Showcase games, etc.
Fresh off the Major League Ultimate snub, at least I'll be able to play in the little brother, or the Ultimate Showcase series in Massachusetts, which is being put together to try and promote ultimate in Massachusetts.
Hopefully I will be able to regain the missing shreds of my self-worth on the local playing fields instead of the emerald fields of Potlatch. They are going to mix up the DoG and Twisted Metal players (along with some college wannabes) over all of the 4 teams. It should be a fun time, and hopefully the weather will be nice enough that I can bring out my kids.
It seems like this stuff is happening all over, to whit the little home and away 'championship' they had a few weeks ago between Seattle and Furious. Could ultimate finally be hitting the tipping point? Or are we continuing to delude ourselves. From what I hear about the junior level growth, it appears to be real. Even my local high school in Arlington has a club team, albeit with zero affiliation with the school. I am trying to see if they are interested in some input.
Which, of course, brings up the second part of the recent growth/legitimization of the game. All of a sudden, coaching at the college level (and I guess high school) is rampant. Is there a top level team out there that does not have at least one coach now? What has changed that all of a sudden people want to give something back, as it were? And it's not just people coaching at their alma maters. People are almost chasing down opportunities to coach, as if it is the in thing. Is it? Stay tuned.
Hopefully I will be able to regain the missing shreds of my self-worth on the local playing fields instead of the emerald fields of Potlatch. They are going to mix up the DoG and Twisted Metal players (along with some college wannabes) over all of the 4 teams. It should be a fun time, and hopefully the weather will be nice enough that I can bring out my kids.
It seems like this stuff is happening all over, to whit the little home and away 'championship' they had a few weeks ago between Seattle and Furious. Could ultimate finally be hitting the tipping point? Or are we continuing to delude ourselves. From what I hear about the junior level growth, it appears to be real. Even my local high school in Arlington has a club team, albeit with zero affiliation with the school. I am trying to see if they are interested in some input.
Which, of course, brings up the second part of the recent growth/legitimization of the game. All of a sudden, coaching at the college level (and I guess high school) is rampant. Is there a top level team out there that does not have at least one coach now? What has changed that all of a sudden people want to give something back, as it were? And it's not just people coaching at their alma maters. People are almost chasing down opportunities to coach, as if it is the in thing. Is it? Stay tuned.
posted by Alex de Frondeville at 3:05 PM
10 Comments:
you know, it seems in minnesota that there are always 2 teams in need of a coach. all of a sudden, one will be filled, and then... 2 more!
i can't really say much for myself, as my team has 6 coaches for 4 teams, but we're losing 3 of them next year to different schools and states, so i hope that coaching becomes the "in thing".
Coaching ultimate seems like it could be a blast. As a coach you have a chance to teach some moldable minds about a sport you love. On top of that, coaching a HS ultimate team probably comes with fewer expectations from players, parents, and schools that are connected. If for no other reason, than for a lack of prior knowledge. You made the state championships? There are state championships? You're travelling where?
As a post-college club soccer player, no way could I go home and coach the soccer team. The kids, parents, school would all eat me alive. But a post-college club ultimate player could totally manage the HS team and have a blast. And to coach a college team, jeez. Who wouldn't put in the 10hrs/week to get a second helping of that?
The Dartmouth men still remain uncoached (whether or not we're a "top-level" team or not I'll leave for others to judge), though we did have one of DoG's players, Ben, acting as a coach for us at Centex.
Being located in The Middle of Nowhere, NH makes it hard to find a coach willing to make th drive regularly. The women's coach, Mikey Lee, lives (relatively) close by, so it's less of an issue for him, but finding somebody well-qualified and nearby is a challenge we've yet to fulfill beyond a single practice or tourney.
the hodags don't have a coach.
Considering twisted folks are coaching UMass and BU while DoG folk coach Brown (also consider the similar things happening in the women's game) I think that scouting is part of it too. Recruiting the best talent from your region is a lot easier when you're on a first name basis. It also allows you to help mold players into a system that will work with your own. I'm not saying it's all self-serving but it doesn't hurt.
-handy-
I'm pretty sure Oregon has never had a coach.
jake: I guess that is another validation of the growth/evolution, the fact that teams actually search out for coaches now. Even 5 years ago, no one needed or wanted coaches, now teams feel bereft if they don't have one.
james: Yeah, if you have that kind of time it would be great. It is interesting that we are seeing a lot of the younger guys coaching instead of the old fogies (for the most part). Perhaps it's because the old fogies have families, not the same flexibility (or maybe are fed up with ultimate...).
handy: I'm not sure it started that way, at least with Wicks and Brown, but you're definitely right, it is a nice side benefit.
Ryan: What Wicks said.
And finally, word on the street is that Wicks might even come out of retirement just (and only) for the Showcase.
I am not sure you want to put it out there that Wicks is suiting up for the Showcase. I mean, it is trying to be a "high level" event...right?
-g
Jeff Graham also coaches Harvard with me. Plus, Greg S. coached Northeastern this year but he's moving. So, quite a few college teams in the greater Boston area have coaches affiliated with those two club teams.
Josh M.
www.theultimateshowcase.com for official event information, rosters, the press release highlighting Al as a superstar, etc...
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