Our Charter

This group of volunteers is working to take an active role in organizing and conducting Ultimate events that develop personal responsibility and integrity. As we strive to meet this goal, Texas, Ultimate! commits to:

Developing players by:

Inspiring all players to participate ethically, respect and tolerate different points of view, and develop skills to resolve conflicts.

Challenging our players to achieve a high level of physical skill, and a strong understanding of Spirited play.

Encouraging sportsmanship by encouraging spirited play. Our players will verbalize recognition and reward for athleticism among teammates and opponents.

Invest players with pride and responsibility for the success of Ultimate in our communities across the Lone Star State.

Developing Leaders by:

Delivering instruction regarding skills, etiquette, and strategy while actively encouraging new players.

Providing certification training to captains, coaches and sponsors.

Planning events in a timely manner according to an annual schedule.

Developing and maintaining communication between players and teams, coaches sponsors and school administrators

Texas, Ultimate! a volunteer based, non-profit organization which strives to connect community resources and provide a positive experience through Ultimate Frisbee for all who wish to **Play the Game, and Live the Spirit!** .

Ultimate and the Spirit of the Game

Our organization strives to promote a socially and physically healthy lifestyle by exposing young people to a highly cardiovascular, fast-paced, flying disc sport that is governed by the “Spirit of the Game”, called ULTIMATE.

Ultimate relies on a spirit of sportspersonship which places the responsibility for fair play on the individual. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of the bond of mutual respect between players; and, never with an intention to abuse the agreed upon rules of the game or to destroy the pure joy of play. Actions that go against these principles may hasten the day when players no longer control the game. Playing by the Spirit of the Game will help Ultimate remain a sport where each player is free to decide, for themselves , what fair play means to him or her. Remember, no set of rules can replace a players' respect for one another and the Spirit of the Game.

The Sport of Ultimate

Ultimate is a high-energy, non-contact team sport played with a flying disc. Unlike football, everyone is the quarterback and everyone is the receiver. The objective of the game is to pass the disc from player to player on a football-sized field. Players may not run with the disc, foul, or double-team a thrower.

If the disc is caught in the end zone, a goal is scored. Teams alternate end zones after each score. Games are usually to 15 points, each goal scoring one point.

Each player is responsible to regulate their own violations.

Throughout the Lone Star State, school-aged boys and girls (from third through 12th grade) will develop physical fitness through Ultimate. In addition players will develop the social skills of self-regulation and conflict resolution through participation in Ultimate Clinics, Summer Ultimate Frisbee Camps, Middle and High School League play, and an annual STATE Tournament for High School Teams.

What is Ultimate Spirit?

The Spirit of the Game is embedded in the basic philosophy of the sport. It is written into the rules to be respectful of opponents and mindful of the regulations. In the event of violation, the rules of Ultimate are written to recreate the play situation as if a violation had never occurred.

This philosophy of play is practiced by Ultimate players at all levels of play. Play is self-regulated; a field official is not present, even in tournaments that determine state, national and world champions.

Ultimate relies on the concept that players can regulate themselves during competitive play far better than a field official. Participation in this unique team sport will teach the fundamentals of respectful engagement, dispute management, and self-control.

This form of self-empowerment on the field of play is concept referred to as playing by the “Spirit of the Game”.

The expectation of each player’s knowledge of the rules, application of those rules, and practice of conflict resolution make Ultimate is a unique team sport. It is believed that the empowerment of self-regulation is a powerful life skill that will improve cooperative behaviors in schools and communities around the Lone Star State.

New players coming into the sport soon come to understand that they have an obligation to know and understand the rules of the sport in order to perform their role as a self-officiating participant. The futility of abusing the rules is quickly understood; and players learn, without penalty, to play within the guidelines.

The Ultimate Players Association is the National Governing Body of the Sport. It’s mission statement includes this key point: maintain the Spirit of the Game as the central governing principle of the sport. Ultimate holds distinction as a favorite sport for promoting individual character and developing team cooperation. This concept, playing by the Spirit of the Game , can build habits that will enhance quality of life.

The History of Ultimate

In the school year 1967-68 a handful of high-school kids in Maplewood, NJ took the then popular toy-the plastic flying disc-and invented a new game, which they named Ultimate.

The Columbia High School Students wanted to combine the fun of throwing and catching the disc with the challenge of more conventional sports such as soccer, basketball, and football.

From a modest beginning in a high school parking lot, the sport spread to area high schools. The Columbia graduates then introduced the game to their respective colleges and universities.

The first intercollegiate game was held between Rutgers and Princeton on the anniversary of, and at the same sight as the first intercollegiate football game.

The first intercollegiate championship was held in 1975 with approximately 25 teams participating.

In 2005 the UPA hosted the very first YOUTH Club Championship Tournament, which brought high school teams from across the nation to Blanie, MN. TEAM TEXAS earned the Spirit of the Game Award in the inagural tournament in 2005. In 2006, TEAM TEXAS tied for that award with a team from Seattle. In 2007, our bid from TEAM TEXAS was denied on the basis that the YCC is devoted to developing all-star teams from sanctioned leagues and promoting them as club teams. Bids to the HS Western Championships were accepted by St. John's School (2006), McCallum High School (2007), St. Mark's School of Texas (2008, 2009). However, no school from Texas has ever participated in a HS Western Championship. Several TEXAS players have been granted a try-out to represent the United States in Bi-annual World Competition. Only one player, Evan Winograd, has ever worn the TEAM USA Jersey. Following his senior year, Evan represented Team Texas in Vancouver in 2008. He is the same player who won the Individual Spirit of the Game Award for TEAM TEXAS at the 2005 YCC. A UPA Sanctioned High School tournament was hosted in Texas for the first time in 2010.