Spirit of the Game scores, explained
Ultimate has no referees, so after each game at most tournaments your team scores the other team's spirit. The sheet takes a minute, but people often get it wrong by marking 4s for a friendly game or 0s after one bad call. Here is how it is meant to work.
What a spirit score is
Spirit of the Game is the idea that players are responsible for fair play themselves: knowing the rules, calling fouls honestly and respecting the other team. A spirit score is how teams give each other feedback on it. Most events use the WFDF spirit score sheet, and the scores decide the spirit award.
The five categories
- Rules knowledge and use: did they know the rules and use them fairly, not to gain an advantage?
- Fouls and body contact: did they avoid fouls, dangerous plays and contact?
- Fair-mindedness: did they admit their own fouls and back down from bad calls?
- Positive attitude and self-control: were they polite and calm, even when it got tense?
- Communication: did they talk respectfully, listen and explain their calls?
What 0 to 4 means
Each category gets 0 to 4, so a team's total is out of 20. Start every category at 2 and move it only when something stood out. A total around 10 is a good, ordinary game. A total of 8 to 13 is common; well below that is a message, and so is well above it.
- 0: poor
- 1: not so good
- 2: good, the normal score for a normal game
- 3: very good
- 4: excellent
How to fill it in
Your spirit captain usually collects the scores. Many events also hold a spirit circle after the game, where both teams say something about how it went.
- Talk about it as a team straight after the game, while it is fresh
- Score the other team, not the result: losing badly is not a spirit issue
- Start from 2 in each category and agree what moved it up or down
- Add a short comment, especially for any score of 0, 1 or 4
- Hand in or submit the sheet before your next game, as the event asks
Keeping score during the game
Spirit scores are easier to agree on when nobody argues about the actual score. Huck keeps the score on your Apple Watch or iPhone, tracks the mixed gender ratio and records who scored and assisted, so the end-of-game conversation can be about spirit.
Questions
What is a good spirit score in ultimate?
A 2 in each category, for a total of 10 out of 20, is a good, normal game. Totals of about 8 to 13 are common. Use higher or lower scores when something really stood out.
Who fills in the spirit sheet?
Each team scores its opponent after the game, usually led by the team's spirit captain. Many events collect the scores online or on paper before the next round.
Does the spirit score affect the game result?
No. Spirit scores do not change who won. They give the other team feedback and decide the spirit award at the event.
Keep score. Track the rest.
Huck is the Ultimate scoreboard for iPhone and Apple Watch. Your first 3 games are free, with every feature included.
