Welcome to WA Ultimate

This site contains information to help you find out more about everything Ultimate in Western Australia. You can read about the Association, how to get a membership number and where you can play the fastest growing sport world wide!

WA Ultimate - Latest News

Policies

The WA Flying Disc Association Inc (WAFDA) has legal and moral obligations to provide safe environments and responsibly govern flying disc sports in WA.

Policies assist the Committee to adequately meet these obligations and to maintain responsible behaviour and make ethical and informed decisions within the sport.

Policies serve to inform everyone of their legal and ethical rights and responsibilities and the standards of behaviour that are required. It also covers the care and protection of children participating in our sport’s activities.

The policies specify who it applies to but generally, this includes members, employees, board members, committee and sub-committee members, administrators, coaches, support personnel and players/athletes (and whether they are appointed, elected or selected to these roles); life members; parents, spectators and sponsors.

Note that as of 2025, WAFDA is now a part of AFDA's national integrity framework and adheres to that policy suite. While we continue to review our policies in relation to AFDA's national integrity standards, the information on this site may be in the process of being phased out, as AFDA's policies will supercede WAFDA's in this case. More information on AFDA's national integrity framework and its policies can be found at the AFDA Integrity Hub.

Governance

Player Protection

Safe Play

Sport Administration

The complete list of AFDA policies, all of which are applicable here in WA, can be found here.

These policies are just some measures we have put in place to help us ensure that our sport is safe, welcoming and enjoyable. It provides assurances to all those involved and those wishing to be involved in our sport that improper conduct will not be tolerated.

These policies cover breaches of our codes of behaviour, any behaviour that brings or is likely to bring our sport into disrepute and other inappropriate behaviour whether that occurs at practise/training sessions, in the clubrooms, at meetings, at events and activities organised or sanctioned by the sport,
or away trips. It also clearly confirms that the following types of behaviour will not be tolerated:

Child abuse
Sexual assault and sexual misconduct
Discrimination
Bullying, harassment and vilification
Physical assault and violence
Verbal abuse and intimidation
Actions that create a hostile environment
Conduct that may cause psychological injury or distress.

Working with Children Check requirements

Underlying the policy is a range of laws that vary from state to state. Despite some differences, there are some universal minimum standards that the law applies to persons involved in sporting activities. These include anti-discrimination laws, criminal law and child protection laws. For people in our sport who work, coach, supervise or have regular unsupervised contact with people under the age of 18 years must obtain a Working With Children's (WWC) check.

The WWC Check

The Working with Children Check (WWC Check) is a compulsory criminal check for many people who work with children under the age of 18 in WA. It is administered by the Working with Children Screening Unit (WWCSU), Department for Child Protection. For more details please visit the official website.

Complaints

Our sport takes all complaints about inappropriate behaviour, both on and off-field, seriously. The updated national integrity framework complaints process is explained in more detail on the AFDA page here. That page includes details on where to file complaints and the process they will undergo.

Volunteers

Volunteers are valuable! Becoming a volunteer for the WAFDA is an opportunity to contribute to the development of Flying Disc sports locally and across the state.

The WAFDA committee is a friendly, dedicated team that welcomes new members. Details about the roles and position descriptions of the different WAFDA Committee officers can be found here. Volunteers will always be acknowledged and rewarded for their efforts. If you are passionate about Ultimate and have ideas of promoting and growing the sport or just want to help out in a way you, please contact the Committee members via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

WAFDA and AFDA recognise the need for a Volunteer Management Program to focus on creating a supportive environment to address the issues of recruiting and retaining volunteers.

This program will increase members' awareness of volunteers and their contributions and also aims to make volunteers feel valuable by acknowledging their work and showing them appreciation. This program is named REAP Volunteer Management Program (VMP)

Recruit: Engage and enlist volunteers.
Educated: Provide training and support for volunteers.
Acknowledge: Recognise and reward volunteer contributions.
Preserve: Retain and prolong volunteer involvement.

The REAP Volunteer Management Program was the winner of the Volunteer Support category at the 2009 Sport and Recreation Industry Awards.

Ultimate Legends

Know a volunteer that does great things for flying disc sports in WA? Why not nominate them to acknowledge them for their efforts!
Each year the Australian Flying Disc Association works with each State and Territory to supply us with unique "Ultimate Legends" glasses. These cannot be purchased, only earned!

