About

Ultimate, also known as “frisbee football”, is a fun non-contact team sport. In Dearborn we play informal games once a week. Beginners are always welcome – no experience or commitment is needed! Players are welcome to substitute in and out as they get tired.

Our History

Dearborn Ultimate started over 20 years ago. Originally a Ford Motor Company recreation group, the game has attracted many others who have come to make it a community-wide event. The games continue to get bigger every year as more people tell their friends.

The Game

Watch this video to check out the game and to get yourself pumped!

The Rules

Ultimate is similar to football, soccer, or basketball, but played with a disc (frisbee). Each team tries to pass the disc to an end zone to score points, like football.

The disc can only move by passing. As soon as someone catches the disc, they stop running and look for another pass. They are allowed 10 seconds to pass the disc.

Unlike football, play is continuous (no stopping to set up each play). If a pass is intercepted, blocked, or incomplete, the opposing team immediately takes possession and starts playing in the opposite direction.

1. The Field — A rectangular shape with endzones at each end. A regulation field is 70 yards by 40 yards, with endzones 25 yards deep.
2. Initiate Play — Each point begins with both teams lining up on the front of their respective endzone line. The defense throws (“pulls”) the disc to the offense. A regulation game has seven players per team.
3. Scoring — Each time the offense completes a pass in the defense’s endzone, the offense scores a point. Play is initiated after each score.
4. Movement of the Disc — The disc may be advanced in any direction by completing a pass to a teammate. Players may not run with the disc. The person with the disc (“thrower”) has ten seconds to throw the disc. The defender guarding the thrower (“marker”) counts out the stall count.
5. Change of possession — When a pass in not completed (e.g. out of bounds, drop, block, interception), the defense immediately takes possession of the disc and becomes the offense.
6. Substitutions — Players not in the game may replace players in the game after a score and during an injury timeout.
7. Non-contact — No physical contact is allowed between players. Picks and screens are also prohibited. A foul occurs when contact is made.
8. Fouls — When a player initiates contact on another player a foul occurs. When a foul disrupts possession, the play resumes as if the possession was retained. If the player committing the foul disagrees with the foul call, the play is redone.
9. Self-Refereeing — Players are responsible for their own foul and line calls. Players resolve their own disputes.
10. Spirit of the Game — Ultimate stresses sportsmanship and fair play. Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect between players, adherence to the rules, and the basic joy of play.

If you feel like reading more (or want to know what it means when someone says “11th Edition”), check out the official rules on the UPA website.