The Origins of Ultimate Frisbee

The history of Ultimate Frisbee is a fascinating study in 20th-century American counterculture meeting organized athletics. While the act of tossing metal pie tins from the Frisbie Pie Company began as a pastime at Yale University in the early 20th century, the sport as we know it today was formalized in 1968.

It was Joel Silver, along with Jared Kass and Bill McDade, who introduced the concept to the student council at Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey. The first definitive set of rules was drafted there, blending elements of soccer, American football, and basketball.

The sport's collegiate debut occurred on November 6, 1972, when Rutgers and Princeton faced off in the first intercollegiate game—exactly 103 years to the day after the first intercollegiate American football game between the same two institutions.

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Ultimate Frisbee Tactics

Learn about the different strategies involved in our sport.

Governing Bodies

Learn about the the organizations which oversee Ultimate.

How to Get Involved

Learn about how to get involved with Ultimate around the world.