Fresno State club tosses disc to national tournament berth

Chris Maloney and Andrew Fiala are avid Frisbee throwers. And that̢۪s not a bad thing.

Last semester, both decided to put together a Fresno State Ultimate Frisbee Club. Much to their surprise it became a hit.

“Last semester we had 12 to 15 people,� Maloney said. “We competed in one tournament. We did pretty well for an incoming team.�

The club, which features a co-ed team, participates in various tournaments throughout California.

“We competed in two tournaments already,� Maloney said. “We have a really good team for such a new organization. It’s kind of coming along really well. We’re recognized as a club sport by the university, and it gives us flexibility as a club organization for funding.�

Fiala, a philosophy professor at Fresno State, credits Maloney for getting the club started.

“He’s done a great job,� he said. “Great job of getting paperwork filled out and building team spirit.�

Unlike other sports, Ultimate Frisbee doesn̢۪t have referees.

The players are self-appointed referees and are responsible for their own fouls and line calls. The players resolve their own disputes.

The sport is also non-contact. Teams earn a point by completing a pass in the defense̢۪s end zone. The field is a rectangular shape with end zones at each end and is 70 yards by 40 yards, with end zones 25 yards deep.

“You don’t have to be muscular,� Fiala said. “But you have to run. You can play right off the bat. Most of the students that are playing are coming back.�

Ultimate Frisbee started up in 1968 by Columbia High School students in Maplewood, NJ. The first rules of the game were recorded in 1970.

“It’s a fast growing sport on the collegiate level,� Fiala said. “It’s popping up at each university. The Ultimate Players Association is trying to raise the profile of the sport and working hard to turn it into a legitimate club sport.�

The club will compete in the Central Valley Cup later this month in Sacramento.

“We’re really picking up steam,� Maloney said. “It’s an easy game to learn the basics of it. There’s a lot of strategy that you learn from experience.

“We had five people picking up their disc for the first time. It’s really something that’s a lot of fun to learn and play.�

Looking ahead, the club will compete at the sectionals where a team will be crowned the National Frisbee champions.

“We’re just excited to go to the sectionals,� Maloney said.

The club is currently looking for more players. It practices at 8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday at Gettysburg and Maple, and 10 a.m. Saturday on the west side field next to Bulldog Stadium.