World Flying Disc Federation | |
Logosize: | 250px |
Sport: | Flying disc sports |
Category: | Ultimate, Beach Ultimate, Disc Golf, Guts, Double Disc Court, Freestyle |
Abbrev: | WFDF |
Jurisdiction: | International |
Url: | https://wfdf.sport/ |
The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) is the international governing body for flying disc (Frisbee) sports, with responsibility for sanctioning world championship events, establishing uniform rules, setting of standards for and recording of world records. WFDF is a federation of member associations which represent flying disc sports and their athletes in 100 countries. WFDF is an international federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a member of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF), GAISF, and the International World Games Association (IWGA), and it is a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation in the state of Colorado, U.S.
WFDF has member associations in 118 countries (90+28) (in March 2022), from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, The Caribbean and South America (regular members and provisional members).
WFDF is a not-for-profit corporation, incorporated in Colorado, US, and it was formed in 1985.
WFDF is a member of Global Association of International Sports Federations (formerly known as SportAccord), The International World Games Association (IWGA), and the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE). In May 2013, under the leadership of WFDF President Robert L. "Nob" Rauch, WFDF was granted provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee and gained full IOC recognition on 2 August 2015.
It is now one of 42 sports that are members of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations.[1] [2]
118 members (90 regular members and 28 provisional members):[3]
Number | Region | Countries (regular and provisional members) | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Africa | 15+4=19 | |
2 | Asia | 15+10=25 | |
3 | 3+0=3 | ||
4 | Europe | 40+6=46 | |
5 | 18+7=25 | ||
Total | World | 118 |
Asia Oceania Flying Disc Federation (AOFDF) - (governing body of Asian and Oceanic Flying Disc) (one of the continental association of the World Flying Disc Federation).[4]
On 3 December 2011, was founded in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei (2011 WFDF Asia Oceanic Ultimate Championship (AOUC)).[5]
Foundation meeting: Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Japan, and Singapore.
Events:
Members (25+3):[6]
Asia:
Oceania:
Other:
Flying disc sport rose with the invention of plastic and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007. The early years of international flying disc play were dominated by the influence of the International Frisbee Association (IFA) which was founded by Ed Headrick in 1967 as the promotional arm of the Wham-O Manufacturing Company. Many of the international affiliates began as Wham-O distributorships that sponsored tours of well-known Frisbee athletes. Several groups of individual disc event stars like Ken Westerfield and Jim Kenner touring Canada in 1972.[9] [10] The brothers Jens and Erwin Velasquez and the team of Peter Bloeme and Dan "Stork" Roddick made several tours of Scandinavia and the rest of Europe in the mid-1970s; Jo Cahow and Stork went to Australia and Japan in 1976 and Victor Malafronte and Monica Lou toured Japan around the same time. Stork—starting as head of the sports marketing arm of the U.S.-based Wham-O in 1975—played a crucial role in encouraging the establishment of national flying disc associations (FDAs) in Sweden, Japan, Australia, and in many of the countries of Western Europe. The FDAs began with freestyle and accuracy competitions but as Ultimate and disc golf caught on, the associations began to broaden their focus.[11]
The concept of an independent world organization for the development and coordination of all of the disc disciplines began in 1980 at an Atlanta, Georgia, meeting of 40 international disc organizers. A loose federation led by Jim Powers was formed from that meeting but never took off. The following year, the relatively well-established national flying disc associations of Europe formed the European Flying Disc Federation (EFDF). In 1983 Wham-O was sold to Kransco and the IFA was disbanded. Spurred on by the demise of the IFA, Stork called a meeting at the US Open Overall Championships in La Mirada, California. A plan was presented by Charlie Mead of England and a formal decision was made to establish a worldwide disc association in Örebro, Sweden during the 1984 European Overall Championships. This decision was confirmed later that year by other flying disc countries in Lucerne, Switzerland, during the World Ultimate and Guts Championships, and thus the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) was born.
The first WFDF Congress was held in Helsingborg, Sweden in July 1985, where the first set of statutes was adopted and the first board was elected. The first president was Charlie Mead (England), the first secretary Johan Lindgren (Sweden) and the first treasurer Brendan Nolan (Ireland). Membership was composed of the national flying disc associations and US-oriented organizations such as the Ultimate Players Association, Freestyle Players Associations, and Guts Players Association. Committees were established to oversee international play and rules for each of the disc disciplines. Over the remainder of the 1980s, WFDF took on an increasing role in overseeing and promoting international disc tournaments with Stork as president and Lindgren as secretary-treasurer.
