Ultimate Frisbee: Most Dangerous Sport Known to Man?

Jack Vuagniaux, Staff Writer

Thunk! That’s the sound of a plastic Frisbee hitting my nose.

That sound is followed by blood and bruising.  Nothing good comes out of a sport that can injure your visage.

Ultimate Frisbee is said to be a no-contact sport, but as more and more people begin to play, more and more injuries are being recorded.

According to a study done by doctors of the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 143 of 461 injuries throughout club sports occurred while playing Frisbee.  That’s 31 percent of injuries over the twelve year study period.

These were all injuries of the ankle, knee, hand or wrist, but obviously someone could still be hit in the face.

When going for a Frisbee, it is not uncommon for people to collide.  This can cause a slew of injuries, including concussions.  Helmets would be the next step, but then it becomes football with a different “ball.”  In all honesty that could be better.  Why don’t people that play ultimate Frisbee play football instead?

It becomes a contact sport, but the players are protected and will probably get injured less.  They can collide with each other as much as they want.

A big difference between Ultimate Frisbee and football is that when you have possession of the Frisbee, you cannot take any steps.  This makes Frisbee unique.

Being its own entity, Ultimate is fun for a while.  Of course, all of that ends when you get a line-drive to the face, collide with another player, or sprain your ankle trying to pass the Frisbee.

My children will never play a sport this violent.  They can play football or hockey instead, because they have pads.  If lacrosse is popular in the area, they can play that too. Wrestling is an option also.  Athletes are obviously safer when there is not a disc-like projectile being thrown at them.

From sprained ankles to bruised thighs, Ultimate, the so-called “no-contact sport,” is not all it’s cracked up to be: at least, not as cracked as a broken nose.