Ultimate Frisbee is a sport that has been around for a long time, but is gaining popularity every year. In Windham, its popularity is mostly due to Zach Bailey, a 2015 graduate of Windham High School and a co-captain of the Ultimate Frisbee team.
In 2012, Bailey and Zoe Hall decided to
see if they could get a team together. The next year they did some fundraising
and got field time. The team then became an official club sport, which allows
the team to use Windham’s name on their jerseys. However, the school provides
no funding.
The cost of the sport is only for team
registration, league play, insurance and jerseys. The first team is $200 per
season, the second team is $100. To play in the state tournament the cost is
$200 per team. Each player is asked to pay the $30 for USA Ultimate insurance,
which also freezes the roster and makes the team official. Others can still
join, Bailey said. The team does fundraisers to pay the team fees each year.
The game is a self-refereed game that is
played seven against seven. The goal of the game is to catch the Frisbee in the
in zone for a point. You can’t run with the Frisbee and if it hits the ground,
goes out of bounds or a defender catches it, the Frisbee goes to the other
team. Bailey likened it to a cross between football and soccer. The first team
to 13 points wins. Half-time is when the first team reaches seven points. An
average game lasts about an hour and 25 minutes.
This year the team started with 22
players. Most times the team played with between 10 and 15 players, due to
injuries like broken wrists, broken toes, dislocated fingers and bronchitis, as
well as other commitments.
As some of the players had to stop
playing, the team went from six wins and no losses to 6-6.
“We have a few very key players,” Bailey
said. Half of the team were sophomores this year, meaning that next year could
be a stronger year for the team.
“There
are a number of exceptional athletes playing the sport from all schools and
Windham is doing remarkably well this season,” said team parent Lisa Amundson.
The spring, co-ed sport is played at the
Cumberland Fairgrounds and Wainwright Field in South Portland, both are rented
out by Maine Ultimate for the league play.
Players of ultimate Frisbee come from
all backgrounds. Bailey played soccer growing up and once he reached high
school, decided that he wanted something different. Playing Ultimate is all
about the drive and the companionship. Bailey thought nothing of flying through
the air to make a catch and losing skin from his hip in the process. Other
players come from the lacrosse team, track team and the baseball team, or from
athletes that don’t normally play a spring sport.
“We cheer for the other team or shake
hands. The spirit is good,” he said. “There are no angry players yelling at one
another. It’s a happy sport.”
The athletes come from all social
groups, Bailey said. “We’re very laid back group of people that enjoy the time
together. It’s for fun.”
The team is coached by Paul Amundson and
Sonja Florman is the administrator.
After
the state tournament Windham players received a letter from Matt Bates from
Ultimate Maine. “Congrats to Windham for winning the Boys B team title over
Cape Elizabeth!
Thanks
to all the teams who participated this weekend, especially the teams that
braved the elements and played in some tough rain and wind today! In
spite of the conditions, we played the entire event, the fields held up, there
were no serious injuries, and a lot of great ultimate was played by all the
teams competing!”
Bailey encourages anyone who wants to
try it out, to come out for the team next spring. Watch for signs and listen
for announcements about Ultimate Frisbee. Bailey recommends seeking out Trevor
Rogers, who has the opportunity to be captain next year.
“We are always recruiting,” Bailey said.
“Anyone can pick up a disk and be fine.” Skills are not a requirement Bailey
said. Some players come to practice not knowing how to throw a Frisbee. The
team encourages those who are tall and/or fast to play with them.
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