Uiltimate Frisbee Lingo and Terminology

Like in any sport, there will be terms that players use when referring to circumstances unique to the sport. When a team is on offense, there are terms like “under” and “deep” that are not used in any other sport and for newcomers, it can be hard to understand. Let’s run through the Ultimate lingo.  

Offensive Positions and Movements

Open Side: The open side is the lane that the thrower is forced to throw. If they are forced flick, then a cutter must cut on the open side, which is the right side when looking at the defender’s end zone.

Break Side: The break side is the lane that the mark is blocking the thrower from, which would be the left lane when looking at the defender's end zone.

Cut: To make a cut as a cutter means to attempt to make yourself open to receive the disc from the thrower.

Clear/Clear out: To clear means to return to a position on the field where you are out of the way of other players trying to cut.

Dump: Your dump option, or dump player, is the bailout option for a thrower who does not want to, or cannot, throw upfield. Dumps are typically handlers because they are expected to have better control of the disc than cutters.

Under: To cut under means to cut at an angle towards the thrower in order to beat the defense and obtain the disc.

Deep: To cut deep means to cut away from the thrower so that they can throw a huck in order to move the disc further upfield.

Chilly: Take your time with the disc. That means handlers can walk to pick up a dead disc rather than rushing to pick it up and throw up.

Break: To break the mark means that if the defender is forcing a flick, you pivot around them and throw a backhand. Most times, defenders are told not to let this happen to them because many offensive players can easily get open after that.

Defense: The Force

Last back: The defensive player guarding the offensive player who is furthest away from the disc (in the back of the stack) is the last back. When the sideline tells the offensive player that they are last back, that means that they have to pay extra close attention to the defensive they are on.

Flick: Forcing flick means to cause the thrower to throw a flick by blocking their backhand throw. Most times this refers to a right-handed flick so even when marking a left-handed thrower, you continue to stand facing their left hip.

Backhand: Forcing backhand means to cause the thrower to throw a backhand which means facing their right hip.

Home: This term is typically used so that defenders do not get confused as to how to force a thrower if they are left-handed. Forcing home means the mark causes the thrower to throw on the defense’s home side of the field.

Away: This term is typically used so that defenders do not get confused as to how to force a thrower if they are left-handed. Forcing away means the mark causes the thrower to throw on the opponent’s away side of the field.

Around: To block the around throw by a thrower, a mark must stand facing the opponent’s hips and put their body perpendicular so that the mark is practically facing the sideline.

Inside: To block the inside throw by a thrower, a mark must position their bodies more in the front of the thrower so that they are unable to get an inside throw off.

No big: When a thrower is winding up to huck the disc, a mark can put their hands up high and try to get their body in the way so that that throw does not go off.

Calls

Since this sport does not have referees and observers on lower level tournaments, all players have the obligation to make their own calls if something goes wrong. Here are some of the most important calls to remember.

Pick: A pick is when you are defending a player but another player, on the opposing team or your own, gets in the way of being able to make a play on the disc. Once a pick is called, all players must stop where they are until the problem is resolved.

Foul: A foul is when there is unnecessary contact by the opposing team that can obstruct the player’s ability to obtain or throw the disc. Once a foul is called, all players must stop where they are until the problem is resolved.

Strip: A strip is when a player has grasped and stopped the rotation of the disc but another player hits the disc out of their hand, which is not allowed.

Injury: An injury should be called if a player becomes hurt and cannot continue to play. Everyone must stop where they are and wait for that player to get off the field and for a substitute player to take their place.

Out of Bounds: If the disc is thrown or ends up out of bounds, then that will be a turnover and defensive will become offensive and vice versa.

Up: Sideline individuals and players on the field will shout “up” so that all defensive players will be aware that a disc is in the air and there is a chance to get on it.