Winston-Salem State offers 'Ultimate' exercise with Frisbee class

 You were always told not to throw things in class, but now it's okay to break the rules.

An Aerobics class featuring a Frisbee is offering students at Winston-Salem State a new way to get in shape. 

Ultimate Frisbee known as Ultimate is a limited contact sport like basketball, and baseball. The object of the game is to score points by passing the disc to a player in the opposing end zone, similar to football. Players may not run while holding the disc, there are usually seven players on each team.

The idea for a Frisbee class came from Dr. Jesse Pittsley, who is the coordinator of the Exercise Science Program.

He said he wanted to find a way for students to have fun and stay in shape, without having to run on concrete or hardwood floors. Pittsley teaches the class with Dr. John Gulley, a fellow faculty member who is also an Ultimate player.

Pittsley and the chair of the Human Performance and Sports Sciences Department listed the class under another name, "PED 1110 Aerobics." When it was time for students to enroll for the semester, Aerobics was actually Frisbee or Ultimate. Word traveled fast of a new unique fitness class. 

Since fall semester the class has doubled in size.

It is required for students to have their own disc costing approximately $10.

"I really like the class," said Korey Kiger an Exercise Science major from Winston-Salem. 

"It's a great workout, and a lot of running but it's also very fun." 

In the beginning of class students perform warm-ups and quick drills to loosen the muscles in preparation for sport specific drills and exercises.

"I really think the class is fun, but sometimes I get very hot and sweaty when we practice in the gym," said Kristen Johnson, a freshman business management major from Raleigh.

Students learn different techniques in class such as improving their catching and throwing skills. Students are graded on how well they throw the Frisbees. Forehand and backhand are two throwing techniques that are taught to enhance the Ultimate experience.

There are many schools that offer Ultimate as a sport; they participate in local and national tournaments. Ultimate has grown to more than 27,000 members and volunteers across the nation.