USA Ultimate beach champs

sunset over Royan

Royan, France hosted the 2017 World Championships of Beach Ultimate and did it beautifully. Games were on time.  Volunteers made sure everyone knew where to go and when to be there. French security was in high presence, making us feel safe in a country that has had more than its share of terrorist attacks in the last couple of years.

huddling after the US grandmasters' team beat Spain

The USA teams were dominant, as they usually are, winning 7 of the 8 divisions against teams from 39 countries.  The men's grandmasters' team, on which my son played, won all their games by significant margins.  But, other countries are building their teams and coaching and becoming more competitive each year.  This year, the Russian women beat the USA women's team in a surprising comeback.  Ultimate has gone global and developed enthusiastic players and spectators.
Ultimate as a sport has always been based on "spirit", Ultimate-ese for outstanding sportsmanship and warm relationships with other players across the sport.  At the end of each game, both teams huddle together to tell one another what each did well.  None of the public humiliation of the losers that characterizes too many sporting events.

Ultimate action on the beach

Colleges and universities have had teams for decades.  Now high schools are sponsoring Ultimate teams.  Older players, men and women, play on club teams, many with both men and women on the team (There are mixed divisions in world Ultimate play).
It is also mostly self-refereed.  Players call fouls themselves and, if there is a disagreement about the call, the 2 players involved are supposed to work it out, which they almost always do.  They shake hands and resume play.

USA grandmasters' team entering stadium for medal ceremony

Sometimes in semi-final and final games, there will be "observers", volunteers who will intervene with a call only if the players can't come to agreement.  I think the spirit of camaraderie and good sportsmanship are key to the intense commitment players and fans have to the sport.