The flick of the wrist. Soft footsteps and suddenly a burst of speed. It seems out of reach, she lays out in the endzone and a cloud of dust rises from the turf.
No, it is not football.
A team of women sweating it out, trying to score more than their counterparts. Players are not allowed to run with the disc — that is travelling — nor are they allowed to hold on to the disc for more than 10 seconds — that is the “shot clock” of the sport.
But it is not basketball either.
This is ultimate frisbee – woman style.
The fast-paced seven-on-seven sport is sweeping the University’s population of women. This is the first semester the women’s ultimate frisbee club has been listed as an official club by LSU.
President Amber Abel hopes recent advertising efforts, including plastering the campus with about 200 informational fliers, help increase interest.
“Turn out hasn’t been as high as expected because of the cold weather and rainy conditions,” Abel said. “We’re trying to hopefully get it up when the weather warms up to maybe 10 or 14 people.”
The club has a women’s-only practice every Friday night at the fields by the Special Olympics Pool at 6 p.m. The team also participates in co-ed practices with the men’s ultimate frisbee team at 7 p.m every Tuesday and 3 p.m every Sunday.
Ultimate frisbee is one of the lesser known sports on campus, but club member Sarah Lyles, who has been playing for more than two years, said she loves to play regardless of its popularity.
“What I really like is the environment,” Lyles said. “It’s exciting. It’s real fast-paced at times. It’s kind of like this big burst of energy.”
Abel thinks of ultimate as a great way to be active.
“It keeps me in shape,” Abel said. “I love the running. It’s a big rush to play.”
Member Rebecca Florek will play in her first full season this spring as a member of the club, and she keeps playing for a reason.
“You really bond with people,” Florek said. “It’s so much fun, and you share the same experiences, so you really get to learn a lot about people.”
According to Abel, the club plans to travel to three tournaments this spring. The club will also participate in the 16th annual Mardi Gras Tournament held in Baton Rouge on March 1 and 2 this year. The tournament is held at the BREC Soccer Complex on Burbank Drive.
Lyles said she prefers ultimate frisbee over other sports because of the nature of the sport.
“You play a sport for an activity, and it should be fun,” she said. “If you’re not enjoying it, then you shouldn’t really be playing. “Ultimate is all about having fun, playing and being competitive. But it’s all good spirited.”