Game Advisors: Observers Who Help Without Refereeing

Ultimate game with the game advisor role used at official tournaments: two students per field who do not referee but whom players can ask for an opinion about a play or a rule. It builds mediation skills and a deep knowledge of the rules.

How to play

1. Quick advisor training: the teacher goes over with four students what they can do (give an opinion when asked, explain the rule) and cannot do (make the decision) (5 min).
2. Two 6v6 games side by side, with two advisors on the sidelines of each field (2 min).
3. First half: when a call cannot be settled, players may ask the advisor, who answers in one sentence (9 min).
4. Rotation: four new advisors come in and the first group goes in to play; second half with the same rules (9 min).
5. Advisors share the hardest situations out loud and how they explained them; each player rates on the sheet whether they helped (5 min).

Rules

• The advisor speaks only when both players involved ask.
• The final decision always belongs to the players; if they still disagree, the disc goes back.
• Advisors stay off the field, 6 feet from the sideline.
• Nobody criticizes an advisor for their opinion: thank them and keep playing.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: serves as the fixed advisor for one field the whole session and shares observations at the end.
• Hearing impairment: the advisor gives the opinion with a gesture or writes it on a small whiteboard.
• Autism: if they prefer not to mediate, they record calls and how they were settled on the sheet.

Learning goals

• Know the rules well enough to explain them.
• Mediate game conflicts without imposing solutions.
• Respect other people's opinions in a competitive setting.

Equipment for a class of 25

• flying discs: 2
• cones: 16
• pinnies: 14
• worksheets: 8

Teacher tip

Pick students who know the rules well as the first advisors, not the ones who play the least. It is good preparation if the class later runs a tournament.

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