Ultimate Uphold

So, the Supreme Court upheld health care bill yesterday. In other news...Ultimate players uphold SOTG every day.

SOURCE: GetHo

Within the Preface of the 11th Edition Rules, Ultimate players are reminded:

The integrity of Ultimate depends on each player's responsibility to uphold the Spirit of the Game, and this responsibility should remain paramount.

Air Quality Criterion

As USA Ultimate's US Open games remain uncertain due to the Colorado fires, the smoke - specifically particulate matter - impacts the area's air quality. Air quality is an important criterion for determining playability.

First & foremost: Inhaling smoke is not good for anyone, even healthy people.

Dust masks do not filter out the particles and gases in wildfire smoke.

What are the known chemical components of smoke from wildfires? [Colorado Wildfire Info]

• Particulate matter - coarse visible and fine invisible particles including soot and ash that can reach deep into the lungs and may contain irritating and cancer-causing compounds.
• Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons - a class of organic compounds found on the particulate matter from forest fires, wood stoves, and fireplaces, some of which may be carcinogenic with extended exposure.
• Carbon monoxide - a colorless, odorless, toxic gas produced in highest amounts from smoldering forest fires. Firefighters working near the fire are at greatest risk for high doses of carbon monoxide. Areas even a few hundred yards downwind of the fire experiencing high particulate smoke levels typically do not have high levels of carbon monoxide. Signs of high carbon monoxide levels in the blood include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and decreased mental functioning.
• Aldehydes - compounds that are extremely irritating to the eyes and mucous membranes of the mouth and nose. Some like formaldehyde are carcinogenic, while others like acrolein can injure lung tissue.
• Volatile organic compounds - strong irritants, some of which are carcinogenic.
• And many other chemical components...

Health Recommendations for Wildfire Smoke

Colorado Fires impact Ultimate

Next week's U.S. Open is in jeopardy due to the 4,500-acre Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Updated on 6/29:

UPDATED SCHEDULE FOR U.S. OPEN ULTIMATE CHAMPIONSHIPS & CONVENTION ANNOUNCED

USA Ultimate announced today revised plans for the  U.S. Open Ultimate Championships and Convention following a difficult and tragic week for its host city of Colorado Springs.

The world-class tournament and industry convention, scheduled for July 5-8, will go on as planned, however both elements have undergone significant changes. Originally hosted by the Air Force Academy, the competition has been moved to Fountain Valley School in southeastern Colorado Springs. 

The organizer's convention continues to be hosted at the Antlers Hilton Hotel, however several sessions have been cancelled and a new schedule has been published.

• View the latest tournament schedule, field map & adjusted sched. 

USA Ultimate regrets to announce that several of the social events planned around the U.S. Open have been cancelled, including the Opening Ceremonies and the Air Force Academy’s 4th of July Celebration, the VIP reception, and Fan Fest....

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USA Ultimate released a statement on 6/27:
Colorado Springs Under Duress

Colorado Springs, Colo. (June 27, 2012)--We are incredibly sorry and disappointed to announce that Colorado Springs, our host city for the U.S. Open Ultimate Championships is under great duress due to a very dangerous and damaging wild fire. Our thoughts and best wishes are with the many families who have lost their homes, and with the 600+ firefighters currently battling the blaze...

We have been informed that the U.S. Air Force Academy – the championship venue of the inaugural U.S. Open Ultimate Championships, July 4-8, 2012 – may no longer serve as the host venue of the tournament because of the aggressive and rapidly advancing forest fires in the area.

On Tuesday evening, with the fire advancing directly onto the grounds, the U.S. Air Force Academy announced a partial evacuation, as well as the tentative cancellation of all athletic events. This could change over the next two days, but only time will tell. The U.S. Air Force Academy has informed USA Ultimate that it will make a final decision on the availability of its athletic facilities on Friday, June 29. USA Ultimate will continue to keep the Ultimate community informed on the latest developments as they occur.

Meanwhile, USA Ultimate has also learned that its primary backup competition venue is being utilized as an evacuation center for area residents. As a result, USA Ultimate and the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation are working non-stop to secure alternate field sites in Colorado Springs and create a contingency plan that will allow the U.S. Open Ultimate Championships to continue as planned. The convention component remains completely unaffected. Other elements of the event, such as the opening ceremonies, are likely to be affected by this local tragedy, and we are committed to making it the best event we possibly can under these uncontrollable, difficult, sad and tragic circumstances.

USA Ultimate continues to monitor the situation and will update all of the attendees and the Ultimate community with any developments as they occur. For the latest updates, please visit www.usaultimate.org, or www.facebook.com/usaultimate.

Fire smoke near Air Force Academy's Falcon Stadium (@PatrickSandusky)

Two Ultimate Fields on One Field

Good news: Your Ultimate game is scheduled on a turf field. Bad news: There's another Ulti game scheduled at the same time. 

If you must share the area on a football turf field, you definitely lose some field width since 2 fields that are supposed to 40 yards wide can't fit in the 53-1/3 yard space. If you reduce all dimensions one-third, then you will end up with a beach Ultimate field. Length-wise dimensions are just like the AUDL field.

Here's suggested sizing for 2 Ultimate fields on 1 turf field:

One Ulti field's dimensions when sharing space

Width = 26.65 yards [-33% of regulation size]
Endzone = 20 yards [-20% of reg size]
Field = 80 yards [+14% of reg size]
There is a shared sideline.

Frisbee Workout

If you are against stepping on plastic discs, then you're exempt from this ab exercise. Probably not the Frisbee Workout Jack Black uses whilst on tour.

Guts Name

The name "Guts" - the skilled game of throwing & catching - came from an alleged pastime of Princeton students who tossed a six–inch circular saw blade instead of the plastic disc now used. [SOURCE: BadFads]