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'Spirit of the Game' comes straight from the rulebook:
"Spirit of the Game - Ultimate has traditionally relied upon a spirit of sportsmanship which places the responsibility for fair play on the player himself. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of the bond of mutual respect between players, adherence to the agreed-upon rules of the game, or the basic joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to eliminate adverse conduct from the Ultimate field. Such actions as taunting of opposing players, dangerous aggression, intentional fouling, or other 'win at all costs' behavior are contrary to the spirit of the game and must be avoided by all players."
What does this mean? Like beauty, spirit is in the eye of the beholder. But some things are constants:
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Fair Play: Since the refereeing in Ultimate is done by the players on the field, ethical behavior is expected and unethical behavior is immediately revealed.
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Mutual Respect: This starts with self-respect and extends to all your teammates, opponents and supporters. Treat the people around the sport with honor and dignity. This can be as simple as showing up to practice and as complex as canceling a game because a field might get destroyed.
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Agreed-upon Rules: You must know the rules of the game...and follow them.
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Control of 'I'll do anything to win' outlook: Competitive sports place an ethical burden on participants. In a self-refereed sport like Ultimate, there are numerous opportunities to intentionally break the rules to advantage as well as directly intimidate, or endanger, other players. The prevailing culture in Ultimate is the expectation that all players will forego these 'win at all cost' advantages. When players do cross the line, (and everyone does at some point), it is immediately apparent to the victims and the spectators. Without referees, the negative feedback comes directly to the offending player, helping them control future transgressions.
In addition, many teams, especially in the Girls High School League take the next step in Spirit of the Game by 'cheering' (ask a captain) or playing a game with the opposing team.