After being "cold" in the cold pool of Frisbee sports for nearly 16 years, Zhang Kun collided with a heat wave from nowhere. became a blue ocean.
Since last spring, more and more frisbee games have appeared on the sports fields of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other cities. Since then, fashion media and social platforms have further boosted, making frisbee sports a new social currency for young people. , and with the arrival of traffic, there are discussions on topics such as its sports attributes, gender issues, and motivation to participate. Behind the "confrontation", this emerging trendy movement is no longer satisfied with showing people with a strange and familiar image, participating in Those who want it to be seen "more fully".
"Celestial Frisbee" quickly "out of the circle"
"I never thought it would be so popular." Zhang Kun, known as the "Godfather of Beijing Frisbee", as one of the earliest Frisbee players in China, was a little puzzled by the sudden busyness. Even when he decided to run Frisbee full-time in 2019, he never imagined it. This niche sport has been able to break through to this point, not to mention the sudden outbreak of the epidemic in 2020, and many offline activities have been completely suspended. Zhang Kun originally thought that his career would continue to be cold.
In 2005, when Zhang Kun, who was still in college, heard about Frisbee from a Scottish friend, almost all players of this American-originated sport in China were foreigners. "At that time, the number of players in the country was about three digits." After entering a state-owned enterprise to engage in computer-related work, Frisbee re-entered life. After that, he and his friends established a club "Beijing Bang" composed of mostly domestic players.
In 2019, he was determined to take root in the frisbee circle when he was tired in the workplace. Several regular teaching sessions a week and the opportunities he found by knocking on the door actively were like headlights, which could not illuminate the distance, but could illuminate the road under his feet.
Zhang Kun has seen "a football field without a single person", and was also asked when he actively promoted it: "Isn't Frisbee a sport played with dogs?" Therefore, the gradual increase in the content of Frisbee on the short video platform can touch his keen nerves. But he did not expect that after the resumption of work and production, these online "signatures" became new offline players pouring in. "Many people came here because they watched short videos and were curious." He told the China Youth Daily. A reporter from Qingwang said that the epidemic has changed people's health concepts and the change of information dissemination methods, which has provided some niche sports with space to break the circle. "Even if the fire is not the Frisbee, there will be other projects on top, which happens to be the choice of the Frisbee '."
But this gust of wind has intensified. Since last year, Frisbee has frequently appeared in various variety shows. Coupled with the star effect, the sport has accelerated into the public eye. In the second half of the year, social media has become a new front. According to a social APP this year 1 The "Top Ten Life Trends for 2022" released in March shows that in the past year, the release volume of Frisbee-related content has increased by 6 times year-on-year. During the Qingming holiday this year, the number of Frisbee-related searches on the app increased by about 24 times compared with the same period last year.
The online popularity continues to be reflected in reality. Zhang Kun said that it is normal to have classes every day now, and the number of clubs has doubled compared to before.
The change happened almost overnight. According to media reports, the PICK UP event held in Beijing Dongfeng Sports Park last year went from 20 people to 80 people each time, and it took less than two months.
“I don’t feel like I’m out of style without playing a frisbee.” A common copy on social media finds reasons for new entrants.
"I used to play Frisbee in Beijing, and basically everyone knew which club I was in. Since the spring of this year, I can hear new clubs appearing every day." Bi Zhimeng once watched an extreme Frisbee organized by Zhang Kun in the winter of 2020. It was the first time she watched the Frisbee game up close, but she didn't become a Frisbee player until last year. "At first, I thought they all played very well and the level was very high. As a newcomer, I couldn't fit in." But the men and women played together. , no referees and other characteristics that are different from traditional sports attracted her. After persevering and improving, she established a Frisbee club "Friendsbee" for novice players in September last year. "I hope there is such a club. Help more newbies to eliminate strangeness."
Bi Zhimeng noticed that the activities organized by Zhang Kun also gradually added new groups. She realized that the Frisbee was rapidly fissioned and subdivided from a small circle familiar with each other, showing a trend of insufficiency.
why frisbee
In a large number of popular science posts, Ultimate Frisbee is introduced as "a game that integrates rugby, football and basketball, allowing players to run in groups in various tactical ways on the field, and pass the Frisbee to a predetermined area to score points." No limbs Contact, the threshold is not high, the requirements for the number of participants, venues, and equipment are not harsh, and at the same time, it is extremely interesting and social. Frisbee sports have the basis for rapid "new".
But its inherent equality, freedom, and sportsmanship are the keys to touching young people today.
"Unlike some traditional team sports that require a certain foundation, Frisbee can be used quickly, and you can quickly gain a sense of achievement from the sport." Bi Zhimeng said, "You can take a few more brilliant photos after playing a few times. A big reason for social media." As a sports enthusiast, she also participates in rock climbing, diving, running and other sports, but in her opinion, the special appeal of Frisbee is also reflected in the educational significance behind the "frisbee spirit".
Due to the influence of the American counterculture in the late 1960s, the ultimate Frisbee competition does not have a referee, and any disputes are resolved by the players on the court through negotiation. ."
On the green field with the frisbee spinning, every time the catch and pass, whether successful or not, someone will shout "Nice catch" (good catch) or applaud to show encouragement.
