Divided by shirt colors, the darks and lights take the field at Purks YMCA every Tuesday for an evening of ultimate frisbee.

The sport, usually just called ultimate, has rules similar to football, but it’s played at the pace of soccer. Instead of a ball, players use a frisbee to score points, and the players self-officiate the game, even at the highest levels.

Alex Hill said he’s been playing ultimate with the group since he moved to Vicksburg four years ago from Gainesville, Fla.

“I played ultimate for the University of Florida,” he said. “I won a national championship in college in 2010.”

Now though, Hill said, it’s just a great way to have fun and get in a workout.

“I’ve played this sport since I was a junior in high school, and I can’t stop playing it,” he said. “After moving here, this is the group I found, and I’m friends with a lot of these people.”

New players are welcome to come out and join the group, Hill said, adding it’s a great way for old athletes to relive their glory days.

“It’s not as difficult to learn as people often think it is,” he said. “It’s a much smaller learning curve than people think.”

Kaden Rowell said he’s been going out to the YMCA to play ultimate for the past four years, but others played there for at least six years.

“I played very unregulated ultimate Frisbee when I was 11 or 12, but when I really started playing was three or four years ago when I started coming out here,” he said.

Tuesday there were about 20 people playing ultimate, and Rowell said they consistently have at least 10 players.

“In the summer we’ve had tons of people come out,” he said. “A lot of the guys who play at college or move back to see their family during the summer will come and play. We’ve had people on vacation find out about this local group and come play.”

Ultimate is different from a lot of sports, and Rowell said that’s a plus.

“I love the feel of chasing after the disc,” he said. “I love the feeling of jumping up to get something that’s not a traditional football or basketball.”

Rowell said the strategies of the game make it especially unique.

“The way you have to handle the Frisbee and make different cuts – it’s something football and basketball don’t really have,” he said.

Shiloh Roberts said she’s been coming out to play for the last year.

“I like to hang out with my friends,” she said. “I like coming out here to enjoy myself.”

Roberts said her favorite part about the sport is the teamwork required.