Ultimate’s ‘sport with no referees’ ethos on display at Grand Park

A unique and defining element of the sport of Ultimate, “Spirit of the Game,” places responsibility of fair play solely on the athletes by requiring each player to make their own calls without a neutral official.  These principles, uncommon in contemporary competitive sport, will be on display during USA Ultimate Club’s Elite-Select Challenge, hosted by Indiana Ultimate Foundation, Aug. 20 and 21 at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield.

As the sport’s highest level of competition, USA Ultimate’s Club division represents the pinnacle of elite-level ultimate. Featuring North America’s top athletes and teams, the competition structure equally highlights men’s, women’s and mixed-gender ultimate – a rarity for team sports. All matches are self-officiated and without the use of referees under ultimate’s Spirit of the Game ethos.

Elite-Select Challenge is part of the Triple Crown Tour, a high-profile, invitation-only showcase of five tournaments. The Elite-Select Challenge tournament gives 48 teams across three divisions an opportunity to improve national rankings. Premier teams are invited from the bottom half of the previous year’s national championship participants (Elite Flight) and those that narrowly missed out on qualifying for the National Championships (Select Flight), often leading to a shakeup in the national rankings.

The event is open to spectators at no cost. All are welcome to attend and watch the athleticism, beauty and joy of playing the sport of ultimate. More details on the event schedule can be found at https://play.usaultimate.org/events/TCT-Elite-Select-Challenge-2022/.

About USA Ultimate

USA Ultimate is a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and serves as the official national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States. https://usaultimate.org/discover-ultimate/

About Indiana Ultimate Foundation

 Indiana Ultimate Foundation is the state’s USA Ultimate affiliate operating leagues, teams and events for the sport of Ultimate.  http://www.indianaultimatefoundation.com

 About Hamilton County Sports Authority

  The Hamilton County Sports Authority creates positive economic and community impact by attracting, supporting, and developing sporting events, facilities and clubs for Hamilton County, Indiana.  https://www.visithamiltoncounty.com/sports/