Ultimate Frisbee
Parent Q&A
I recommend Ultimate Frisbee. You don't need any particular body type to excel at some aspect (throwing, defense, etc.) One of the best players I know is tiny. It is a competitive team sport, but has a different ethic than many others. Check it out: https://bayareadisc.org/youth-ultimate
Ultimate Frisbee! My kids love it. Very inclusive, supportive, team sport. A great workout too. Check out : https://bayareadisc.org/youth-ultimate
Good luck in your search.
We've had a bit of the same with our younger kid and here are 2 sports I strongly encourage you to check out: Ultimate Frisbee and Lacrosse. Ultimate in particular is very welcoming to all ages and any experience level, and you can find lacrosse rec clubs that are as well. What we love about Ultimate is that it teaches "the spirit of the game" more than any other sport our kids have been involved in, including cheering for the opposing team and encouraging genuine appreciation of all participants.
Berkeley High's Ultimate team actually just won the national championship - they are amazing (and huge - I think 50 players). Our 16 year old son still plays both sports and our 12-year old daughter now plays Ultimate and soccer. Both kids have enjoyed both sports very much, and as parents we are very appreciative of the approach of both. BTW, our daughter, after not being involved in team sports in elementary school, now plays on her middle school soccer team (and Ultimate team). So it's not too late! Good luck!
The Bay Area Ultimate community is a great place to welcome both kids! Ultimate is played at the middle school level across the East Bay, and at the high school level throughout the bay area. Middle school teams are often co-ed, and high school teams have single-sex teams and co-ed teams, depending on the season (fall or spring) and the player preferences. In the summer there is a vibrant club team season which combines kids from various schools. Some club teams also compete during the school year. Lots of opportunities. Kids can enjoy the sport at both a casual and welcoming beginners level, or all the way up the national high school championship level. You can check out Bay Area Disc or Oakland Ultimate on Facebook for starters. Here's a recent story on Berkeleyside: https://www.berkeleyside.com/2019/06/12/berkeley-highs-ultimate-frisbee-team-takes-home-national-title
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Any frisbee games in Oakland/Berkeley/Albany?
March 2013
Hi, my family recently moved to the Rockridge area. I am interested in finding out if there are any frisbee or soccer games for my husband to play, in Oakland/Berkeley/Albany? He's in his 30s, used to play a decent amount but hasn't in a couple of years. It would be great to get exercise and meet new people outside of work. Thanks! new to the area
Hi- this is not exactly what you are looking for.. but if YOU want to play frisbee- we have a group of women/ moms who have been playing frisbee for a year or so now - were not great, but we get some good exercise and have fun. We usually meet on Wednesday mornings, 9am at Montclair park. Also Sunday mornings there is often a family game - kids included. For your husband, try looking here: http://bayareadisc.org
Lots of Ultimate Frisbee options -- start with bayareadisc.org. There are (among others) pick-up games in Berkeley on Sundays as well as league offerings (winter for sure, not sure about summer). anon
Pick-up frisbee for 14 year old?
Aug 2009
Hi - Our soon-to-be 14-year-old son loves frisbee, and I'm wondering if anyone knows of an informal, fun, regular pick-up type frisbee game on the weekends - Sunday afternoon would be just terrific - week nights are possible but might conflict with homework. We're in North Berkeley but can travel if need be. Thanks!
I saw an unsigned request for information in today's Parents of Teens about ultimate frisbee for kids in berkeley. You're in luck! I'm the coach of the ultimate team at berkeley high, and the season is just about to kick off right after labor day. We'll have a table at freshman orientation at BHS on the 24th. We welcome kids from the berkeley area, whether they're in school at BHS or not, and we are both casual and very competitive. The team practices every sunday from september through june, and travels to play tournaments and single games against other teams around the region. The team is coed, and one does not need previous experience to join. Nor does one need to be ultra competitive; we have always welcomed the casual player who just wants to run around, make friends, and throw the disc. However, we are a serious team, have two or more practices a week, do drills, have track workouts and hope to finally take the state championship crown away from Alameda one day. Please contact me at youthdirector [at] bayareadiscassociation.org for more details. thank you Jordan Rose, Coach, BHS Ultimate
East Bay Ultimate Frisbee games
Aug 2008
I'm wondering if anyone knows of east bay ultimate Frisbee games (informal, pickup), and if so, places and times. Thanks. anon
The UPA.org has listings of local pick up games: http://www.upa.org/pickup/listings/CA
Enjoy. anon
Seeking informal Ulitimate games
June 2005
Hi, I checked the archives and they mention a couple of Ultimate Frisbee games--one at Mills College and one somewhere in Oakland. Does anyone know if those are current? I'm looking for a recreational game: I'm too old to be chasing down college students half my age, but I love playing Ultimate. Thanks, Michael
Got some info that might help you.