Each recipient has publicly acknowledged their outstanding efforts and presented to the community as an Ultimate Legend.
If you want to nominate an Ultimate Legend simply complete this form.

Volunteers REAP

Awards

The WAFDA Awards recognise those who have contributed significantly to the growth and development of WA Flying Disc Sports. The focus is for both on-field and off-field efforts, and for those people who put in so much effort behind the scenes.

The annual awards are generally presented at the end-of-year function, or via our website throughout the month of December. Nominations for all awards are usually called several weeks before the presentation. Award nominations can be submitted by email indicating the category and nominee, and a description of achievements that address the relevant award criteria or via our online voting forms. All nominees will need to be verified as WAFDA members in order to be eligible for their respective categories.

Administrator of the Year

Active in the Western Australian Flying Disc community.
Self-organised.
Ran things smoothly.
Dealt with issues promptly.
Promoted the sport to the wider community.
Demonstrated passion for the sport.
Achievements.

Outstanding Service Award

Dedicated to grassroots development.
Fosters ‘Spirit of the Game’.
Commitment to increasing participation.
Carried out a task or project for the good of the sport.
Volunteered for a club and/or the WAFDA for five consecutive years or more.
Is an ambassador for Ultimate or Disc Golf.

Player of the Year Award

Awarded to 1 Male and 1 Female player.
Fosters “Spirit of the Game” by playing with positive spirit including interpreting, applying and educating others on the rules.
Must have participated in at least one WA qualifying tournament for national level competition in the calendar year of the award.
Played Disc Golf or Ultimate at a consistently high level. Include any interstate or international tournament experience and achievements.
Age has no influence on this award.

Rookie of the Year Award

Awarded to 1 Male and 1 Female player.
Has commenced playing Ultimate or Disc Golf after the 1st of January in the year of the award.
Shows a willingness to learn all aspects of the game
Fosters ‘Spirit of the Game’ by playing with positive spirit including interpreting, applying and improving knowledge on the rules.
Age has no influence on this award.

Youth Player of the Year Award

Awarded to 1 Male and 1 Female player.
Fosters “Spirit of the Game” by playing with positive spirit including interpreting, applying and educating others on the rules.
Demonstrates good leadership skills (on and off the pitch).
Is age 18 or under as of 31st of December in the year of the award.
Excelled at the high level for their age group. Include any interstate or international tournament experience and achievements.

Tournament of the Year

Well organised and run smoothly, from registration through to final presentations.
Everyone had a good time.
Good quality fields and location.
Good field facilities, like water, toilets, change-rooms, spectator areas.
Catering.
Good communications to teams.
Efforts of TD(s).
Participation of local Ultimate or Disc Golf community.
Size of the event does not matter.

Team of the Year

Applies to any Ultimate team.
Growth and improvement of the team as a whole.
Development of individual players.
Players enjoyed being on the team.
Uniforms/team identity.
Spirit showed on the field.
The majority of players on the team must come from the WA Ultimate community.

Club of the Year

Growth and development of the Club as a whole.
Strong governance and committee structure.
Recruitment strategies.
Up-to-date Website.
Promotion of Disc Golf or Ultimate to the wider community.
Provides and supports various levels of Ultimate or Disc Golf for members.
Consistent participation in WA Ultimate or Disc Golf events (tournaments and leagues).
Affiliated club with the WAFDA.

Coach of the Year

Respected by players (please provide at least two statements from players).
How much individual players learned/improved (please provide at least two statements from players).
Sought further coach education and development opportunities.
On-field success/improvement.
Actively coaching in the wider community.
Provided mentoring or coaching opportunities for others.

Previous years award winners can be found here in the WAFDA hall of fame.

If you have any questions about the WAFDA awards, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

What is Ultimate?

Ultimate is a unique sport that uses a flying disc and combines elements of Soccer, Netball and American Football. This fun sport is a great cardio workout; that also improves hand-eye coordination; and develops new skills such as the backhand, forehand and overhead throws. What makes Ultimate Frisbee most unique is the fact that it is completely self-officiated at all levels of the game, even at World Championships.

