Though the second day of its own Nov. 21 SoCal Tournament was canceled due to rain, it was not difficult to see the strength of the Squids ultimate Frisbee teams. UCSD’s ultimate program is formidable enough that the large group was divided into three teams for the event, which combined for an 8-1 record. Although the tournament was called off before a champion could be crowned, the Squids are a clear threat for both the regional and national tournaments in the spring season.

Ultimate is played on a field that resembles a football field in that it is rectangular with end zones at both ends, but is shorter and wider, measuring 70 yards by 40 yards.

The object of the game is to score points in the end zone and to be the first team to score 13, 15 or 17 points in the end zone, depending on the format and number of teams in a tournament.

Each team is allowed to have seven players on the field during a game, plus substitutes. The Squids, because they are such a large organization, have two teams composed of between 25 and 30 members each.

The NCAA refuses to recognize ultimate as a collegiate sport because the game is self-officiated. Until recently, high-intensity games — like those that determine tournament winners — have been plagued by frequent foul calls and excessive refereeing by athletes. However, recent amendments to rules have allowed for observers, who approve or deny questionable calls that players on the field make.

Turnovers happen when the disc is dropped, intercepted or blocked by the defending team. Play resumes as soon as the disc is picked up. When a player catches the disc, he must remain in place on a pivot foot, like when a player has the ball in basketball, until he throws the disc again. The defender guarding the player with the disc is allowed to stall count, which is a period of 10 seconds between the time that the disc is caught and thrown again. If it is not thrown, then a turnover is called.

Defenders are not allowed to touch the player who has possession of the disc and must keep a distance of at least the width of a Frisbee in order to allow movement.

Regional and national tournaments are played in the spring after the regular season. Traditionally, the major regional rivals for the UCSD “A” team, Squid Ice, are UC Santa Barbara and defending national champion Colorado.

Recent changes in the national tournament format have opened the door for two teams in the West region to advance, setting the stage for an intensely-contested three-way battle for those positions.

“We’re going to have a good season,” senior captain Scott Davis said. “Our goal for the season is to do as well or better than last year.”

Squid Ice finished the 2004 spring season in fifth place nationally.

Fellow senior captain Adam Desjardins, Davis, and juniors Quinn Kennett, Andy Ferguson, and Matthew Hefferman are expected to lead Squid Ice through the season as dominant players.

“The first big test of the season will be the [UCSD-hosted] Prez Day tournament over President’s Day weekend,” Davis said. “The best teams in the nation usually turn out for that.”

The Squids anticipate serious competition and a chance to evaluate the strengths of their biggest rivals.

“Colorado is a big rival because they usually win the region,” senior David Anderson said. “Santa Barbara is a rival because … well, we just hate Santa Barbara.”

Last season, UC Santa Barbara was disqualified from nationals contention after officials determined that there was an ineligible player on the roster, while Colorado went on to beat UC Berkeley in the final match.

Squid Lite, the UCSD “B” team, is considered the foremost secondary team in the nation.

“There has been a rivalry with the Stanford ‘B’ team,” senior Keith Hackbarth said, “but last year, we just creamed them, so that is sort of dying out.”

Squid Lite is such a dominant force on the field, that in the 2004 regional tournament, the team managed to score eight points against UC Santa Barbara’s “A” team.

“Normally, when an ‘A’ team plays a ‘B’ team, they think of it as a bye or a warmup,” Hackbarth said. “But when a lot of teams play us, even if we get beat, we’re always competitive. [Eight] is a lot of points considering that [UC Santa Barbara] was one of the top-10 teams in the nation.”

In recent years, the San Luis Obispo “A” team has emerged as a competitive rival for Squid Lite.