1 Introduction

As Ultimate Frisbee incorporates more sophisticated analysis of strategy and player performance, clear definitions are essential. This glossary provides concise explanations of key terms, metrics, and the methodologies used in Ultimate data analytics. It is designed to help players, coaches, and fans accurately interpret and discuss the data shaping the sport’s future.

1.1 The Authors

Braden Eberhard is a Machine Learning Engineer at Harvard Medical School who has competed professionally with the Salt Lake Shred and Boston Glory. As a player, he helped the Shred secure a West Division title and national runner-up finish in 2023. As a coach, he led Utah Swarm U20 to back-to-back National Championships. Off the field, Braden enjoys playing chess and volunteering in the Boston community.

Jacob Miller, a data scientist at Qualtrics and professional player with Salt Lake Shred, earned All-UFA Third Team honors in 2023 and has led the league in hockey assists for two consecutive seasons. He coached alongside Braden during Utah Swarm U20’s championship runs. Jacob holds BS and MS degrees in Statistics from BYU and balances ultimate with data projects and watching other sports.

We first teamed up as captains at BYU, where our shared passion for ultimate frisbee and data took root. Since then, we’ve played and coached together with the Salt Lake Shred and Utah Swarm. That connection ultimately inspired us to combine our careers in data science with our love for the game.

1.2 The Spark for Data Analytics in Ultimate

The journey into ultimate data analytics really took off when the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA) launched its data initiative in 2021. We both got involved in this effort, initially working on side projects that aimed to understand the deeper layers of the sport. But as we explored the possibilities, it became clear that there was a huge gap in advanced statistical insights available for ultimate. The potential to contribute to the sport through data was exciting, and we were eager to make our mark.

In 2024, our shared vision and passion culminated in a significant milestone: we submitted a research paper to the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (SSAC) and were honored to be selected as finalists. We were thrilled to see our work gain recognition, and in the end, we placed second for our submission. This achievement not only validated the value of our approach, but it also fueled our desire to continue pushing the boundaries of ultimate frisbee analytics.

1.3 Our Research and Paper

In our paper, titled ” A Machine Learning Approach to Player Value and Decision Making in Professional Ultimate Frisbee,“ we pioneered the integration of advanced metrics into the sport. Using machine learning techniques, we modeled completion probability and field value on a novel play-by-play dataset. Our goal was to create metrics that better captured player contributions and optimal throw choices, offering deeper insights than traditional statistics.

Specifically, we introduced new metrics that help assess the value of a player’s actions and decision-making during a game. These metrics go beyond traditional stats like goals or assists and instead focus on the context of each play, including the likelihood of a successful completion and the field position at the time of the throw. By considering these factors, we are able to offer a more comprehensive picture of player impact and team strategy.

You can explore our full paper here, or view our presentation here.

1.4 A New Era of Sharing Knowledge

The recognition of our analytical work prompted us to expand the scope of our research initiatives. Our advancements in ultimate data analytics demonstrated significant value that warranted broader distribution within the competitive community. The application of machine learning techniques to ultimate frisbee presented a unique opportunity to establish quantitative frameworks for a rapidly evolving sport.

This led to the development of this website—a comprehensive platform housing our research methodologies, analytical insights, and computational tools designed for players, coaches, and performance analysts. This resource aims to integrate advanced analytics into mainstream ultimate frisbee practices, facilitating data-driven development across all competitive levels.

This platform serves as a repository of methodologies designed to optimize metrics in ultimate frisbee. The integrated tools facilitate data-driven decision-making through statistical models, visualization techniques, and analysis of game patterns. Users can implement these frameworks to identify optimization opportunities, enhance strategic approaches, and leverage insights for competitive advantage.