Should Ultimate Frisbee be an NCAA Sport

2009-10-12T21:33:45-04:00

2008-05-22T13:01:36-04:00

2008-09-10T06:40:35-04:00

2009-10-12T21:33:45-04:00

jerryakaj

Garland 888587

7 Yes it should be. If you say that it shouldn't your just letting ignorance block your opinion of it, or you haven't played it. So as it is said "don't judge a book by it cover." 7224076

2009-06-23T02:33:57-04:00

ethanque

Golden 798467

6 I think that it definitely ought to be. The only differences that set it apart from baseball, football, soccer, etc. are 1) that it hasn't been around long enough to gain popularity and 2) the rules and calling fouls are so dependent on the honesty and spirit of the players. So, 1) Looking at the tremendous growth in Ultimate's following and participation, I think that at least eventually it WILL become an NCAA sport. Perhap's in 10 years, perhaps in 50 years, who knows??? 2) Rules like the stall count rule (in which the defender must count ten seconds out loud during which the handler must throw the disc) are so difficult to govern without officials like in football. I can't see the NCAA letting Ultimate become an official sport if so much of the game depends on the player's honesty and accountability. Other than that second problem I see no reason why people think Ultimate is any less of a sport than football or soccer. 5836174

2009-01-16T12:23:34-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/574/125/thumb/Ghinea_Pirate.bmp 96 AZ

RonMex4Prez

Phoenix 574605

4 I guess based on comments the only people that posted are into this sport. As a total outsider I will go out on a limb and say HELL NO! They should only make this lame lawn game a sport if they also are going to allow crochet and lawn darts also. That being said it might be acceptable for the women only. They need the scholarships and plus watching college girls run at least has some entertainment value. 4013091

2009-03-17T20:57:56-04:00

Jeff Moore

Glenshaw 739694

I guess based on comments the only people that posted are into this sport. As a total outsider I will go out on a limb and say HELL NO! They should only make this lame lawn game a sport if they also are going to allow crochet and lawn darts also. That being said it might be acceptable for the women only. They need the scholarships and plus watching college girls run at least has some entertainment value. Crochet or Lawn darts? I play ultimate and I'm guessing me or even some of the most unathletic ultimate frisbee players could run your ass in the the ground. Unlike baseball it takes athletic skill.

5 RonMex4Prez says "I guess based on comments the only people that posted are into this sport. As a total outsider I will go out on a limb and say HELL NO! They should only make this lame lawn game a sport if they also are going to allow crochet and lawn darts also. That being said it might be acceptable for the women only. They need the scholarships and plus watching college girls run at least has some entertainment value." Crochet or Lawn darts? I play ultimate and I'm guessing me or even some of the most unathletic ultimate frisbee players could run your ass in the the ground. Unlike baseball it takes athletic skill. 4718297

2009-01-16T12:23:34-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/574/125/thumb/Ghinea_Pirate.bmp 96 AZ

RonMex4Prez

Phoenix 574605

2009-01-14T04:42:55-05:00

osds

No City 663782

3 In response to TM Chill's post: "how do you recruit these players before they get on campus[?]" While a major part of Ultimate's appeal is the ability for someone without experience to join a team and--granted you can learn quickly and have good athletic sense--to compete at a high level, most competitive teams do make an effort to recruit promising high school players. "Do you have a men's team and a women's team, or do you make three teams; men's, women's, and co-ed?" Co-ed (mixed) Ultimate typically isn't played during the college season, but rather as a club sport over the Summer. As far as the drug comment goes, you might be surprised by the number of serious athletes in Ultimate programs who don't fit the stoner/hippie archetype. I can't say that there aren't some of those guys, too, but Ultimate is attracting more serious athletes, and the overall level of play is certainly comparable to other collegiate sports. "Who do you get to coach the teams? You can't have player-coaches in the NCAA." Ultimate teams have captains, but not player-coaches. Coaches are hired by teams with funds either from the university or player dues. As it is now, Fall and Winter are preparation for the Spring season, when competition and results count. I don't think the season would have to change at all. Ultimate is very much an all-weather sport, so inclement weather wouldn't affect the season. I think Ultimate could become a sport that universities wouldn't be ashamed to be represented by. Given more resources and attention, I can imagine an Ultimate crowd packing a stadium. It's an exciting sport to watch, once you set aside the "hippies throwing frisbees" stereotype. All that said, I'm not sure a lot of Ultimate players would take to the idea of NCAA inclusion. Much of the appeal of the game comes from the friendly, personal, do-it-yourself attitude of the Ultimate community. Still, I've always wanted to play under the lights in a football stadium. 3975520

