The Bloemfontein frisbee team, the Sungazers Ultimate, is fast accruing a wealth of experience and placed fifth in the country in the Gauteng Ultimate Frisbee Rocktober tournament on 23 and 24 September.
At this event, 14 teams from around South Africa gathered to play a sport known only to few, but played with passion.
Ultimate frisbee is a non-contact, co-ed, self-refereed team sport that is played with a flying disc frisbee.
Sungazer coach Ed Netherlands explains how the game is played.
Two teams of seven players each compete on a playing field about the same length as a football field, but narrower.
At each end there is an end zone; each team defends one.
The main objective is to catch the disc in the end zone by passing it between players to progress up the field. Players cannot walk or run with the disc. Points are scored when the disc is caught inside the end zone. If the disc hits the ground the other team gains possession. The first team to reach 15 goals wins.
Sungazers, one of the newest teams in South Africa, won the northern mixed regional championships in Pretoria in March; was 11th at nationals in April; and went to Rocktober looking to improve its overall position – finishing fifth, after some vastly experienced teams.
