The game is typically played seven-on-seven on a football-
sized field with 20-yard end zones. To play, the defending team
throws, or pulls, the disc from their defending end zone line to
the offense awaiting the disc on their own end zone line on the
opposite side of the field. What’s unusual about the sport is that
it’s self-officiated, meaning there are no referees.
“One of the central components of the game, and why it is
revered as a sport, is the integral quality of sportsmanship in
its ‘Spirit of the Game,’” notes Ranii-Dropcho. “Knowing and
understanding interpretations of the rules is important, and
resolutions of conflict become a common occurrence.”
According to USA Ultimate, the club’s umbrella organization,
the Spirit of the Game encourages highly competitive play but
“never at the expense of mutual respect among competitors.”
The organization forbids “taunting opposing players, dangerous
aggression, belligerent intimidation, intentional infractions or
other ‘win-at-all-costs’ behavior.”
That high level of respect is what the team thrives on, says team
co-captain Aiden Landis, 18.
“My favorite aspect of ultimate is how competitive the games
can become, but still maintain a high level of sportsmanship,” says
Aiden, a senior who captains the team with Lucas Saunders, 17.
One of the most challenging aspects of the game isn’t on the
field, but rather involves building the team, he adds. “The most
difficult aspect of the sport is finding committed athletes for
the team. Since it is such a small sport, we don’t have the pull
that much more popular sports have, and don’t get as many kids
signing up to play. In recent years, we’ve had a great influx of new
talent, so it has not been too much of an issue, but it’s definitely
something that’s always on our minds.”
Ranii-Dropcho says that teams need a minimum roster
of 17 “well-conditioned” players to compete in games and
tournaments. Exposing middle school students to the game has
bolstered interest; the team currently has approximately seven
middle school players who practice with the team.
“For our club, we encourage our middle school players to
practice with us all fall and learn the game at the same rate that
we would expect new high school recruits to learn it,” he explains.
“Many of the contributors for this year’s team come from a deep
sophomore class who started around the time I began coaching
in 2014.”
All high school students, boys and girls, are eligible to play for
the team. Middle school players must have special paperwork
approved by the PHUL and league commissioner to participate.
The season runs from March through May, and the team practices
at the Treesdale Commons in Gibsonia. Students whose schools
don’t have Ultimate Frisbee teams can play for a nearby school,
with exceptions.
Looking forward, the team hopes to repeat its recent successes.
“First and foremost is always striving for excellence at the city
level and wining our second consecutive PHUL championship
in May. There is always a heavy focus on individual improvement
for each player as well. I ask the players what kind of contribution
they want to be able to make in the spring, outline ways they can
achieve that, and then help them develop in that area as much as I
can throughout the season,” Ranii-Dropcho says.
The coach, who graduated from Pine-Richland in 2010 and
captained the Pine-Richland team in 2009 and 2010, is happy to
see the sport gaining more respect as time goes on.
“I personally wanted nothing more than to play football when
I was heading into high school,” he recalls. “When my parents
decided for me that I would not be participating, I took up
ultimate in 2007. It’s shaped my life in so many positive ways
and continues to be a sport that I invest time and energy into.
The people you meet, the community you engage with and the
lifetime lessons you gain from playing a team sport like ultimate
are well worth the time invested into learning the game.” ■
>> For more information, contact [email protected].
PINE-RICHLAND
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SPRING 2018
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