On Thanksgiving weekend in 2010, my father-in-law and I decided to get some friends together for a game of Ultimate Frisbee. We called and texted nearly everyone we knew in the area and invited them out for a game. It’s been a while, but I recall getting about 15 to 20 people out there that day.

Nearly 5 years later, we still play every week.

I eventually created a Facebook Page for our group and I keep our entry on PickupUltimate.com up to date.

The turnout varies greatly all year long. The last two weeks, we’ve only had 7–8 people show up. The few weeks before that, we had 16–20 people playing. We’ve topped out at around 28 (requiring two games going at once).

Why do I keep showing up week in and week out? Here are five of the many reasons.

1. It’s fun

I have a blast every time I go. Throughout the week, I am counting down days until Saturday morning. We aren’t playing at a competitive level, so if everyone has fun, it was a successful day.

2. I’m in charge

Don’t misinterpret this — I don’t do it because I particularly enjoy being in charge and this is an opportunity to do so. Rather, being a co-organizer puts some level of obligation on me to show up every week, if at all possible.

I could definitely pass the baton if it was ever needed. But at the moment, this isn’t necessary, nor do I want to.

I also try not to take it for granted that I am in a leadership role while I am there. I try to set a good example, do my best to keep tempers in check, and help everyone have a good time. Which leads me to my next point:

3. Spirit of the Game

The game of Ultimate is founded on the concept of “Spirit of the Game”. It is primarily a self-officiated sport and relies on the players to play with integrity, giving benefit of the doubt where possible, and redoing a play if there is a disagreement.

I am unaware of any other sport with a rule like this. Sacrificing a competitive advantage because it would require lying or arguing is unheard of in modern sports. I love it — and hope it carries over into other areas of my life.

4. Exercise / Cross-training

The past two weeks of playing 3-on-3 and 4–on-4 have worn me out. A typical game is 7-on-7 — fewer players means more running. The silver lining is that it’s a great workout. And for me personally, it’s nice to have some cross-training to go along with my marathon training.

It’s also really cool to see the difference it makes in particular players. We’ll have someone show up for the first time, out of shape and brand new to the game. If they show up consistently, within a couple of months it’s like they are a whole different player. Ultimate will get you in shape fast if you play consistently.

5. Family Matters

The last reason I’ll list here is that my father-in-law and brother-in-law both play with me. The opportunity to bond through sports on a consistent basis is awesome. If all of the first 4 reasons I listed above suddenly went away, I’d keep going just to play with them.