Few things are as mesmerizing as a well-thrown ultimate frisbee disc. From the moment of release to the anticipation of the catch, as the disc slices through the air, players fixate on it, trying to predict how it’s going to fall back down to earth, into play. Though ultimate (frisbee) began in a parking lot in Maplewood, New Jersey some 50 years ago, the community has rapidly grown worldwide. Ultimate players are just as likely to be found at the Polo Fields on the Mall as they are in fields scattered through cities including Berlin, Tokyo, and where I’m currently studying in Amman, Jordan.
As a member of the Biddin’ Foyas, one of the four ultimate teams fielded by Georgetown students, I knew I wanted to continue playing while abroad. On campus, ultimate has given me a community. Through ultimate, I’ve made friends, explored the Mid-Atlantic region, and been taught humility and patience. Per the recommendation of teammates who had played while abroad, I sought out the ultimate community in Amman. One of the first weeks in country, I woke up early on a Friday (i.e. weekend) morning to trek out to Al-Hussein Park. Although it was 90 degrees and sunny, without a cloud in the sky, I ended that practice knowing I’d found another great ultimate community.
Amman Ultimate (نادي عمان للالتيمت) has since become part of my weekly routine. Every practice is moment of calm. After a day filled with both language growth and language struggles, it’s relaxing to return to a game where I not only know the rules, but can also share my love of the game.
My love of ultimate comes down to its guiding principle: “Spirit of the Game.” The World Flying Disc Association describes it as:
“...Ultimate relies upon a Spirit of the Game that places the responsibility for fair play on every player. It is trusted that no player will intentionally break the rules; thus there are no harsh penalties for breaches….Highly competitive play is encouraged, but should never sacrifice the mutual respect between players, adherence to the agreed-upon rules of the game, or the basic joy of play.”
To me, Spirit of the Game is the ethos of ultimate and is what transforms a team into a community. It guides players from when they pick up their first disc, until they throw their last. It attracts, and retains, a certain kind of player. Someone who is athletic but doesn’t let competition impede friendships, teamwork, and a love of the game. In Amman, Spirit of the Game manifests itself as an invitation to play to all players, regardless of their gender, nationality, ethnicity, refugee status, religion, etc. On the field, we’re all players. We might not have the same technical knowledge of the sport, the same athletic abilities, or even speak the same language, but the Spirit of the Game calls us to support eachother in our differences, rather than let them divide us.
Yet even the “Spirit” of ultimate can’t overcome many of the problems present in hyper-masculine sports culture. For example, though all are welcome to play with Amman ultimate, women are especially welcome. Why? The simple answer is that there needs to be two or three women (out of seven) playing on a line in mixed-ultimate. Yet though many of the men who play are Jordanians, the majority of women who play are not. It’s led us to joke, and then seriously question, where are the women? It’s likely that mixed-ultimate draws a specific crowd, one that is less concerned about mixed-gender sports teams. It’s also true that ultimate is a “Western” sport. Yet modern football comes from England and is immensely popular not only in Jordan, but in much of the world. And in Amman, there is a growing American football league. So it’s not the “Westernization” of ultimate that is off-putting to women.
The answer, I believe, rests more with the value (or lack thereof) placed on women’s sports. Though women in Jordan go to gyms, dance, play soccer, etc., here, like in most countries, women’s involvement in sports are not seen as being as necessary as men’s involvement. Perhaps some of that has to do with limited time and resources. Societal expectations also play a role. Yet a culture shift can only happen when girls are encouraged to pursue sports and become comfortable playing them. Imagine: it’s not easy to talk someone into learning a new sport even when they’ve grown up exposed to them. It’s even harder to convince someone to learn a new sport when their society tells them their time is better spent elsewhere.
As for me, a portion of my time will continue to be spent with a disc in hand. Ultimate has given me a community I can turn to whether I’m in D.C., Amman, or elsewhere. And I know, that when I enter a new community, that my presence and skills will be welcomed in accordance with the Spirit of the Game.