Frisbee and flying disc sports or games are the focus of this portion of our web guide.
The modern flying disc, commonly known as a Frisbee, was invented by Walter Morrison in 1948. That year, he began marketing the device as the Pluto Platter. Acquired by the Wham-O Manufacturing Company in 1957, it was later rebranded and patented as the Frisbee.
The concept of the flying disc and its name predated Walter Morrison's invention, however. In the early 20th century, college students employed by the Frisbie Pie Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, discovered that the company's pie tins, when thrown, would glide through the air. This became a fad on the college campus.
After the Wham-O toy company acquired the redesigned product, they renamed it for its earliest origins, changing the spelling to avoid patent conflicts. Although all flying discs are often referred to as Frisbees, the term is a proprietary name owned by the Wham-O Manufacturing Company.
Originally, the Frisbee was marketed as a toy and used for recreational purposes, such as throwing and catching. In time, the popularity of the Frisbee led enthusiasts to develop new games and sports that incorporated the flying disc as a core component.
One of the earliest sports to use the flying disc as a central component was Guts, otherwise known as Disc Guts or Guts Frisbee, which is a disc game inspired by dodgeball, and involves teams throwing a flying disc, rather than balls, at members of the opposing team.
The 1960s saw the development of several games featuring flying discs. However, many of them failed to gain widespread popularity. This period also saw the emergence of Ultimate Frisbee, a team-based sport that combines elements of basketball, football, and soccer with the flying disc.
The first Frisbee Championships took place in 1972 at the Canadian Open Frisbee Championships in Toronto.
Ultimate Frisbee was invented in 1968 by a group of high school students in Maplewood, New Jersey. The game is played on a rectangular field with two end zones. Two teams of seven players aim to score points by catching the flying disc in the opposing end zone. Players cannot run while holding the disc but must pass it to another teammate to advance.
Disc golf, also known as Frisbee golf, also developed during this period. Created in the late 1960s and early 1970s, it is uncertain who came up with the idea first. Seemingly, similar games were developed on college campuses and playgrounds in various parts of the country. However, Ed Headrick, a former Wham-O toy inventor, formalized the game in 1975, trademarking the name "Disc Golf" and founding the Disc Golf Association to market the game.
The rules of disc golf are similar to traditional golf. As in golf, players aim to complete the course with the fewest throws, but rather than hitting a ball into a hole, they throw discs into metal baskets.
Freestyle Frisbee also emerged in the 1970s, as players experimented with trick throws and catches. As the name implies, there are no formal rules, as the focus is on creativity and style. Players master various techniques, such as the overhand wrist flip, which involves throwing the disc with a unique wrist motion. In competition, players are judged on the level of difficulty, execution, and artistic expression.
KanJam (Kan Jam, Kan-Jam) is another flying disc game. It is played with a flying disc and two cans into which players deflect the disc. Teams of two players take turns tossing a disc between two plastic cans, scoring points if the disc hits or is deflected into one of the cans. The game is played to a target score of exactly 21, although a team can also win if a player throws the disc through the slot or top of a can without the help of their teammate.
The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) is the international governing body for flying disc sports, including Ultimate, Beach Ultimate, Disc Golf, Freestyle, Guts, and individual events.
Flying disc sports are played worldwide, with millions of enthusiasts participating in competitive and recreational activities.
Because the term "Frisbee" remains a registered trademark of Wham-O, many sports organizations discourage the use of the term "Frisbee" in any game that does not exclusively use the Wham-O product to avoid potential trademark infringement disputes.
Besides competitive sports, flying discs are used in several casual and recreational games and activities. The most basic form of disc play is catch, where two or more people throw a Frisbee back and forth.
Similarly, Dog Frisbee is a popular activity where dogs catch and retrieve flying discs. Competitions like the Frisbee Dog World Championships showcase the agility and skill of canine athletes.
Frisbee tic-tac-toe is a lawn game variant where players aim to land discs in a grid to form lines of three.
Recommended Resources
Australian Flying Disc Association
The AFDA is the peak organization for disc sports in Australia. The organization provides services for its members at both the national and international levels, overseeing various disc sports, including Ultimate Frisbee, Beach Ultimate, and Disc Golf. The AFDA organizes national championships, manages events, and promotes the growth of disc sports across the country. Its history, Team Australia, events, member organizations, and partners are featured, and contacts are provided.
https://www.afda.com/
Also known as Polish Horsesoes, the game combines elements of frisbee and beer pong. Two teams of two players each stand on opposite sites of a field, each with a pole or stake topped with an empty beer bottle or can. Each player holds a drink in one hand at all times. The objective is the hit the bottle or can on the opposing team's pole with a frisbee to earn points: one point if the frisbee hits the pole and two points if the frisbee knocks off the bottle or can. The game is explained.
