Event Spotlight: Ultimate Frisbee High School All-Star Game Comes to Somerville

The top high school athletes in one of the state's—and the country's—fastest growing sports will compete in Somerville this weekend.

That sport isn't soccer. And no, it's not lacrosse. It's Ultimate, a relatively new sport commonly referred to as Ultimate Frisbee, and it's coming to Dilboy Stadium on June 12 at 1 p.m. to showcase the best players at the high school level as part of the Ultimate Showcase Series. 

The game features wide-receiver-like endzone-to-endzone deep shots, baseball-like layouts on offense and defense, and high-flying catches. Check out some footage from last year's game here.

High school age girls and boys from Phillips Academy, Sharon, Acton-Boxborough, Concord-Carlisle, Masconomet, Lincoln-Sudbury, Lexington, Milton, Newton North and the Commonwealth School will play in the Division 1 game, and players from Easton, St. Johnsbury, BC High, Holliston, Longmeadow, Abington, Xaverian—and Somerville—will play in the Division 2 game.

So what's Ultimate?
Ultimate is part football, because you score in endzones, part soccer, because the game flows freely, and part basketball, because there's no traveling, or running with possession of the Frisbee (referred to as a disc, since "Frisbee" is a copyrighted term.) Teammates must pass to advance the disc to the endzone.

As far as competitive sports go, Ultimate is unique because it is a “self-officiating sport,” meaning that there are no referees. Instead, players make their own foul and travel calls, and opponents get a chance to either agree or disagree. The outcome is worked out between the two players themselves. Sound impossible? You'll have to see it to believe it.

A Growing Sport—With Good Values
It's for this reason that Ultimate is heralded by many organizations as a way to teach children—and adults—about the value of true sportsmanship. Instead of a basketball-like culture where players foul and hope the referee doesn't see it, or a soccer-like culture where players throw themselves on the ground to get a pity call, players on both sides are empowered to uphold the "spirit of the game."

There are even organizations that use Ultimate to promote decency between opposing cultures, such as Arab and Jewish youth in Israel (called Ultimate Peace).

Growth in Massachusetts
Currently in Massachusetts there are 109 boys high school teams and 17 girls high school teams that compete statewide, including Somerville High. That's up from just a dozen teams in 2003.

"Young players are attracted to this sport because everyone on the field is a potential quarterback and receiver," said Erik Sebesta, director of the Ultimate Showcase Series. "They love the constant action, diving catches and long, high arcing throws."

If you or your children want to get involved in Ultimate Frisbee, check out the Boston Ultimate Disc Alliance, which has opportunities for youths and adults to play the sport.