Played Ultimate Frisbee, hereby referred to simply as Ultimate, last night. We play two games, each lasting about a hour and a half. Your supposed to play to 13 points but sometimes neither team reaches 13 points before time is up.
Each team fields seven players, 4 guys and 3 girls. There's a "kick off" which is called something else, but one team basically throws the frisbee onto the field and both race towards it, throwing team on defense. Very similar to American football in that regard. Then it becomes a mix of soccer and basketball.
To say there is a lot of running involved is an understatement. All you do is run. Often in circles as you're trying to get open, or trying to defend. It can get a little physical, and just as receivers lay out or dive to catch passes, so too do some of us lay out or dive to catch a frisbee pass.
The ribs killed a bit throughout both games. There was one point where they were just throbbing. A pounding heart against tender rib muscles is rather unpleasant. I had wrapped myself fairly tight though, which helped and hurt a bit. The tightness didn't allow for much expansion, so the throbbing just pushed against the wrap, which basically held it in. Ugh. We had more than enough girls to rotate though, so I'd play a series or two and then sub out for one or two before going back in. Some were quick, some were longer. We all basically got in a mix of quick and long series.
Oh, right, so a series is basically when one team scores a point. Like in American football, you go back and setup for "kick off" after a point. Where American football brings on its kicking team, we just rotate players.
Everyone got a chance to play, a lot, there were a few injuries but it turns out a few team members work in the medical profession, either as nurses or medics or pharmacists. Needless to say, the team is in pretty good hands all around.
I was pleased I survived both games. I was pleased I was able to do as well as I did considering I have never played before. Nothing spectacular, but some good defensive blocks and some good passes.
I expected my ribs to be really sore this morning, but they actually feel pretty good. What I did discover when I rolled out of bed this morning was a very sore left wrist. Pretty much the muscle that runs from the wrist to just below the elbow, on the forearm. Guess I fell harder a few times than I thought I did. It happens. It didn't hurt at all though, until I got up this morning.
So I survived, and had a really good time. Rest day today, then first softball game tomorrow!
Wonder if I'm still pitching…