https://beersbee.com/
Created by Chris O'Brien, a Frisbee coach with scout groups and schools since 2004, the website is a resource for information related to flying discs. It offers a wide range of services, including a flying disc shop, coaching, events, training, and disc golf course design. The company also provides equipment for various disc sports, such as Ultimate Frisbee, Disc Golf, Freestyle Frisbee, KanJam, and Frisbee Dog. Coaching and training services in the UK are discussed.
https://www.catchthespirit.co.uk/
The FPA is a non-profit organization formed in 1978 to serve as the governing body for freestyle Frisbee as a recreational activity and a competitive sport. The FPA organizes international tournaments, oversees rankings, and provides educational resources to help players improve their skills. The organization also hosts the Freestyle Disc World Championship, an annual event that attracts top freestylers from around the world. Its leadership, sponsorships, and an online store are included.
https://www.freestyledisc.org/
History of Frisbee and Disc Sports, The
The website serves as a resource for the history of various disc sports, including Ultimate Frisbee, Disc Golf, Freestyle Frisbee, Guts, and other flying disc sports. It provides detailed information on the origins, key events, and milestones in the development of these sports. Photographs, detailed historical data, and highlights of the early pioneers and athletes involved in these sports are included, with quotes, and links to other online resources. Contacts are included.
https://discsportshistory.com/
Dedicated to the history of Ultimate Frisbee, the website covers the origins, key events, and milestones in the sport's development, from its creation in 1968 by high school students in Maplewood, New Jersey, to its growth as a globally recognized sport. The website also highlights the contributions made by early disc sports pioneers leading up to the organization of Ultimate Frisbee and names the people involved. Also included is a timeline of notable events in Ultimate history.
https://ultimatefrisbeehistory.com/
The official website for Kan Jam, an outdoor team game that combines elements of cornhole and frisbee describes the game, its origination in the United States, and provides instructions on playing the game, including assembling the goals, setting up the playing area, strategy, and tips on throwing, deflecting, and scoring. Sponsored events, such as the Kan Jam Tournament, are featured on the website, and information on where to acquire Kan Jam sets and custom sets is included.
https://www.kanjam.com/
Kansas Flying Disc Association
Organized in 2021, the KFDA was formed to help flying disc sports become an established and mainline sport in Kansas, and to document and celebrate the history of flying disc sports in the state, including the creation of an ongoing Hall of Fame, and to grow the sport through resources, consulting, and education. Its projects are featured, Hall of Fame data is included, an introduction to the organization's board, and information on playing the games are provided.
https://www.ksflyingdisc.org/
New England Flying disc Association
The NEFA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the growth and development of disc golf as a sport in New England and parts of New York and New Jersey. The organization disseminates information about courses, leagues, events, and other disc golf-related information and raises funds to build courses, support the growth of youth programs, and sponsor the NEFA Point Series and New England Disc Golf Championship. Its history, leadership, membership, and events are highlighted.
https://www.nefa.com/
Professional Disc Golf Association
The PDGA is the official governing body for disc golf. Founded in 1976, it is a non-profit organization charged with promoting and growing the sport worldwide, sanctioning competitive events, maintaining the official rules of the game, and providing resources for players of all skill levels. The organization's website posts schedules and information about its events, membership details, and how to get involved with the sport and the PDGA. Game rules, courses, photos, and videos are included.
https://www.pdga.com/
Headquartered in Jasper, Georgia, Skyhoundz, along with its contest hosts and volunteers, stages the largest disc dog competition series in the world. Sponsored by Hyperflite Flying Discs, the Skyhoundz Series features more than a hundred disc dog competitions held throughout the world. Whether known as frisbee dogs, flying dogs, or disc dogs, this website provides resources for enthusiasts of canine athletes engaging in flying disc sports. Training, competitions, and a store are featured.
https://skyhoundz.com/
Formerly known as the American Ultimate Disc League, the UFA is a professional ultimate disc league with twenty-four teams divided between the South, Central, East, and West divisions. With twenty-two teams in the United States and two in Canada, each UFA season has twelve regular season games, playoffs, and a final four-style showcase known as the UFA Championship Weekend. Contacts, tryouts, career opportunities, academies, statistics, and standings are featured.
https://watchufa.com/
Ultimate Frisbee HQ is a comprehensive resource for those interested in learning about or improving their skills in the sport of Ultimate Frisbee. The website offers reviews and recommendations on equipment, insights into the history of the game, vocabulary information, detailed explanations and tutorials on various throws, and strategies for performing trick throws. The official rules of the game are posted, along with guides and checklists for tournament play.
https://ultimatefrisbeehq.com/
The WFDF is the international governing body for flying disc sports, including Ultimate, Beach Ultimate, Disc Golf, Freestyle, Guts, and individual events. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, the organization sanctions championship events, establishes uniform rules, and sets standards for and records world records. Its disciplines, scheduled events, sport development, and para sports are highlighted, along with contacts.
https://wfdf.sport/
