Ultimate frisbee off to flying start at EUG

The game is usually reserved for quiet days on the beach but a group of university students have taken it to the next level.

The Eastern University Games (EUG) are hosting 14 ultimate frisbee teams and Charles Sturt University (CSU) 1 has got their competition off to a flying start.

The CSU1 team is made up from students from Wagga, Bathurst, Orange and Albury and they won their first game this morning against Australian Catholic University 11 to 4.

It was the first time they players had competed as a team and Charlie Plicha of Bathurst said it was the ideal start to the tournament.

“It definitely gives us a good way to start,” he said.

“We started really strong then they figured out what we were doing and we went into a bit of a lull.

“But you could tell everyone was working together.”

This is the third year that Mr Plicha, 24, has played ultimate frisbee with CSU.

“I just liked how fast it was and the flow and movement of the disc,” he said.

“You get a lot of stamina and endurance.”

Mr Plicha had heard about the game and jumped at the chance to play for the university team. 

He said friends he has taken to watch a game are surprised at the level of professionalism and skill involved.

He likens it to a game of American football where the disc is caught in the end zone.

There are positions dedicated to running, catching and then passing the disc to handlers and cutters who defend.

Players cannot move while they are in possession of the disc.

Teams play until one team reaches 15 points or 80 minutes of play is reached.

CSU1 played a second game this afternoon against Newcastle, a notoriously strong team and last year’s overall champions.

They lost the match 15 to 2 but Mr Plicha said they were happy to get points on the board against such a good team.

“We went into the second game knowing it was a strong team,” he said.

The game ends with both teams entering into a huddle to let opposing teams know where they played well and where they went wrong.

Places are awarded for first and second but a spirit award is given to the team who shows the most spirit and is decided on by the other teams.

Mr Plicha said this can be more coveted than first place.

There are two CSU teams entered into the EUG ultimate frisbee tournament, CSU1 and CSU2.