Method and goals for flying disc game

Abstract

A catching game for two to six players. Each team stands behind their own goal—the two goals are 12 yards apart. Each team member takes turns trying to throw a flying disc (Frisbee) through the opposite goal (12 yards away). The person throwing must stand behind their own goal—either directly behind it or next to it, but no closer than 12 yards away. Their Opponents also stand behind their own goal and will try to catch the Frisbee if it comes through this goal. Once caught or dropped, this player then tries to throw it back towards the other team's goal where their opponent is also standing behind waiting to try to catch the Frisbee. Players take turns in catching and throwing and can only score points if the Frisbee goes through their opponent's goal and is not caught.

Description

The name of this game is “Catch, if you Can”. The game can be a fast-paced competitive game, or it can be a relaxing picnic-like game played by all.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The sole illustration shows the configuration of one of the pair of goals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The game objective is to throw a Frisbee® (i.e., flying disc) through an opponent's goal that is 12 yards away.

Referring now to the FIGURE, each goal 10 is 3 feet wide by 4 feet high and can be built using PVC pipe (1″ wide) so there is a total of three posts, a vertical left and right post 12, 14 and a top horizontal post 16, connected in the corners by 90 degree elbows 18. Securing to the ground can be achieved by pounding in small stakes 20 (about 1.5 feet) 3 feet apart so the two outer hollow posts 12, 14 can slip over the stake allowing it to stand on its own.

Each goal has two unique characteristics:

• • (1) Under the top horizontal post will be another horizontal PVC pipe 22 leaving only 3 inches between the two. Pipe 22 is connected to the side posts 12, 14 by a “T” connector 24, which connects to the top of each side post and then to the 90 degree elbows. The intention of the space is to provide more points if the disc goes through this area and is not caught.
  • (2) Hanging in the center of the goal (off the bottom horizontal bar) is a 1 foot long by 1 inch wide PVC pipe 26 which will be called the Uvula. Pipe 26 has a one inch hole 28 near the top of the pipe, and a string or zip tie 30 can be used to hang it from the pipe 22. Hitting this uvula will allow more points to be awarded (if hit and disc is not caught).

The game rules and point scoring are identified under the headings “Game Basics” and “Points” as described below.

Game Basics

• • Game is played with 2 to 6 people
  • Each team defends a goal by standing behind it
  • Each goal is 4 feet high by 3 feet wide (no net, just open)
  • Goals are placed 12 yards apart
  • Teams try to throw a disc through the opposing team's goal without it being caught
  • Teams must stand behind their own goal or next to it when throwing (as long as they are at least 12 yards away from the other team's goal)
  • Teams must also stand behind their own goal when trying to catch when the opposing team is throwing

Points

• • Games are to 21 points and points are only awarded if the disc goes through an opponent's goal without being caught
  • 1 point is scored if disc is thrown through opponent's goal and the disc is not caught (if caught, no points)
  • Hanging down the middle of the goal is the uvula—if disc hits this and is not caught, it's worth 3 points
  • The top of the goal will have two horizontal bars—3 inches apart—throwing it through this area will be 7 points if not caught
  • Points are only awarded if the disc fully goes thru the opponent's goal before hitting the ground
  • People must be behind their own goal line when throwing (throw from behind the goal or next to either side, or even through your own goal)
  • People must also be behind their own goal when attempting a catch—no body part can pass over or through their own goal when catching (if they catch the disc or touch the disc before allowing it to fully cross into the goal, two points will be awarded to the thrower)
  • Catches must be made with just one hand and no other body part helping or being touched by the disc
  • Teams—all players must take turns throwing and catching
  • Each person must always throw to the same person
  • Players do not have to wait for the opposing team member to be ready
  • It can be as fast paced as the skill level allows
  • If the disc lands and finishes moving before the opposing goal being thrown at, the new thrower has the option of throwing with one foot on that spot when attempting their next throw—they could potentially be much closer than 12 yards (the person catching does not have to wait to attempt their own throw, even if playing one vs one)
  • When someone is defending a goal, attempting a catch, they can utilize other team members if they can hit it or tip it up towards another team member (with one hand) for them to catch one handed if necessary
  • Teams can decide on allowing any kind of throw or how to catch (one or two hands)

Claims

1-3. (canceled)

4. A product for use as a goal in a flying disc game, the product comprising:

a pair of side posts;

a first crossbar connected perpendicularly to each of the side posts;

a second crossbar connected perpendicularly to each of the side posts, and parallel to the first crossbar, whereby the side posts and first and second crossbars together define a substantially rectangular target area;

an elongate target suspended from the second crossbar by a tether, whereby the elongate target is positioned between the pair of side posts.

5. The product according to claim 4, wherein the first crossbar is connected to one end of each of the side posts by 90 degree elbow connectors.

6. The product according to claim 4, wherein the second crossbar is connected to each of the side posts by a T-shaped connector.

7. The product according to claim 4, wherein the elongate target is formed of the same material as the side posts and first and second crossbars.

8. The product according to claim 4, wherein the elongate target, the side posts, and the first and second crossbars are formed of a pipe material.

9. The product according to claim 4, wherein the tether is formed of string or a zip-tie.

10. The product according to claim 4 further comprising a pair of stakes, each of the pair of stakes having an upper end that is shaped and configured to be received in one end of a side post.

11. A kit comprising a pair of the products according to claim 4.

12. A kit comprising a pair of the products according to claim 10.

13. A method of playing a flying disc game, the method comprising:

placing two products according to claim 4 onto the ground a fixed distance apart, with the pair of side posts perpendicular to the ground to thereby form first and second goals;

each of two teams, containing one or more players, being located behind or adjacent to its goal, and taking turns to throw a flying disc toward its opponent's goal, whereby points are scored by a throwing team for the following:

a) throwing a disc completely through an opponent's goal, between the pair of posts and beneath the second crossbar, and the disc is not caught;

b) throwing a disc completely through an opponent's goal to contact the elongate target, and the disc is not caught; and

c) throwing a disc completely through an opponent's goal between the first and second crossbars, and the disc is not caught.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein each game is played to a predetermined point value, and scoring throw a) is worth 1 point, scoring throw b) is worth 3 points, and scoring throw c) is worth 7 points.

15. The method according to claim 13, whereby additional points are scored by a throwing team for:

d) an opponent who introduces a body part over or through their own goal when catching a thrown disc.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein each game is played to a predetermined point value; and scoring throw a) is worth 1 point, scoring throw b) is worth 3 points, scoring throw c) is worth 7 points, and scoring throw d) is worth 2 points.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein catches by an opponent, to prevent a scoring throw, must be one-handed.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein catches by an opponent, to prevent a scoring throw, may first be tipped one-handed before being caught one-handed by the opponent's teammate.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein when throwing a disc, a player must be located behind or adjacent to that player's goal.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein when throwing a disc, a player must be located behind or adjacent to that player's goal except when an opponent's immediately preceding throw lands and comes to rest before reaching the said player's goal, in which case said player is allowed to instead throw the disc from the spot where the opponent's immediately preceding throw comes to rest.