Atlanta boasts one of the strongest goalty communities in the country. We have a wide pool of talent and a thriving scene for pickup and leagues. AFDC offers opportunities to play in the spring, fall, and winter so you can play til your goaltimate-heart’s content!
Goaltimate is still developing as a disc sport, so there are some variations in the rules, format, and field layout depending on what city or tournament you may be playing in. These aren’t significant though and you’ll be able to easily adapt.
USA Goaltimate is leading the effort to standardize rules and grow the sport across the country. Goalty is played on a much smaller field than ultimate, so less running is required. Teams score by completing a pass through a hoop to a receiver catching within the scoring zone. Games are faster-paced due to “make-it, take-it” possession similar to half-court basketball.
Atlanta has its own style and thus some variations to how we play. The rules have been under revision for as long as we can remember and we’re always tweaking based on player experience and feedback. The main difference is the field setup with some other minor variations. If we get something finalized we’ll post it here, but the best way to learn is to get out there and play! Leagues will clarify what rules are being used prior to the beginning of each season.
Like ultimate, pickup is a great way to start learning how to play, but consistent goalty pickup is hard to come by at the moment. If you know of any, please let us know at info@afdc.com so we can share information here!
In the meantime, AFDC goalty leagues provide the best opportunity to get involved and play. Our leagues vary in format and competition-level, so an overview is below.
Spring Goalty :: March – May
- Format: Mixed (co-ed) with 3 men/1 woman
- Teams: 4-person cores + draft
- Games: One match (best of five games) per week (typically Tuesday or Thursday)
- Competition level: Medium
- End-of-season tournament: Typically one-day, the first Sunday in May, followed by a social event for all participants
Fall Goalty :: September – November
- Format: Mixed (co-ed) with 3 men/1 woman
- Teams: Fully drafted by captains (1 man & 1 woman)
- Games: One match (best of five games) per week
(typically Tuesday or Thursday) - Competition level: Low – Medium
- End-of-season tournament: Typically one-day, the first Sunday in November, followed by a social event for all participants
Winter Goalty :: January – February
- Format: Mixed (co-ed) with 3 men/1 woman
- Teams: Cores + draft
- Competition level: Medium-high
- Games: One match (best of five games) per week (typically Sunday afternoons)
- End-of-season tournament: Typically one-day, the last Sunday of February or first Sunday in March, followed by a social event for all participants
Player registration will be announced prior to each league on our website, so check back for more information and to sign-up. Registration is managed through a separate leagues site where players are asked to create a profile to enter their experience level, attendance, and other details to ensure they are appropriately drafted.
Interested in becoming a team captain? We’re always looking for new volunteers ready to captain and teach others while encouraging fun, safe play. We have a resource guide to support you. Contact league organizers to let them know you’re interested!