2009-01-14T04:42:26-05:00

osds

No City 663782

2 In response to TM Chill's post: "how do you recruit these players before they get on campus[?]" While a major part of Ultimate's appeal is the ability for someone without experience to join a team and--granted you can learn quickly and have good athletic sense--to compete at a high level, most competitive teams do make an effort to recruit promising high school players. "Do you have a men's team and a women's team, or do you make three teams; men's, women's, and co-ed?" Co-ed (mixed) Ultimate typically isn't played during the college season, but rather as a club sport over the Summer. As far as the drug comment goes, you might be surprised by the number of serious athletes in Ultimate programs who don't fit the stoner/hippie archetype. I can't say that there aren't some of those guys, too, but Ultimate is attracting more serious athletes, and the overall level of play is certainly comparable to other collegiate sports. "Who do you get to coach the teams? You can't have player-coaches in the NCAA." Ultimate teams have captains, but not player-coaches. Coaches are hired by teams with funds either from the university or player dues. As it is now, Fall and Winter are preparation for the Spring season, when competition and results count. I don't think the season would have to change at all. Ultimate is very much an all-weather sport, so inclement weather wouldn't affect the season. I think Ultimate could become a sport that universities wouldn't be ashamed to be represented by. Given more resources and attention, I can imagine an Ultimate crowd packing a stadium. It's an exciting sport to watch, once you set aside the "hippies throwing frisbees" stereotype. All that said, I'm not sure a lot of Ultimate players would take to the idea of NCAA inclusion. Much of the appeal of the game comes from the friendly, personal, do-it-yourself attitude of the Ultimate community. Still, I've always wanted to play under the lights in a football stadium. 3975519

2009-01-11T15:03:25-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/403/857/thumb/vito.jpg 22 MN

TM Chill

Anoka 404297

1 I would say no. This can cause problems with recruiting dollars at NCAA institutions (mostly because, how do you recruit these players before they get on campus). How do you regulate teams? Do you have a men's team and a women's team, or do you make three teams; men's, women's, and co-ed? This might be the only sport where testing is not done for performance-enhancing drugs, but rather for mind-altering drugs. Who do you get to coach the teams? You can't have player-coaches in the NCAA. Also, how do you deteremine which athletic season to put the sport in? It could be played in fall, but then the northern teams suffer late in the season. If it is put in the spring season, then the northern teams again suffer because of a delayed start to their season (look at softball and baseball in the NCAA). The ultimate question (ha, ultimate), how would this affect instituitions in fufilling Title IX requirements? Many college males get into the sport and their numbers greatly outnumber females in the sport. I mentioned earlier about how teams would be designated, but Title IX would likely keep this strictly as a women's sport, because the big money sports are football and men's basketball in the college ranks, so if a NCAA university can create more scholarship for women by adding ultimate frisbee than they would likely put scholarships toward football or men's basketball or a men's sport that the college is well known for (Minnesota or Iowa=Wrestling, Michigan=Swimming, etc.). It is just not likely to happen. 3942838

2008-06-19T20:50:29-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/233/24/thumb/Tebow_looks_Terrific.jpg 2070 GA

How 'bout 'em

Marietta 23364

I think it should be. I'm not a big ultimate player, but I have friends who were. They would practice, scheme, and train like a regular student-athlete. That game was their life. Ultimate requires one to run fast, have endurance, jump high, throw accurately, and have good hands also. 2021429

2008-05-22T22:01:12-04:00

merlin20

Long Valley 431420

Ultmate is by far the most under rated sport in the nation and has a huge following especially at the college level. But making it an official NCAA sport, giving teams varsity status and what not, can only be bad for the sport. Ultimate has its own governing body (the UPA) and does not need the hassle that would come with the NCAA (making cuts, coaches, recruitment, referees). Ultimate can't be governed by non-Ultimate players who don't understand spirit of the game or anything else that goes on in Ultimate. Instead, the universities and colleges should continue to give money to Ultimate and other popular club sports such as Rugby. 1816534

2008-05-22T21:24:11-04:00

PDDerek

Fort Collins 431296

Ultimate does not deserve to be NCAA status, however, it does deserve to be thought of as more than "hippies throwing around frisbees". I'll run any of your **** football, lacrosse, field hockey, swimming/diving, basketball players into the ground. Open your mind to new sports. Football wasn't cool until people realized just how cool it is. 1816382

<img src="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/sioncampus/05/19/deans.list/vent_ultimate.jpg" alt="" />The SI Tour Guy<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/video/si_video/2008/05/22/full_final_fris.SportsIllustrated" target="_blank"> just got back from the Collegiate Ultimate Frisbee Championships</a> in Boulder and the big winners were the Wisconsin Hodags, who won their second straight men's championship and the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, who took home the women's title. While it's clear that Ultimate has a massive following, it still is not recognized by the NCAA. Our question to you is a simple one: Is it time to make Ultimate an official NCAA sport or is it just a bunch of hippies throwing around a frisbee? What's your take? 2688 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/400/3/thumb/gray_andy.jpg 11 NY

Andy Gray

New York 4023