In 1992, Robert L. "Nob" Rauch was elected President of WFDF and Juha Jalovaara become chair of the Ultimate Committee. Over the next two years, WFDF was reorganized to better reflect the increasing growth of Ultimate and the diversity of WFDF's membership. The disc committee structure was simplified into a broad category of team sports (Ultimate and Guts) and individual events (golf and the overall disciplines). The role of the Rules Committee was expanded, headed by Stork, to ensure consistency and an annual rules book was printed. With a variety of representation, the categories of membership were further defined, with national associations able to join as regular, associate, or provisional (non-paying) members depending on level of participation and resources. WFDF's corporate standing was reorganized and incorporated in Colorado, obtaining US tax-exempt status. WFDF, with a fairly nominal budget, found help with the increasing use of e-mail that permitted reasonable communication and coordination. In 1994, the application to join the International World Games Association (IWGA)—championed by Fumio "Moro" Morooka of Japan—was prepared and eventually accepted by the IWGA leading to Ultimate's participation in the 2001 World Games in Akita, Japan, and in each of the subsequent competitions.
In May 2013, under the leadership WFDF President Robert L. "Nob" Rauch, WFDF was granted provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee and it is now one of 42 sports that are members of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations.
Due to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, WFDF canceled all its world championship events in both 2020 and 2021. It is planning to recommence world championship events in Ultimate, Beach ultimate, Disc Golf, and Overall in 2022, and to participate in The World Games championships in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. in July 2022 that had been postponed from 2021.
Disciplines:[12]
Disc sports represented include: Ultimate (outdoor, indoor, beach), disc golf, field events (distance, accuracy, self caught flight, discathon), guts frisbee, double disc court, and freestyle.
Name | Nationality | From | To | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
data-sort-value="Mead, Charlie" | Charlie Mead | 1985 | 1986 | ||
data-sort-value="Roddick, Daniel" | Daniel "Stork" Roddick | 1987 | 1991 | ||
data-sort-value="Rauch, Robert" | Robert L. "Nob" Rauch | 1992 | 1994 | ||
data-sort-value="Wright, Bill" | Bill Wright | 1995 | 2004 | ||
data-sort-value="Jalovaara, Juha" | Juha Jalovaara | 2005 | 2008 | ||
data-sort-value="Potts, Jonathan" | Jonathan Potts | 2009 | 2010 | ||
data-sort-value="Rauch, Robert" | Robert L. "Nob" Rauch | 2011 | Present |
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., 23–31 July 2022
Year 2022 | width=200 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=200 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=200 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | New York PoNY | Raleigh Ring of Fire | Clapham | |||
Women's | Medellín Revolution | SF Fury | Raleigh Phoenix | |||
Mixed | Seattle Mixtape | Vancouver Red Flag | Brisbane Lunchbox |
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., 14–21 July 2018
Year 2018 | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Bronze | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | SF Revolver | Sydney Colony | Toronto GOAT | Austin Doublewide | |
Women's | Seattle Riot | Medellín Revolution | Boston Brute Squad | Denver Molly Brown | |
Mixed | Seattle BFG | Boston Slow White | Philadelphia AMP | Boston Wild Card |
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 29 July - 4 August 2018
Year 2018 | width=200 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=200 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=200 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Men | Boneyard | All Bashed Out | Johnny Encore | |||
Masters Women | iRot | Mu-Syozoku | Ripe | |||
Masters Mixed | Molasses Disaster | 512 | SF Bridge Club | |||
Grandmasters Men | Johnny Walker | Surly | Tombstone |
Lecco, Italy, 2–9 August 2014
Year 2014 | width=200 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=200 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=200 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | Revolver | Sockeye | Johnny Bravo | |||
Women's | Seattle Riot | Fury | Scandal | |||
Mixed | Drag'n Thrust | Polar Bears | The Ghosts | |||
Masters | Boneyard | FIGJAM | Johnny Encore | |||
Women's Masters | Vintage | Godiva | Golden Girls |
Prague, Czech Republic, 3–10 July 2010
Year 2010 | width=200 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=200 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=200 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | Revolver | Sockeye | Buzz Bullets | |||
Women's | Fury | UNO | Seattle Riot | |||
Mixed | Chad Larson Experience | ONYX | Mental Toss Flycoons | |||
Masters | Troubled Past | Surly | Eastern Greys |
Perth, Australia, 11–18 November 2006
Year 2006 | width=200 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=200 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=200 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | Buzz Bullets | Thong | Chilly | |||
Women's | MUD | UNO | Huck | |||
Mixed | Team Fisher Price | Brass Monkey | Slow White and the Seven Dwarfs | |||
Masters | Vigi | One Last Ditch Shot at Glory | Eastern Greys |
