The dish

Daniel Lee – Contributor

Ultimate frisbee. What is ultimate? Ultimate is a fast-paced, football, American-style sport played with a regulation 175g disc. Each point begins with a “pull,” similar to a kickoff in football, and advances up the field as players attempt to catch the disc in the end zones. If the disc is dropped, intercepted or knocked down, the opposing team gains possession and the chance to score. Matches can vary in field size, final score and the number of players on the field. This versatility allows ultimate to be played in a variety of styles.

I first played ultimate six years ago on my high school team. It was a competitive, co-ed 7v7 league against other schools. Interestingly, that’s when I first encountered Luke Barrack, who now co-leads the BU Ultimate Frisbee Club with me. Years later, Luke and I reconnected at university, bonding over our mutual passion for ultimate frisbee. Fun fact: our school used to have an ultimate frisbee club, but it eventually lost traction and dissolved. That inspired Luke and I to relaunch the BU Ultimate Frisbee Club.

After going through the necessary procedures with the SRC and club sports, we officially revived the club in September 2023. Our first meeting attracted around 20 people. Fast forward to September 2024, and we had nearly 50 members attend our first drop-in session of the year!

As the club continues to grow, our expansion plans are becoming a reality. Since the beginning, Luke and I have envisioned playing a competitive match on Coulter Field in front of fans—an ambitious goal that continues to drive us. This ambition has shaped our efforts to build a competitive team.

In other news, we’ve started forming a competitive team with plans to participate in the Canadian University Ultimate Championships. At the same time, we’re committed to maintaining a recreational side to the club. The diverse skill levels of our members give us the chance to mentor and coach athletes through drills and scrimmages. By splitting the field in half, we can hold competitive practices on one side while keeping the other side open for recreational play.

Watching the club grow from an idea into something that has become a meaningful part of others’ lives is truly special. We have no plans to slow down and hope to see the club continue to thrive.