“Now I’ve begun to see that when nonsensical, gender-specific strategies were employed on the field; e.g. men are perceived as stronger players and therefore dominate the field, and women as sly being used.”
Now thanks for the people ultimate League (PUL), a grassroots initiative, allows players belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community to finally experience and perform the essence of a truly mixed-gender game like Ultimate Frisbee, what it can offer the game world, and Build within marginalized communities the basis of empowerment. Founded by non-binary athletes Rasika Gopalakrishnan (she/her), Advitiya Don and Meghna Sankaranarayanan bridge As a venture in December 2020 to enable those traditionally sidelined in the sport to access the opportunities they deserve. Now, with a grant from Netherlands-based Women’s Win, and supported by the Ultimate Players Association of India (UPAI) – the national governing body for the sport in the country – PUL will offer the game to non-binary and LGBTQIA+ players.
The new structure will aim to diversify into Ultimate’s seven-man on-field teams from the existing 4:3 sex ratio, as set by the World Flying Disc Federation, which alternates male and female players every two points. Gives equal playing time.
As a mixed, self-referred, low-contact sport, Ultimate Frisbee has always been looked upon by the hope for a safe space and level playing field that can make up for the non-binary gender and sexual minorities. For over 40 years, the sport has had an ‘open’ division with ‘mixed’, ‘female’, ‘master’ and ‘grandmaster’ divisions. In practice, however, the ‘open’ category does not have as much variety as it is likely to be, believe the players.
Just five years ago in 2016 the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) – the international authority governing Frisbee sports – issued specific guidelines to replace trans athletes to compete in the men’s, women’s or mixed divisions – a possibility that may have been in place. To a large extent depended on their testosterone. Level.
“It closed doors to players who identify as non-binary, and don’t want to be classified as male or female,” says national-level swimmer Rasika, who began playing Ultimate Frisbee in 2016. did Ashoka University. “I realized that if this sport is to be truly mixed gender, it has to recognize gender beyond binary.”
PUL’s new program with trans players in collaboration with NGO Basera, Arvani Art Project and Querbator will open in a few months. cartons – Mainly women and non-binary members too – will be put through gender sensitization workshops before starting the training.
“At least the first year, we aim to tap into the community and increase interest for the game. So, they will start playing recreationally, and as a long-term goal, can be trained to play competitively,” says Koka Mrinalini Siddhartha, who looks after operations at PUL.
“Because, a major factor preventing queer people from living in their identities is the fear of not being well received, and the perception that society is not yet ready for them. If the community takes us one step towards changing that picks up, they can be encouraged to get into the game, and more importantly, it’s really the people who add value – nothing more, nothing less.”
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