Frisbee facts for kids
A frisbee (pronounced FRIZ-bee), also known as a flying disc, is a fun toy or sports item. It's usually made of plastic and is about 20 to 25 centimeters (8 to 10 inches) wide. People use frisbees for throwing and catching in games.
The frisbee's shape helps it fly. It's like an airplane wing, which means it can cut through the air easily and stay up longer. When you spin the frisbee, it flies straight and far, making it easier to aim.
There are many kinds of flying discs. Some are for disc golf, which are smaller and heavier to fly in specific ways. The longest frisbee throw ever recorded was by David Wiggins Jr., who threw one over 338 meters (1,109 feet)! For Disc dog sports, where dogs catch frisbees, the discs are softer. This protects the dog's teeth and mouth. You can also find flying rings, which fly even farther than regular frisbees. Some discs even light up or whistle as they fly!
The word frisbee is often used for all flying discs. But Frisbee is actually a special name owned by the Wham-O toy company. Because of this, official sports like ultimate or disc golf use the general term "flying disc" instead of "Frisbee."
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How the Frisbee Started
The idea for the frisbee began in 1937. Walter Frederick Morrison and his future wife, Lucile, were tossing a popcorn can lid. Later, they found out people would pay for a simple cake pan they were throwing on a beach in Los Angeles. Walter realized he could buy a cake pan for 5 cents and sell it for 25 cents. He thought, "There was a business!"
The Morrisons continued their small business until World War II. After the war, Walter designed a better flying disc. He called it the "Whirlo-Way." By 1948, he and his partner, Warren Franscioni, made the first plastic discs. They changed the name to "Flyin-Saucer" because many people were reporting seeing unidentified flying objects (UFOs) back then.
Walter and Warren would show off their discs at fairs. People were so amazed, they sometimes thought wires were making the discs fly! So, they made a joke sales pitch: "The Flyin-Saucer is free, but the invisible wire is $1!" People loved it, and they knew they had a hit.
Morrison later designed an even better disc in 1955 called the "Pluto Platter." This disc became the model for all modern flying discs. He sold the rights to this design to the Wham-O company in 1957.
In June 1957, Wham-O's founders, Richard Knerr and Arthur "Spud" Melin, learned that college students were calling the Pluto Platter a "Frisbee." This name came from the Frisbie Pie Company in Connecticut. Students at Yale University used to throw empty pie tins from this company, which had the company's logo stamped on them. This was similar to how Walter Morrison and his wife started with a cake pan!
In 1964, Ed Headrick joined Wham-O. He improved the Pluto Platter's design, making it easier to control and throw accurately. Headrick also added raised ridges to the disc, which he called the "Rings of Headrick." These rings helped the disc fly more steadily.
Wham-O then started promoting the Frisbee as a new sport, and sales grew a lot. Ed Headrick became known as the "father of Frisbee sports." He started the International Frisbee Association and helped create rules for different Frisbee games. He also helped develop disc golf, a sport where players throw discs at special targets called "pole holes." When Ed Headrick passed away, some of his ashes were even molded into special memorial discs!
In 1998, the Frisbee was added to the National Toy Hall of Fame. Today, many championships are held around the world, and disc sports are very popular.
Types of Flying Discs
Flying discs, or frisbees, come in different types for various sports. The three main kinds are: ultimate discs, golf discs, and freestyle discs.
Ultimate Discs
Ultimate discs are made for the sport of Ultimate. They are strong and designed to be thrown far and accurately.
For official games, ultimate discs have a standard size: about 27 centimeters (10.75 inches) wide and weighing 175 grams. This helps keep the game fair and consistent.
Disc Golf Discs
Disc golf discs are used in the sport of disc golf. They are similar in size to ultimate discs but have different weights and designs. They are often made of polypropylene plastic. There are three main kinds of disc golf discs:
- Drivers are for long throws.
- Mid-range discs are for more controlled shots.
- Putters are for short, accurate throws into the target.
Golf discs have sharper edges than ultimate frisbees. This helps them cut through the air better and reduces wind drag. Each type of golf disc has many variations, but they all must be at least 21 centimeters (8.3 inches) wide.
Freestyle Discs
Freestyle discs are used in freestyle Frisbee competitions. These discs are usually smaller and lighter than other types. Most freestyle discs are about 25 centimeters (10 inches) wide or less and weigh around 160 grams. However, players can choose different sizes based on what they need for their tricks.
Fun Disc Sports
Before the 1970s, the frisbee was mostly seen as a toy. But then, several competitions started, showing that the frisbee could be a real sport! These early events helped make disc sports popular.
Double Disc Court
This game was invented in 1974 by Jim Palmeri. Two teams of two players use two flying discs. Each team defends its own court and tries to land a disc in the opposing team's court.
Disc Dog
In disc dog, people and their dogs work together. They compete in events like catching discs thrown far away or performing cool, choreographed routines with discs.
Disc Golf
This is a sport where players throw a flying disc at a target, usually a "pole hole." The goal is to get the disc into the target in the fewest throws possible, just like in regular golf. The game was standardized in 1976 with the "pole holes" invented by Ed Headrick.
Freestyle Competition
Freestyle competition started in 1974. Teams of two or three players perform routines with creative throwing and catching tricks, often set to music. Judges score them on their skill and creativity.
Goaltimate
Goaltimate is a fast-paced game similar to ultimate, played on a smaller field. Players pass the disc to move it down the field. They score points by throwing the disc to a teammate who is in a small scoring area.
Guts
The game of guts was created in the 1950s. Two teams stand facing each other across a court. Players throw flying discs at members of the other team. The goal is to throw the disc so hard that the other team can't catch it cleanly.
KanJam
KanJam is a game where teams score points by throwing and deflecting the disc to hit or enter a goal. The game ends when a team scores exactly 21 points or gets an instant win by throwing the disc directly into the goal.
Ultimate
Ultimate is one of the most popular disc games. It started in the late 1960s and became an organized sport in the 1970s.
In Ultimate, players pass the disc to move it down the field. The goal is to score points by passing the disc to a teammate in the opposing team's end zone. Players cannot run while holding the disc.
See also
In Spanish: Frisbee para niños
