Imagine a gorgeous summer day with the clearest blue sky ever seen in Buffalo. Now imagine a lone Frisbee zooming across the sky, being chased after by group of high-spirited college students. The Buffalo Ultimate Frisbee League is now accepting applicants for its summer league.
OYou donOt have to have any experience, and itOs tons of fun,O said Emma Anderson, a graduate student studying geology. OWe have players that are more advanced and ones whoOve never thrown a Frisbee before.O
Founded a year ago by Seth Speilman, a graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in geography, the Buffalo Ultimate Frisbee League has received some impressive buzz. The league was featured in Buffalo Rising, as well as in an interview on Channel 4 News.
The league has a mix of high school and college students from all over the area, including lots of students from UB and Fredonia, said Speilman.
Registration is ongoing and can be completed online at buffaloultimate.org. $30 covers the cost of registration, park rental fee and league fees, said Jordan Troisi, a graduate student studying social psychology. The application asks questions about physical fitness and Frisbee playing experience, and players are divided and assigned to teams based on that information.
Games run from June 6 to August 16, and are very laid-lack, but high energy, according to Troisi.
OFrisbee is a great way to keep in shape,O Troisi said. OItOs a non-contact sport, so youOre at low risk for injury.O
League games take place at Front Park near the Peace Bridge. Pick up games began on April 14 from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the field between Amherst Middle School and Amherst High School, located at 55 Kings Highway in Amherst, New York.
Last year over 80 players participated in the league, and Anderson hopes even more will join this year.
According to Anderson, hard-core Frisbee fans have the potential to play Frisbee all year long if they desire. Anderson recently founded the UB Mixed Club Team, a competitive club league for more advanced players who travel to other schools and play in tournaments. The club season runs from summer to fall, with the summer league running from June to August and pickup games all through May to September.
The games are self-refereed and players catch on quickly to the Olearn as you goO mentality, Speilman said.
The rules of the game are simple, Anderson said. Players have to pass the Frisbee up the field. The player who caught the Frisbee cannot move with it, but can take up to three steps to throw it to another player. The other players are allowed to run around to get open for passes, but the Frisbee has 10 seconds to be thrown, otherwise itOs a turnover, as if the Frisbee were dropped.
There are seven players on the field for each team, with many more on the sidelines. Games last until 15 points are scored and the winning team must win by two points, or until the hour and a half maximum time cap has passed, according to Anderson.
OIf youOre not in tip-top shape, you can come run around with us,O Anderson said.
The Buffalo Ultimate Frisbee League is a great way to get involved with the community over the summer. For a good time on Wednesday nights, head over to buffaloultimate.org to fill out an application.
OYouOll get hooked and love it for life,O Anderson said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
