A few weeks ago, my daughter played in an ultimate frisbee tournament for our neighborhood. There were 8 or so teams competing and the kids really enjoyed it. After having such a great time out there, I figured that more kids would enjoy this great sport, they just need to see or read about it. So here is my attempt to get this sport some more press. It’s a great alternative to some of the mainstream sports that are sometimes intimidating.
A couple great resources to ultimate frisbee can be found here at the
Ultimate Players Association and Wikipedia’s Ultimate Frisbee page. Both websites detail the history, rules, and news surrounding the game,
Why is the sport great for kids?
- Simple rules, easy to learn.
- Learn to throw and catch a frisbee.
- Lots of running.
- Defense is just as important as offense, so throwing a frisbee is not the primary focus.
- A frisbee, comfortable clothes and a good pair sneakers is all that is needed.
Finally, my daughter’s coach, Barb Denison, runs a few of the camps and middle school teams in the Austin area. Besides teaching the kids the rules, strategy, and enjoyment of the game, she has also taught the kids about proper eating habits.
While I noticed other coaches buying their kids pizza at the recent tournament, Coach Dension brought bananas, almonds, oranges, lunch meat/cheese and other fresh vegetables. She made a point to say that diet is key to their energy level and well being.
If other sports or activities have not worked, see if ultimate frisbee might be to your kid’s liking. Its fun and easy to play.
