A History of Ultimate

Ultimate Frisbee, or “Ultimate,” began in 1968 at Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey, when Joel Silver introduced his idea to the student council. The following year, the first game was played using a Wham-O Master disc, with only the goal lines marked by piles of coats or nearby telephone poles. By 1970, CHS had a dedicated team, and Silver, alongside Buzzy Hellring and Jon Hines, established the first official rules. Columbia High School soon faced off against Millburn High School in the first interscholastic Ultimate game, winning 43-10.

Ultimate’s popularity quickly spread, leading to the first college game in 1972, when Rutgers defeated Princeton in a match echoing the site and outcome of the first intercollegiate American football game exactly 103 years prior. The game continued to gain traction, with the first organized tournament held in 1975 at Yale University, where Rutgers claimed victory. Ultimate was also introduced that year to the World Frisbee Championships in California, contributing to its growth on the West Coast.

By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the sport expanded internationally. In 1979, the Ultimate Players Association (UPA) was established as the sport’s governing body in the U.S., organizing national tournaments. The first European Championship followed in 1980, and the World Flying Disc Federation was founded in 1984. Ultimate has since evolved into a globally celebrated sport with World Championships and appearances in the World Games. Today, 100+ member countries with over 10 million players worldwide, Ultimate continues to thrive, grounded in its founding principles of sportsmanship and community.

Source: World Flying disc Federation (WFDF)

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