Hi everyone and happy holidays! There's a ton of snow on the ground, but it's never too early to start thinking about summer ultimate and HumpFreeze in 2009.

If you read nothing else, here's the important part: We're having a team meeting on the evening of Monday, Jan. 12 or Tuesday, Jan. 13, to discuss the upcoming season and team goals. E-mail me if you have a preference or conflict with the dates: andrew.m.wade@.... and I'll confirm a date in a week or so. 

The meeting is not mandatory, but if you'd like to be a part of the team in 2009, please let me know, especially if you can't make the meeting. All interested players are invited, returning or otherwise. Date, time and location TBA. We'll probably have a second meeting in February. Here is the team Web site, where you can join the mailing list: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/HumpFreeze/ 

HumpFreeze made great strides this year, playing at Regionals for the first time and breaking seed by 2. The team will definitely have a different look in 2009 with two of our leaders, Lauren and Jack, moving out of Arizona. Some returners might not be here all summer. And Flagstaff will have some changes in the ultimate scene this spring/summer: Ben Jaffe has begun arrangements on a weekly league games as well as tournament in June (more on that later).

Of course, not everything about this past season was perfect. We had some organizational and communication breakdowns. But as always, this team is a work in progress, and things can only improve if we learn from mistakes. For example, this year we're going to plan early and often. Hence the meeting in January instead of June. 

More about our meeting: We've got a shitload to talk about. Team goals, tournaments, practices, rules, roster, etc. But the most pressing issue is team leadership. With Lauren and Jack gone, we're going to need people to step up as captains. Starting now, returning players can nominate another player for captain. It can be a public nomination (with reasons for nomination, etc. — please send only to HF listserv), or you can nominate someone anonymously. Our meeting on Jan 12 or 13 will be the last day to nominate captains. Then we'll have a voting period of a week or so. We'll hash out the rest of this process later.

HumpFreeze practices won't begin until late April or early May, when the college series is winding down. But there's still plenty to plan and discuss, and the earlier the better. 

Thanks yall. Can't wait to play with everyone again. E-mail me with any questions or concerns: andrew.m.wade@.... And please pay attention if you plan on hitting "reply." Happy holidays everyone!

Andy 

(847) 716-0578