Spirit
In the VUL we place a great deal of emphasis on Spirit of the Game. It is a defining factor that makes Ultimate different from many other sports.
What is Spirit all about?
Spirit can mean different things to different players. Many of the traditions that have developed within Ultimate and the Vancouver League have arisen out of a demonstration of spirit and a desire to preserve it. After a hard-fought game, a song or cheer can serve to both celebrate the spirit that was exhibited, and deflate any high running emotions that might carry over to future games. Playing in non-traditional athletic wear - skirts, hats or costumes - is one way of showing that winning the game is no more important than the fun of playing. But these things aren't necessary elements of spirit, and it would be unfair and unreasonable to judge the spirit of a team or player by the clothes they wear or the songs they sing.
Spirit is a combination of respect, integrity and dignity (see the regulations page for the official definition from the rules). There's no dignity in choosing to break the rules when the opportunity arises, or respect for others or yourself in arguing to gain advantage. Respect also means understanding that, no matter how sure you are that the disc was caught out-of-bounds, someone else's reality may be different, and to accept that disagreement without anger or argument. At the cornerstone of all of this is an understanding that your oppponent is not your enemy, that without that person or team you couldn't play the game. Playing with spirit does not imply you don't play to win, only that you play to win fairly and honestly. The great thing about spirit is that it can be contagious: the more people that embrace it, the easier it is for others to catch. At the highest level of spirit, two teams can give their every effort on the field of play and walk away smiling, regardless of the end result.
Spirit Points
New for 2008
In addition to spirit points from games, starting in 2008 teams will be able to accumulate spirit points for other activites. These include participating in events like the Spirit Hat tourney, being a Mentor, volunteering at Ultimate Day, and participating on the Board or a Board Committee. During each trimester, teams can accumulate up to 77 points from games (we take your average score out of 11, and multiply it by 7 to be fair to teams that play more or less than 7 games). Teams can accumulate a maximum of 40 points from other activities. So game play is still the most significant way to accumulate points, but other activities can have an effect.
Spirit Scores
When reporting a game's score via the website, captains are also asked to complete a short questionnaire to provide a spirit score for the other team (see below). At the end of each month, the average spirit scores are used to reward teams with excellent spirit, and to highlight other teams that may not understand what 'Spirit Of The Game' is all about. Players and teams who grasp and enliven the concept of spirit are our greatest assets and deserve to be acknowledged as such.
All teams start with a spirit rating of 5 and points can be added or subtracted according to the criteria listed in the table below. You are asked to check off each of the criteria that best describe aspects of your game. The result then becomes: Spirit Score = 5 + (total_plus) - (total_minus)
Note that becoming angry at the spirit score you receive is akin to arguing a foul call for five minutes on the field. Their score represents their perspective. If you don't understand why a certain checkbox was selected for you team, email or phone the other captain to find out. That's one purpose of this scoring system: to facilitate feedback and discussions about games, so problems are not left to fester unattended.
