How can I start playing Ultimate?

Ultimate is growing rapidly and most people can now find opportunities to play within their own communities.  Join the many others each day that start playing Ultimate.  There are several options available for you to get started.

PICK-UP ULTIMATE
Pick-up Ultimate is generally a casual, scheduled gathering of players who get together for the purpose of playing Ultimate.  Games are often scheduled weekly and seasonally.  Pick-up Ultimate is considered the least competitive form of organized Ultimate.  These groups welcome new players and beginners.  You can search our website for a listing of pick-up games. 

Community pick-up games are very welcoming to new players.  Since it is generally a smaller group, it can provide inexperienced players an opportunity to learn Ultimate is a relaxed setting.  By its very nature, there is no obligation to play, commit or show up.  Pick-up is for people to come by and "pick-up" in a game that is going on.  You can start and stop when you want. 
Because of the generally casual and less organized air of pick-up games, often you won't find them listed.  Instead you may hear about them by word of mouth, see a group of players in the park or you may need to contact local players and organizers for that information.

SEARCH FOR A LOCAL LEAGUE
Many people start playing through a local league.  Leagues provide a great environment for new and experienced players alike.  They are considered to be beginner friendly and a great place for new players to get introduced to the sport of Ultimate.  This unique setting means that many new players learn from more experienced players.  And because of the way that teams are created, on the field you can match up against players of a similar skill level. 
Leagues, while providing opportunities to play in games, are generally considered to have a low intensity level of competitiveness when compared to other settings (except pick-up situations).  Most leagues offer individual registration and they draft the teams according to playing ability.  They generally offer scheduled, seasonal (spring, summer, fall, etc.), weekly games for a duration of 5-10 weeks.

Some leagues offer more than one division of play.  You may find that your local league offers an A and a B league.  While different leagues will vary in their definitions, an A league is generally geared towards the more advanced player and the B league is geared towards the new or less experienced players.

The most comprehensive list of organizations that offer leagues is available on our website.  While we do all we can to keep it updated, it is up to the organizer to post their league information.  Therefore, some may be missing.  If you can not find a listing for a league in your area you may want to try an internet search.  You can also contact the UPA or your local coordinator (see below) for additional information.

JOIN AN EXISTING TEAM
Opportunities also exist for players to join existing teams.  Most teams exist to compete in local and/or national tournaments.  Because of this, there is sometimes a higher level of skill and commitment needed to join an existing team.  But those levels vary considerably from team to team and most teams welcome new or inexperienced players that are eager to learn or get involved.

You can find a team listing on our website.  But many teams don't have websites or don't post their information.  So even if a team is not listed in your area, keep looking.  Contact your local coordinator, the UPA, or ask a local league organizer for additional information.

CONTACT LOCAL COORDINATORS
View our Contacts and from the top of that page select your appropriate division as a player.  Once there you will find Regional Coordinators listed and the Sectional Coordinators within each region.  Start by contacting your Sectional Coordinator.  As a local player, this person can help put you in touch with other teams and organizations within your community.  They will be able to help match you up with the playing opportunity you are looking for.

CONTACT THE UPA
Contact the UPA at anytime with questions about getting started, membership with the UPA or playing opportunities in your community.  We are here to help you.

GET ULTIMATE STARTED IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Can't find a league, team or pick-up game in your community?  What about getting one started?  People everywhere are eager to play Ultimate and in fact new opportunities are popping up everywhere.  You can organize Ultimate in your community too!  See more about our resources for learning about getting Ultimate started in your town.