Ultimate Terminology
The game is a lot easier to play if you know what people are saying. So we've providing a simple thesaurus of terminology to help you understand what's being said. They are listed in order of importance.
Spirit of the Game
Spirit of the Game is "good sportsmanship" taken to another level. Ultimate frisbee is a unique sport that attracts an even more unique clientele. Referees are not used, as it is a player-officiated sport. Dirty tricks and cheating do not cross the minds of ultimate frisbee players because of the inherent respect for ultimate frisbee and players thereof. Without Spirit of the Game, ultimate frisbee would not be able to exist. Examples of Spirit of the Game violations would be disrespecting opponents, tripping, fighting, and yelling before an opponent catches the disc. Of course, the list of possibilities is endless, and the judgement call is up to the players.
Cut
Sprinting to become open to receive a throw.
High Percentage Throws
These are throws that you know you have control over and will more than likely be a completed pass. Going for the glory by throwing a hammer across field into the end zone for a score can be a rush, but high percentage, short throws are highly encouraged. You don't want to be labeled "the guy who throws it away all of the time," and the short fast game razzle-dazzles the defense.
In Front Of / Behind
Defensive lingo. "In front of" means you should be playing in between your man and the disc. "Behind" means letting your opponent be in between you and the disc.
V-Stack
Offensive setup. The stack is a straight line of offensive players. Most common stack: first, there's the person with the disc, then the other two handlers, next are the two middles, and finally are the two longs. The stack sets up in an angle toward the middle.
Away
The side of the field opposite to where your team has piled its gear. To "force away" would be to force the thrower to throw toward the away side of the field.
Home
The side of the field where your team has piled its gear. To "force home" would be to force the thrower to throw toward the home side of the field.
Force
When a defensive player positions in such a way as to allow the thrower to only be able to throw the disc to one part of the field. The direction you want them to throw is the direction of the force.
Dump
To pass the disc to a teammate behind you.
Swing
To pass the disc to a teammate on either side of you.
Go Through
Called out to advise a player not to pick up the disc off the ground after a turnover but to run forward and allow the disc to be picked up by a player further back.
Give 'n Go
When two players pass the disc back and forth repeatedly as they move forward.
Bid
An impressive attempt to catch a disc.
Layout
A bid that is caught, making the play a completion. Usually referred to when a player dives and catches the disc and does not land on their feet. Alternate wording: go ho (horizontal), pull the trigger.
Poach
The act of leaving your opponent during man-on defense in order to cover an area of the field. The opponent may yell, "I'm poached!" in order for his teammate to throw it to him because he has been left open.
Clog
To prevent good cuts by standing in the way of your teammates and not clearing out.
Huck
A long throw, equivalent to a long bomb in football.
Up Call
When a player yells "Up!" to inform other players of an incoming long pass. Usually yelled by the defense.
Brick
The rule allowing the receiving team to start from the middle of the field after a pull at the point where the disc went out or a point twenty yards upfield from the goal line they are defending if the disc landed out of bounds. The receiver must call "brick" before the disc hits the ground or signal by clapping his hands above his head.
Callahan
When the opposing team makes an interception in the other team's end zone, scoring a goal.
The Greatest
Where a player leaps from in-bounds and while in the air catches and throws the disc to a teammate before landing out of bounds, and by doing so the receiver's team maintains possession. As the name implies, it is "the greatest" play in Ultimate.
Karl Doege
The Chuck Norris of Ultimate. Karl Doege made Fieval Go West.
RSD (Rec.Sport.Disc)
A google group dedicated to disc sports, but is used mostly by the elite players and has-beens to complain and pick apart minute details about Ultimate. http://groups.google.com/group/rec.sport.disc
NOTE: This information was borrowed with permission from missouristateultimate.com. Some definitions came from them; others came from UltiLingo .
