LUSH 2026 — Player Pack

Welcome to LUSH 2026! Thanks for signing up; we hope you have a brilliant couple of months. This page contains everything you need to know about how the league works: teams, schedule, rules, kit, contingency plans, the lot. Please give it a read, and ask your captains (or us) if anything’s unclear.

LUSH Planning Committee

Quick links

Contents

Schedule

  • Pre-LUSH Party: Sunday 24th May, 16:00 – 19:00, Clissold Park
  • Week 1 starts: Wednesday 27th May
  • Finals: Thursday 6th August
  • End-of-season party: Thursday 6th August

Matches are played on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at Clissold Park (specific spot: https://what3words.com/flies.fancy.forced). Games start at 19:00 sharp.

Post-match social: outdoor tables are reserved for us at the Clissold Park Tavern from 20:30 each match night. Please come along! The post-game pub is genuinely a huge part of why LUSH works.

We have 10 teams and 11 weeks this year (that’s 44 games) so we have a different structure to previous years:

  • Weeks 1-5: you will play in a mini-league (4 games per team).
  • Weeks 6-9: how you finish in the mini-leagues will determine who you play in the cross pool.
  • Weeks 10-11: Semi finals and finals!
Go to full interactive schedule and standings

Teams and captains

You will have received a list of all your teammates in an email. Captains are listed below.

  • Angel Axlotls: SJ, Jenson
  • Brownswood Bandicoots: Mukadass, Mars
  • Clissold Capybaras: Claire, Luc
  • Dalston Drongos: Fiona, Amiel
  • Finsbury Flamingos: Hev, Caleb
  • Hackney Hummingbirds : Heavn, Josh
  • Islington Iguanas: Mo, Laurie
  • Old Street Ocelots: Mary Mason, Tom
  • Stoke Newington Sloths: Jingjing, Rob
  • Tottenham Toucans Sally, Ian

See the full team sheets >>

Map and venue

  • Nearby tube stations are circled (follow the arrow North to get to Manor House and South to get to Canonbury Overground station).
  • There are bus stops all around Clissold Park. Check TFL for all the details.
  • Tables are reserved at the Clissold Park Tavern pub (also circled) for after the games
  • Nearby water fountains are marked with a blue water drop.
  • Locations to take shelter in case of lightning are marked with an X.
  • What3Words for the pitches: https://w3w.co/flies.fancy.forced

Equity Statement

At Curve, we’re striving to create a welcoming environment for anyone interested in playing Ultimate, regardless of experience. Throughout LUSH, we want everyone to feel able to participate fully. We believe equality and diversity are essential to this and to growing the sport in London and the UK.

When taking part in LUSH:

  • No tolerance for discriminatory language or behaviour, in particular about someone’s ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or religion.
  • Trust every member of your team so all players are involved in the play.
  • Use non-gendered terms when describing plays and strategies (e.g. “match defence” instead of “man defence”).

Please read the full Curve Equity Statement and WFDF’s Spirit of the Game explanation ahead of the competition.

What to bring / what to wear

Wear:

  • A light (white) or dark top to play in (check the schedule for which you need) — avoid anything that could be confused with the other team’s colour (grey, yellow, fluorescent).
  • Cleats/studs (football boots). Trainers are OK if you don’t have boots, but cleats give much better grip.
  • Clothes you are comfortable running and sweating in.
  • Warm layers for after the game.

Bring:

  • Water bottle (refill points are marked on the map below).
  • Snacks / fuel.
  • Cash or card for the pub afterwards.
  • A waterproof bag if it’s going to rain: Games go ahead in all weather except lightning and there isn’t anywhere covered to leave your stuff.
  • Sun protection if needed.
  • A positive attitude!

Rules

  • Games start at 19:00. Please arrive a bit early so you can warm up with your team before games start.
  • Games are first to 15, with half at 8.
  • Soft cap at 20:30 — if the game isn’t finished, finish the current point then play to +1 of the leading team’s score.
  • Light cap: if it’s getting dark, captains can agree to a light cap to end the game early (but with the 20:30 soft cap this shouldn’t usually come up).
  • One timeout per team per game.
  • Kit: teams are assigned either light (white) or dark for each game — please pay attention to the schedule and avoid wearing anything that could reasonably be confused with the other team’s colour (such as grey, yellow, or fluorescent colours).
  • Format is Loose Mixed. See the next section for how gender ratios work in practice.
  • We use WFDF rules, which emphasise Spirit and player safety above all else. WFDF Basic Rules. Full online version.
  • Spirit scores: we keep track of these. Please make sure your team submits a score after every game: LUSH 2026 Spirit Score Form

Playing mixed Ultimate

In line with WFDF policy on non-discrimination, we do not ask players to declare their gender. Instead, we use the terms “male-matching player” (MMP) or “female-matching player” (FMP), which allows non-binary players to say “physiologically, it is most fair that I match up with (fe)males when playing” rather than having to declare an untrue gender identity.

