Spirit of the Game

Spirit of the Game (SOTG) is at the heart of Ultimate and is a defining characteristic of the sport. With no officials, Ultimate relies on the Spirit of the Game, placing the onus of fair and honourable play on the players themselves.
 
The ultimate goal is to always have fun while playing hard in a safe environment.  We can achieve that by:

  • Knowing the Rules and being willing to learn the rules if unsure. Share your rules knowledge respectfully. Respecting Ratio Rule A when applicable.

  • Avoiding Body Contact by having self control and spatial awareness while playing.  The safety of everyone on the field should always come before a play on a disc.

  • Enjoy Playing; be positive, recognize good plays from both teams and just have fun!

  • Be Fair-Minded by actively listening to another person's perspective and seeking clarification when unsure on the proper call.  Play in an honourable way.

  • Communicate Respectfully by being approachable, avoiding derogatory or aggressive language while keeping a calm and respectful tone and body.

  • Be Inclusive by including everyone in game play and using inclusive language such as MATCH and MELT instead of man.  Foster a positive environment for all players.



One part of SOTG that is often overlooked is being ready to play on time which is particularly important for the winter season where some games are only 1 hour. Being ready to play on time is a gesture that demonstrates respect to your teammates and opponents.

 
 

SPIRIT SCORES

After every game, when captains submit game scores to OCUA, they also answer a few questions to provide a "spirit score" for their opponent. The OCUA Spirit Scoring System is a modified version of the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) system, customized to be more suitable for an ongoing league (the WFDF system is more suitable for tournaments).
 
Captains assess the other team in four categories using a 10-point scale in the following areas: 
  • Encouraging others through positive attitude
  • Rules Knowledge & Use (Fair play through observance of the Rules): Players understood the rules, or were willing to learn them. They shared their rules knowledge respectfully. They were willing to believe calls were made in good faith. Disagreements were handled quickly and not escalated into arguments. The captain helped resolve disputes (if any).
  • Emotional Self-Regulation
  • Safe & Clean Play (Avoiding injuries and body contact): Players avoided fouling, contact and dangerous plays. The captain addressed concerns about dangerous players on their team. All players exhibited good sportsmanship.
  • Respectful Communication: They communicated without derogatory or aggressive language. They complimented us on our good plays. The captain was approachable. They were willing to clarify any misunderstandings on the sideline. They left an overall positive impression during the game, and after the game.