag of sportsmanship flying high. If someone commits a foul, he will admit it, something that is rarely found among soccer or basketball players. Opponents continuously praise each other during a game of great passes.
"You are substituting all the time, otherwise you are going to die," chuckles Wang. "It's very tiring, and you need to be fit to play competitively."
The play area spans 70 meters, exclusive of the goal zones at either end, in which an opposing player has to be standing in order to catch a disc to score. The players are running all the time, except for the player holding the disc, as he has to remain stationary while he throws. A game runs for 90 minutes or until the first team scores 15 points.
Another unusual element is the equality of the sexes. Men and women play together on the same team, as the most important skills are good reflexes and coordination, which are common to both genders.
Zhang Xiaofei, a keen female player for many years, believes that "Ultimate Frisbee is by far the most graceful of competitive sports."
"There is a lot of mental activity in the game. One has to read not only what your teammates are doing and thinking but also the strength and changing directions of the wind."
For more information visit www.beijingultimate.com or call Hai Min at 1391-123-9781 to register