The format is 7-vs-7 Loose Mixed. Both teams should try to field equal numbers of MMPs and FMPs players on the pitch each point, where possible.

Here’s how it works in practice:

Before the game

The four captains agree, based on who’s actually there that night, what the default ratio will be for the game; e.g. 4FMP/3MMP or 3FMP/4MMP. There needs to be at least one sub for each gender match.

Captains may agree to stick with a fixed ratio or agree a ‘genzone’ (the team pulling from that endzone sets the ratio). They should check in with their teams and the other team at half-time to see if any changes are needed.

Pulling: ABBA by default

This means: one pull by one gender match, from then on two pulls by one gender match, then two by the other. For example: FMP pulls (A), MMP pulls (B), MMP pulls (B), FMP pulls (A), FMP pulls (A)…repeats until the game is over. Only deviate from this if all captains agree before the game.

On offence: indicate your gender match

When your team is on offence, clearly indicate your gender match so the defence can match up. FMPs: hold both arms out wide. MMPs: clasp your hands behind your head. 

Spirit of the Game

Spirit of the Game is at the heart of LUSH. To help one another improve, teams score each other on spirit after every game across five categories. The team with the highest spirit score across the season wins a prize!

A “2” is a normal score in each category, so 10/20 is standard. Use the Example Behaviours sheet for detailed guidance. Any 0s or 4s must be clarified with a comment.

  1. Rules Knowledge. Know the rules well enough to play fair. We’re playing under WFDF rules. If you’re not sure about something, ask your captains.
  2. Avoiding Body Contact. Player safety is a top priority. If you can only get to that disc by boshing into someone, don’t go for the disc.
  3. Fair-Mindedness. Assume good intentions. Most disagreements are honest differences in perception. Nobody is trying to cheat. 
  4. Positive Attitude Respect the opposition. We’re all here to have a good time and play some frisbee. Make sure everyone is involved, including newer players. Trust your teammates to be part of the play.
  5. Communication. Make calls when you think something has gone wrong and listen to other people’s calls. If you disagree, talk it through calmly. If you can’t agree, the disc goes back to the thrower.

After the game. Both teams take part in a Spirit Circle to have a brief chat. Mix the teams in the circle, and the losing team speaks first. Afterward, each team votes on their spirit scores for the other team. We encourage players with outlying opinions to speak up, or raise it privately with your captain.

Fun stuff

  • Boot bags: Every player gets a LUSH boot bag as part of their registration. These will be distributed by the captains once they arrive, mid-way through the season.
  • Photos: please take and share them! Upload to our Google Photos album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/CnMAafev3xjw5waH9 . Feel free to tag our socials: Instagram @lushfrisbee, Facebook @lushleague.
  • LUSH discs: We have discs with the 2026 LUSH logo for sale at £12. Order yours via https://curveultimate.co.uk/discs/. We also have stools and disc clips from previous years for sale – come find Asher.
  • New Merch: We have a new line-up of merch this year, including sports caps, hoodies and t-shirts. More information to come on this, so keep an eye out for our WhatsApp announcements.
  • Awards: There’ll be prizes for Most Spirited Player and Most Improved Player on each team. Keep an eye out across the season so you know who to vote for.
  • End-of-season party: On the night of finals: Thursday, 6 August. Mark your diary.

Contingency Plans

Bad weather

Games go ahead in all weather except lightning. In the case of a lightning storm overhead during a game, stop playing immediately and make your way to a nearby building for shelter at Sainsbury’s just outside the park, or Clissold House. Both are marked on the map. Wait 15 minutes after the last lightning strike has passed before resuming play.

Injury

There’s a first aid kit in the big black Sondico kit bag along with the cones. Some LUSH players have first aid training but don’t assume someone will; call 999 if necessary. The nearest hospital is Homerton University Hospital (E9 6SR), about a 15 minutes drive away.

If anything serious happens (head-on-head collision, hospital trip), let your captain know immediately so they can report it accordingly.

If you hit your head, assume concussion and sit out. More detailed guidance: https://www.ukultimate.com/news/uk-concussion-guidelines-for-grassroots-sport

Members of the public on the pitches

The pitches are booked for our use with the council. Most people are reasonable when you explain that and will move, but if you have issues, let your captain or one of the organisers know.

Any problems related to the park

Park Keepers: 07772227337

Questions?

Ask your captains first; they’re the front line for almost everything. If they can’t help, they’ll bounce it to the organising team.

Looking forward to a great couple of months!

The LUSH Planning Committee