Playing Ultimate Frisbee Helps Enhance Communication Skills
The Ultimate Frisbee Club at Northside Middle School was created after students showed an interest in playing the sport. However, it was selected because many of our students struggle to communicate effectively with peers, as well as adults. They are capable of stating opinions, and willing to argue their viewpoints, but do not do so effectively or diplomatically. Ultimate requires players to be capable of each of these things, as well as the ability to work in a team.
After students showed a high interest in participating in the sport, which typically attracts students who are not otherwise involved in after school programming, the club sponsor applied for two separate grants from the USA Ultimate Foundation. The first grant was provided through the Girl’s Ultimate Movement (GUM) organization. The goal of this group is to raise the level of female involvement in this growing sport. NMS was awarded a set of field marking cones, ten Ultimate discs, as well as a GUM banner, stickers, and rule books. This helped start the club, as the students did not know the basic rules of Ultimate, nor was equipment available for use. Following the receipt of these discs, students were able to begin playing after school two days each week.
The second grant that was applied for, and granted in January, was through USA Ultimate’s New Club Grant. After receiving this grant, the club received additional Ultimate discs, another set of marking cones, a skill building DVD, and additional stickers and rule books. This made it possible to have approximately thirty students practice throwing at one time, as there were finally enough discs to throw in partnership instead of groups of three and four students.
When the group first met to play Ultimate, it was important to inform the students of basic rules of play, as well as expectations for how those rules would be implemented and learned. Since so many students were unfamiliar with the game, two supervisors stayed on the field at all times to assist with play calls and confusion on rule implementation. This made it easier for students to learn as they went, instead of focusing too strongly on obscure rule calls when first learning the game.
In addition to outside supervision to assist students, each Ultimate practice started with the introduction of a throw style, practice with a partner on that throw, then a series of catch/pass drills to help students warm-up and practice their technique outside of actual game play. This usually took about fifteen to twenty minutes of time, but helped students get into the rhythm of the game, and focus on what they were supposed to be doing. After warming up with these types of drills, students were split into teams of five to seven players per side. In a typically practice, students usually have about thirty minutes of actual Ultimate playing time.
While Ultimate Frisbee Club was started in the fall, students were able to play the majority of the school year. They started playing outside, while it was still decently warm, took a break during basketball season (due to limited indoor space), and then continued meeting in February. This is a game that can be played all year long, if the outdoor/indoor space is available.
Challenges or Obstacles
- The biggest challenge to overcome when starting this club was the need for more than one Ultimate disc. When the club first started meeting, there were only five discs available for students, and there were about thirty players at every practice. This was excellent because of the high student interest, but difficult because it didn’t allow students to really practice their skills. The best way to overcome this obstacle would be to apply for grant money before you want to implement the team, or purchase ten-fifteen Ultimate discs to allow for students to practice their technique.
- The second challenge to this club’s implementation was the availability of space. In the fall, space was available because students could play outside, but when it became colder, we were limited in where we could play. This isn’t a game that can be played in hallways, as lights and windows are likely to be broken by an awry disc. However, we were able to make use of the gym after basketball season. We were also offered gym space on Saturdays (so if your club sponsor is a paid position, ours is not, you may have that option as well).
- The last obstacle dealt with supervision. This became a very high interest activity in which to participate, which is awesome, but more supervision was necessary than could always be provided. When there are multiple games being played, you need at least one adult per game to make sure students are following the rules and practicing the “Spirit of the Game”. If you can’t adequately supervise, you may not be teaching students the right method of play or behavior. We were able to have two adults volunteer to sponsor and supervise the club, but three to four would have been better.
Benefits and Successes
- The implementation of an Ultimate Frisbee Club at NMS helped a number of students become involved in after school activities. A majority of players who chose to participate were not involved in any other after school activity. Additionally, players were asked to behave as good citizens, practice good sportsmanship, and pay attention to team work, team goals, and strategy. These are all skills that are needed in the real world, but are often missed in the course of a regular school day due to time constraints. This opportunity allowed students to practice these “soft skills” in an environment where they were required to apply them.
Submitted by: Brittany Snyder and Jeffrey Bleicher, Northside Middle School