Ultimate is a non-contact, self-officiated team sport played with a flying disc (or Frisbee).
Two teams of seven players compete on a playing field about the same length as a soccer field, but narrower. At each end of the playing field there is an end zone. Each team defends one endzone. They score a goal if one of their players catches the disc in the opposite end zone.
The player with the disc is called the thrower. The thrower may not run with the disc. Instead they move the disc by passing to team-mates in any direction.
The defensive team gets possession of the disc if an offensive team’s throw is not caught by a player of the same team. Then the defensive team becomes the offensive team and can try to score in the opposite end zone.

The overriding rule of the sport – Spirit of the Game (SOTG) – encourages players to play fairly and within the rules. SOTG sees participants involved in many differing situations of leadership and conflict resolution that can often be related to everyday life. Ultimate Frisbee encourages an active and healthy lifestyle to all participants.

Download our Play Ultimate Brochure.

Rules

The Pull
Each point starts with a throw-off from the goal line (“pull”). All players must remain in their end zone until the pull is thrown. At the start of the game a toss decides which team throws the first pull.

After a goal is scored, play stops. The team that scored stays in that end zone and throws the pull and becomes the defensive team. So, teams change their direction of attack after each point.

In-bounds and out-of-bounds
A disc is in-bounds when the receiving player is inside the playing field when they catch the disc. If you catch the disc after jumping in the air, your first point of contact must land inside the field. If you catch the disc in-bounds, and then momentum takes you out-of-bounds, you must return to where you left the field before you can throw the disc.

You are allowed to throw the disc so that it flies outside the playing field and then comes back in.

If the disc goes out-of-bounds, it is a turnover. It does not matter which team last touched the disc. Play continues from the spot where the disc left the field.

No running with the disc
You are not allowed to run while you have possession of the disc (“travel”). After catching the disc while running, you must stop as quickly as possible. Once you stop, you must keep one foot still, but you are allowed to move the other foot: this is called pivoting.

The 10-second rule
The thrower has 10 seconds to throw the disc. A defender can stand in front of you (remember: no contact!) and count aloud to ten in one second intervals. If the disc is still in your hand at the “t” of “ten”, the other team gets possession of the disc.

Turnovers
The defensive team takes possession of the disc (a “turnover”) if the offence fails to catch a pass, if they catch it out-of-bounds, or if it is intercepted or knocked down by a defensive player.

Turnovers also occur when:

the marker reaches “ten” before the disc was thrown
the disc is handed from one player to another without being thrown
the thrower catches their own throw without the disc being touched by anyone else
the offensive team tries to catch the pull, but drops it
After an in-bounds turnover the other team may immediately resume play at the point where the disc was caught or stopped.

Fouls, Violations and Infractions

Ultimate is a non-contact sport. Physical contact should always be avoided.
Contact that is dangerous or affects the outcome of the play is a Foul.
The thrower may not be defended by more than one player at the same time (“double team”).
The marker may not come closer than one disc diameter to the thrower (“disc space”).
The marker may not hit or grab the disc out of the hand of the thrower. They may however try to block the disc with their hands or feet after it is thrown.
If opposing players catch the disc at the same time, the offensive player gets possession of the disc.
Players are not allowed to create shepherds, picks or screens to obstruct the path of defensive players (“pick”).
Making a Call
If you believe you have been fouled by an opposing player, you can call “foul”, and play stops immediately.

After play stops, you explain what the foul was and discuss this with the other player involved. If the opponent disagrees that there was a foul, they may call “contest” and the disc is returned to the previous thrower. If they agree that there was a foul, they call “uncontested” and, generally, you take possession of the disc. Play is resumed with a “check”: the marker touches the disc in the thrower’s hand and calls “disc in”.

Scoring
You score a goal if you catch the disc in the endzone that you are attacking. If you are in the air, your first point of contact must be in the endzone. The first team to 15 goals wins, with a time cap of 90 minutes, but this can change depending on the level of play.

Substitution of players
After each point you may substitute as many players as you want.

SPIRIT OF THE GAME
Ultimate relies upon a Spirit of the Game that places the responsibility for fair play on every player. There are no referees; the players are solely responsible for following and enforcing the rules, even at World Championship. Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect between players, adherence to the rules, and the basic joy of play.