Honolulu, US, 4–10 August 2002
Year 2002 | width=200 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=200 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=200 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | Condors | Death Or Glory | Sockeye | |||
Women's | Seattle Riot | Ozone | Lady Godiva | |||
Mixed | Donner Party | Hang Time | Trigger Hippy | |||
Masters | KWA | Skeleton Crew | Old And in the Way |
St. Andrews, Scotland, 12–20 August 1999
Year 1999 | width=200 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=200 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=200 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | DoG | Liquidisc | Condors | |||
Women's | Women on the Verge | Schwa | Spirals | |||
Mixed | Red Fish Blue Fish | Osaka Nato | RippIT | |||
Masters | Cigar | Return of the Red Eye | Tempus Fugit |
Vancouver Canada, 27 July – 2 August 1997
Year 1997 | width=200 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=200 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=200 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | Sockeye | Double Happiness | Furious George | |||
Women's | Women on the Verge | Schwa | Lady Godiva | |||
Masters | Beyonders | Tempus Fugit | Gamecock |
Millfield United Kingdom, 22–29 July 1995
Year 1995 | width=200 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=200 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=200 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | Double Happiness | DoG | NYC | |||
Women's | Women on the Verge | Ozone | Red Lights | |||
Masters | Seven Sages | Gummibears | Princeton Alumni |
Madison, Wisconsin US, 24–31 July 1993
Year 1993 | width=200 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=200 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=200 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | New York Ultimate | Double Happiness | Rhino Slam! | |||
Women's | Maine-iacs | Lady Godiva | Women on the Verge | |||
Masters | Seven Sages | Hapa Haolies | Rude Boys |
Toronto Canada, 22–28 July 1991
Year 1991 | width=200 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=200 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=200 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | New York | First Time Gary | Windy City | |||
Women's | Maine-iacs | Lady Godiva | Lady Condors | |||
Masters | Three Stages | Third Coast Ultimate | Mo' Better Masters |
Cologne Germany, 26–30 July 1989
Year 1989 | width=200 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=200 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=200 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | Philmore | Elvis | Looney Tunes | |||
Women's | Lady Condors | Smithereens | Stenungsunds FC |
Kaohsiung Taiwan, 19–21 July 2009
Jacksonville, Florida, 9–12 July 2009Open Division
Women's Division
London, Great Britain, 18–25 June 2016
Year | 2016 | width=145 style="background-color: #E0FFCC;" | Spirit | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Men's | |||||||||
Women's | |||||||||
Mixed | |||||||||
Masters Men | |||||||||
Masters Women's | |||||||||
Guts |
Sakai, Japan, 7–14 July 2012
Year | 2012 | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | |||||||
Women's | |||||||
Mixed | |||||||
Open Masters | |||||||
Women's Masters | |||||||
Guts | (Red) | (White) |
Vancouver, Canada, 2–9 August 2008
Year | 2008 | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | |||||||
Women's | |||||||
Mixed | |||||||
Masters | |||||||
Junior Open | |||||||
Junior Girls | |||||||
Guts | (Red) | (White) | (Red) |
Turku, Finland, 1–7 August 2004
Year | 2004 | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | |||||||
Women's | |||||||
Mixed | |||||||
Masters | |||||||
Junior Open | |||||||
Junior Girls |
Heilbronn, Germany, 12–20 August 2000
Year | 2000 | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | |||||||
Women's | |||||||
Mixed | |||||||
Masters | |||||||
Junior Open | |||||||
Junior Girls |
Blaine, Minnesota, US, 15–22 August 1998
Year | 1998 | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | |||||||
Women's | |||||||
Mixed | |||||||
Masters | |||||||
Junior |
Jönköping, Sweden, 10–17 August 1996
Year | 1996 | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | |||||||
Women's | |||||||
Masters | |||||||
Junior |
Colchester, United Kingdom, 21–28 August 1994
Year | 1994 | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | |||||||
Women's | |||||||
Masters | |||||||
Junior |
Utsunomiya, Japan, 17–23 August 1992
Year | 1992 | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | |||||||
Women's | |||||||
Masters | |||||||
Junior |
Oslo, Norway, 8–14 July 1990
Year | 1990 | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | |||||||
Women's | |||||||
Masters | |||||||
Junior |
Leuven, Belgium, 29 August – 3 September 1988
Year | 1988 | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | |||||||
Women's | |||||||
Junior |
Colchester, United Kingdom, 25–31 August 1986
Year | 1986 | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | |||||||
Women's | |||||||
Junior |
Lucerne, Switzerland, 2–9 September 1984
Year | 1984 | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | |||||||
Women's | |||||||
Junior |
Gothenburg, Sweden, 29 August – 3 September 1983
Year | 1983 | width=145 style="background-color: #F7F6A8;" | Gold | width=135 style="background-color: #DCE5E5;" | Silver | width=135 style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open | |||||||
Women's | |||||||
Junior |