We try to maintain a list of pickup games on the San Francisco Ultimate League site (which I maintain and host), and you can check it at: http://sfuc.org/pickup.html
The games referred to as ''OakTech'' used to be played at Oakland Technical High School (45th and Broadway), until they put in astroturf. Now those games are at one of two possible locations, listed and linked to maps here: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oaktechdisc/
Wednesdays are more casual. Sundays can be quite competitive, even if we're averaging mid-30s...
There is also an Albany game occasionally, but don't know anything about it. And another loose game at a park off Cedar in Berkeley.
Good luck! Hope to see you on the fields! -Ben
There is an ongoing pick-up game in Oakland at Carter Middle School behind the McDonalds at 45th & Telegraph. This game has been going on in some form for almost 20 years and has always been very multilevel friendly. They usually play on Saturdays around 1 pm. There is a yahoogroup at: sat_frisbee [at] yahoogroups.com
Tadashi
We've been playing ultimate at Shephard Canyon in Montclair every Sunday at 10:30ish for over a year now. Its a very fun game that is not too competitive and with a very friendly group of people. We have a few of us over 35'ers (and over 40'ers) out there and some of us bring our toddlers and have them play on the sidelines with each other. Come and join us if you'd like. k
Nov 2003
After a long time, I'd like to start playing soccer or ultimate again. I am looking for a casual, mommy-friendly, game that meets on weekends - ideally in the Lamorinda area, but Oakland or Berkeley are also doable. Are there any out there, or is there an organization that organizes such thing? Thanks, skills needing sharpening
There is a very casual, but fun and also challenging (if you want it to be), game at Mills College every Sunday afternoon. We match players one on one, based on skill level. So, if you're a beginner or have low skill, you get matched with someone equal, etc. Its also a low pressure game where the attitude is to have fun. We don't even keep score, just play til everyone's done playing.
The game has been occuring there for more than 14 years now and some of the same people still play. Ages of players range from 18 to 50+, with most of us being in the 30+ range. Several of us now have kids and people bring their children to the game on a regular basis. I'm sure it'd be easy to organize some type of child care swapping during the game, although we have not done that yet. Mostly men, but a good number of women play too.
The game technically starts at 3pm each Sunday and lasts until dark. Realistically, people start arriving about 3:15 and we generally start about 3:30 or 3:45.
There is a casual ultimate group that meets Saturdays from 11:00 or 12:00 to 1:00 or 2:00 at Carter Middle School in Oakland off of Telegraph at 48th Street. I haven't been in 8 months or so but they have a yahoo group at sat_frisbee where you can get or request current info. Tadashi
Feb 2003
I'm looking for adult pick-up Ultimate Frisbee games in the Berkeley/Pinole area. Are there any out there? grappa
check out the website for the East Bay (Ultimate Frisbee) Winter League at www.ebwl.org. the league is under way and full, but look at the top of the page for links to upcoming tournements and pickup games. josh
Mills College has a good ultimate game on Sundays. The game is more mellow than most because we do not keep score and try to be friendly to new players, regardless of their level of play. Several players have babies/kids and many do not. Age of players range from 16 to 50+ with most of us in the 25-35 range. There's usually a pretty good mix of women and men. There are a wide variety of skill levels within the players who play although many are pretty good. We just try to have fun and enjoy playing with one another.
During winters, game is from 3:30 to 5ish. Once we get sun longer, game often switches to start at 4:30 or so. Start times are always approximate because it is frisbee time (and thus sometimes starts later than we'd like). It is on the soccer field just past the entrance to the college. Rachael
Welcome to Ultimate in the bay area! Find opportunities for youth at Bay Area Disc: https://bayareadisc.org/new Some middle schools field teams, including King and Willard. Berkeley High Ultimate (Berkeley High Coup) will likely begin practices for both boys and girls teams about a month after school starts. Your student will find out about these opportunities via school-wide annoucements. I hope your kids will make a great transition!