Although its origins go back to the wild days of the 1960s counter culture, the game of ultimate continues to gain steam in the mainstream of popular sports.
Nowhere is that more evident than on the high school circuit.
Although trailing other areas in the Lower Mainland, the Burnaby district is seeing an explosion in interest, thanks to the spirit of sportsmanship that surrounds the game.
Danie Proby coaches both Burnaby Mountain and Moscrop Secondary schools, which will compete in Sunday’s District senior championships at Burnaby Mountain, a day after the junior championships take to the same field.
Having played the game at a high level since university, Proby sees the growth in the district as a great boon for athletes looking for a fun and competitive outlet.
“The game can be super intense and that’s fine,” said Proby, a teacher at Burnaby Mountain. “But a big part of it is that when the game’s over we share in a spirit circle and give our appreciation to all those who played.”
Played on a pitch that is half the size of a regulation soccer field, ultimate pits two teams trying to pass a frisbee into the end zone. But unlike football, it is non-contact, it has no referees and the person with the disk cannot run.
In its debut last year, Burnaby Mountain won the banner.
“We had a real big team last year but it has really grown, like 70 kids (in junior and senior),” said Proby. “It became popular and cool all of a sudden.”
Proby has played and coached in the Middle East the past two years as part of Ultimate Peace, a project that gets Israeli and non-Jewish people playing the sport together.
Her aim is for the sport and its message to spread.
“One of the reasons kids are drawn to it is because it’s inclusive. The core values of the sport are to play with integrity, play your hardest and respect those who make a great play.
“Where ever I see someone with a frisbee anywhere in the world there’s an immediate connection,” said Proby.
