Dr. Alisha Kramer Ob.Gyn College Women’s Ultimate Resources Manual in 2011

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Why Play Ultimate?

Alisha Kramer

“Ultimate is a refreshing reminder of what sport was meant to be, and on a rare occasion, still can be.” 

–Howard Cosell

When I think back on the time I have spent playing ultimate frisbee, a few words stand out more than others when characterizing my experience: joyful contentment, supported challenges, embracing community. There is something serene and powerful about playing ultimate, which I believe comes from an emphasis on the development of a player’s mental game. It is this seamless interweaving of the individual’s preparedness and the coming together of the team as a whole that enables me to maintain my inner, meditative zone while channeling the intensity and drive of the team. In approaching my sixth year of playing ultimate frisbee, it is so clear to me the ways in which ultimate—the sport, the people, the training—has influenced my life, undoubtedly, for the better. A gymnast and a basketball player, I was convinced to play ultimate my freshman year of high school by an upperclassman (to whom I am forever indebted). Little did I know Paideia High School had already left one of many everlasting impressions. It started on the playground in sixth grade. Our gym teacher, who to me will always be the father of my ultimate experience, Michael Baccarini, introduced me and my friends to a circular bit of flying plastic. My group of eight friends took to the game playing everyday on the wood chips of our playground. We even gave ourselves the name “the ultimate people.” But ultimate swung in and out of my life with no real continuation (to make a bad pun). It was not until high school that I really began to move downfield, and I guess I can say it just flowed pretty naturally from there. I was one of those players who was gifted with athleticism but plagued by an inexplicable inability to complete a pass. I remember my mom asking me, “Alisha, you are such an athlete, why in the world can’t you throw?” Good question, mom. Thus began many freezing throwing sessions with Michael Baccarini on the perpetually yellow fields of Python Park during the freezing preseason winters of Atlanta, Georgia. This is yet another reason why ultimate has found a permanent spot in my heart; there is always a coach or teammate who is willing to and enjoys helping you out whether you need serious help with throws (in my case), a training buddy to run stadiums with, or a friend to toss with on a beautiful day. The ultimate teams that I have had the privilege of being a part of have been the most supportive, fun-loving, and dedicated communities, and I am sure many would agree with me. In my application to the U.S.A Junior National Team I wrote, “I am pushing myself to my absolute limit of physical and mental endurance because I know all of my teammates are doing the same, and we are all doing it for each other.” What do I value above all else about ultimate? It is without a doubt the people and the community. I cannot help but feel an intense outpouring of warmth and love for all of the teammates I have played with on the field and those I trained with off the field. But the amazing aspect of the sport and the defining feature, which I believe distinguishes it from all other high school sports are the friendships that are made with the opponent. Now as the captain of Georgetown University’s the Huckin’ Foyas, I see how quickly new players take to the sport in the same way as I did. The community, the spirit, the simple love of the game work their magic every time as I see college women discover the joy of playing ultimate. So why should we cultivate and grow women’s ultimate? It seems pretty obvious to me. When my teammates at Georgetown say, “If only my high school had had an ultimate team….” I could not agree with them more.