Ultimate Frisbee in 5 Lessons – Overview

Overview: To get the most from this site, please explore all 5 lessons before you begin using them in your gym classes. Read the descriptions, watch the video demonstrations, and if you need some more technical or troubleshooting advice, you can download the instructional pdfs on each lesson page. We suggest that the chronological sequence of lessons 1-5 is important to follow (when students first start out).

Duration: When we created each lesson plan, we aimed for a lesson that could be completed in a minimum of 30 minutes. Each day’s lesson may be adjusted by shortening or lengthening the activities – but remember to never skip warmups! Once lessons 1-5 are complete, the students should have the basic framework of Ultimate and can then simply play a game (see lesson 5) each class thereafter. To refine their skills and improve their ultimate play, simply repeat an earlier lesson or lessons to serve as practice.

Equipment: Discs, 8 plastic cones per field, light/dark pinnies to distinguish teams (optional). We recommend 1 disc every student, or at least one every two students, for learning purposes. Official discs weigh 175g; the most commonly used disc is produced by Discraft. You can also find youth starter kits through the USAUltimate website (see Purchase Materials section).

Age of Students: This module is designed for students age 8 and up. When applying the module to a specific age group, there may be adjustments that would be appropriate for one age group as compared to another. The lessons are flexible enough to let you, the teacher, choose the pace, style and details that best suit your class’ needs.

Class Size: The module will work best with 8-20 students. With less than 4 vs. 4, it will be hard to complete the later lessons. With more than 20, it may be hard to keep all of the students occupied (unless you have enough space and multiple supervisors, in which case you can divide up students and duplicate the games). A game of Ultimate Frisbee becomes less uninteresting for players if it is more than 7 vs. 7, so it’s preferable to rotate smaller squads through rather than create mega-teams!

Dimensions and Field Type: As you’ll see in the videos, Ultimate is best played on a soft, flat grass field but can also be played on a hard surface like concrete or a gym floor. A regulation-size Ultimate field is 70×40 yards with two 25×40 yard endzones at each end of the length. However, for learning purposes a much smaller field is best. Your school’s facilities, such as a basketball court, is fine. A good dimension for starting out is 40×25 yards with 10×25 yard endzones. Always make sure to leave a buffer of 5-10 yards between the field and walls or fences.

Throwing: Some teachers hesitate to teach Ultimate because they lack throwing skills. Don’t let this stop you!  Throwing a disc well enough to play basic Ultimate will occur for most students and instructors within a few lessons. If a student has an early knack for throwing (even better than their teacher), have them feed the throws in the lessons and games. Additionally, Ultimate includes elements such as catching and defending which do not require a throwing skillset. For those struggling to throw consistent flat passes, the fun of catching goals or getting interceptions should be emphasized and praised.

Your Judgment: Remember you are responsible to make safety a priority. The Lot Ultimate Academy and its partners are not liable for any injury or damages from improper or negligent application of this module.

Have Fun: Enjoy teaching and learning how to play Ultimate Frisbee!