After each game, the team members will form a circle to introduce themselves or express their views on the game and teammates. Bi Zhimeng said, "The social attributes of team sports are realized bit by bit."
In addition, in the Frisbee game, the player who receives the Frisbee cannot move again, and can only complete the attack or score by passing, and the Frisbee land or go out of bounds will exchange the offensive right, "You can't be like Maradona, one person passes a group of people, The absolute talent of an individual cannot directly lead to the team winning." Zhang Kun said that such rules may better reflect "fairness", and "fairness" is also reflected in the competition between men and women, "The strength of men and the accuracy of women have been integrated. "
"In this sport, girls can also use their own advantages to become a strong player in the team." Xiaohongshu sports blogger Ma Ge is active in the topic of "frisbee", and the Frisbee equipment and professional advice she shares are well received Widely praised, in her opinion, Frisbee is a very friendly sport for women, "Girls are not a vulnerable group and do not need to be protected, but they want to be recognized on the field and enjoy the joy of cooperating with teammates and finally winning the game. "
However, it cannot be ignored that many bloggers' comments will also raise some doubts about gender and the purpose of sports.
In Ma Gee's view, "The recent wind commentary has cast an invisible veil on the sport I love, but whether it's good or bad, the sport itself is right. The root of the problem is probably that the frisbee sport is not really popular. At the same time, the fixed thinking of women is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, which is also the reason why girls are not very enthusiastic about other sports, so when there is such a sport, shouldn't the public encourage it?"
Ma Ge told a reporter from China Youth Daily and China Youth Daily that at first everyone might go to Frisbee activities for social purposes, but after contacting Frisbee, more people enjoy the sport with sportsmanship. At the moment of the venue, all the distracting thoughts in my heart disappear, KPI, OKR, customer needs, weekly and daily newspapers are all left behind, this is the greatest magic of Ultimate Frisbee. The only thing left in the moment is to observe calmly, pass decisively, get rid of defense, and touchdown Scores, time outside of work, we also take it seriously."
where is the wind going
When more people see the charm of Frisbee, the staking is also going on rapidly.
However, when all the soil and sand are down, some "smelling" situations have gradually appeared in the process of the popularization of the Frisbee project.
For example, in order to attract new players, some newly established clubs have modified the rules of Frisbee to reduce the difficulty, and some even lower the threshold for female players; some clubs have put out advertisements that violate professional knowledge on social platforms, and gimmicks are king.
"Don't know how to choose a club is also one of the difficulties encountered by beginners." Bi Zhimeng suggested that before participating in the event, beginners should try their best to have a preliminary understanding of Frisbee sports through popular science videos and posts, and then ask the organizer. Regarding the relevant information of coaches and clubs, "the industry demand is too large, and the coaches are quick to take up their posts, but at least they must be familiar with the rules and meet the technical standards".
The rise of the industry is rapidly rising like a tide, but Bi Zhimeng sees the ebb and flow.
"For a pure novice activity, there may be more than 100 people at the beginning. After a month or two, only 10%-20% will stay." She said that some participants have a "punch-in" mentality, "like visiting exhibitions, punching in cafes. It’s the same, try it out.” But those who stay are easily converted into deep users. In order for them to find a more suitable sports scene, the organizer needs to be more careful. “For example, after a zero-based player has learned for a while, they need Advanced activities; those who like to take pictures can organize a special photography bureau; some bureaus require special rolls, and the matched players must be of equal strength.” In addition, there are special girls’ bureaus or jersey-themed bureaus, “Let Frisbee and other sports Cultures come together.”
The development of the project has also changed on social media. Searching for "frisbee" content, in addition to outfits and beautiful photos, "club summary, avoid stepping on thunder", "entry-level equipment history of blood and tears", "frisbee running training for two people" " The number of more professional topics such as "Why does the Frisbee always shake when I shoot it" has increased sharply, and the coverage of the event has also been extended to Wuhan, Hangzhou, Nanning, Jiujiang and other cities.
In addition, in April this year, the Ministry of Education issued the "Notice of Compulsory Education Curriculum Plan and Curriculum Standards (2022 Edition)", and Ultimate Frisbee was officially included in the compulsory education curriculum as an emerging sports item.
"This project has been fermenting, but the things that have settled down have begun to exert force, and the fragrance will come out." Zhang Kun said that behind the strong wind is the persistence of those players more than 10 years ago, and equipment and equipment manufacturers continue to cultivate, "We just Like seeds, it has grown into a small tree that is not very obvious, but it has always been there, and it will grow up when the weather is good." But he said that as the project continues to be hot, shocks are inevitable, "the 'Hundred Regiments' will come later. It is the scarcity of coaches, how the club can continue to operate, the scarcity of quality products, etc., but it will definitely not go back." He admitted that he did not know when the peak was, after all, as a "cold" in the cold pool for 10 years For many years of practitioners, the peaks and valleys seem to be related and irrelevant. "Just keep doing it. There is never a lack of blending in any industry, but there is never a lack of down-to-earth work."
China Youth Daily, China Youth Daily reporter Liang Xuan Source: China Youth Daily