During this last captains meeting, we spent some time brainstorming what we
thought were the essential basics of catching a disc.  We think this is
important for everyone to review- from the first time hucker to the most
experienced coach on our team.  Most anyone can manage to catch a dump, tossed
lazily from five feet away.  However, the principles behind catching a well
thrown, up-field forehand or backhand are much more complicated.  Beyond this,
they're important, and well worth the reminder before the season gets in full
swing.  The biggest reason for this is safety- the disc is what you use to
score, it is your baby, and it is also 175g of hard plastic flying directly
towards your chest.  We want everyone to feel safe while playing this sport.  We
will avoid complications such as catching a hammer or laying out for now, and
will perhaps cover this later in the season.  For now, let's explore some
basics:

-First and foremost, catching the disc is about focus and anticipation.  A very
common mistake, one that I still find myself making, is to start thinking about
something else right before I catch the disc.  This could be many things- the
throw I'm about to make, the wind or rain, the arc of the disc, the dinner
waiting for me at home, or the defender right on my heels.  It's very easy to
get distracted, and we all do it.  And then the disc hits us square in the
hands, we fumble a little bit, and what may have been an easy catch gets away
from us.  So, we need to remind ourselves that no matter what happens, keep both
eyes on the disc until you have COMPLETELY STOPPED ROTATION.

-Your hands should remain soft when catching.  This is the anticipation piece of
all of this.  I hope this isn't a stretch of an analogy, but think of this like
jumping on a bed.  A mattress is a relatively solid surface, but it naturally
still has some give to it, some cushion.  If you are falling towards a mattress,
your fall is broken ever so slightly by the fact that the mattress moves
downward with you- it compresses, and in a way, it anticipates.  Think again of
this same fall, but this time, there's no mattress.  Instead, you land directly
on a hardwood floor.  The floor has no cushion to it, it has no anticipation. 
This must be the same for your hands- the disc can't hit a brick wall, it needs
to feel a little cushion. Please, no matter how cool it looks, catch the disc
with two hands whenever possible.

-Speaking of using two hands, think very quickly about in what position your
hands are in when you catch a disc above your head.  Now- what if the disc was
right at your chest, and what if it is below your waist?  This sounds like a
no-brainer, but it really is quite important.  When you are catching a disc
above your head, your thumbs should be facing down.  When the disc is low, your
thumbs should be facing up.  The ideal situation is when the disc is right at
your chest.  In this instance, we can make a pancake catch, or catching it with
one hand above the disc, and one below.  This is the most efficient way of
stopping the rotation, and also has the highest catch percentage.

-We've talked a little bit about what to do with your hands, and the actual
mechanics of catching a disc.  However, we are playing a sport, and with sport
comes strategy, which means this is bound to get a little more complicated than
playing catch in the backyard.  We want to focus on ALWAYS being active until
the catch is made.  Your body plays a huge role in ultimate- you use it to
maintain your personal space between you and your defender when catching a disc.
You should focus on jumping a little bit if it means getting the core of your
body in front of the disc.  Remember, the highest catch percentage is when the
disc hits you in the chest.  Most importantly, remember to run THROUGH the disc.
This means that you don't want to wait for the disc to come to you, because this
gives your defender a precious few seconds to adjust and block the throw.  Even
if it means gaining a few less yards, run towards the disc to catch it with the
core of your body, using your shoulders to maintain your space.

-Finally, I want to cover the importance of your teammates in all of this.  You
must always be communicating with your teammates, both on and off the field. 
Someone off the field may alert you to an approaching defender.  If you make an
exceptional cut, and this has given you some space between you and your
defender, let the handler know!  The handler could very well be looking
somewhere else, trying to force a throw that isn't open.  Help them out, clap
your hands, whatever you've got to do.

I hope this helps a little bit, whether it is as a vehicle of education, or as a
nice refresher going in to practice tomorrow.  Please let me know if you have
any questions!

Dylan Ballantine
320-309-5927
dylan.p.ballantine@...

Link to pics from 5/15/08

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=pum49jb.n8pw7pf&Uy=-pw4dx&Upost_sig\
nin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&UV=417756109430_43519996515&mode=froms\
hare&conn_speed=1

Thanks.

Pat Farley

Ulty Freaks,

 

Contact me immediately if you are interested in playing on the WBL Fall Ultimate Team.  Spread the word to your friends and have them contact me directly.  Each person MUST send a separate email to me indicating their interest.

 

The Fall is a 4-3 mixed gender league, meaning there will need to be four males and three females on the field at any one time.  *** WE NEED WOMEN ***  More about the Twin Cities Ultimate League Fall League can be found at: http://mnultimate.org/fall  Do not delay, 1) tell all the ladies you know, and 2) send me an email immediately.  The deadline to contact me is Thursday, August 16th.

 

The UPA Youth Club Championship Tournament this weekend.  Come to Blaine this Saturday and Sunday!  Be sure to cheer on #25 Whitney Esson, who is playing on her second YCC Minnesota Team.  Kick some butt, Whitney!!  http://youth2007.upa.org

 

The UPA Youth Club Championships is the PREMIERE youth ultimate in the world and we are extremely fortunate to have it hosted here in Minnesota.  Come out and see the best youth players in the country.  Coaches from TEAM USA will be out in force scouting for the US Junior Team.  Discs, shirts, DVDs, food, games, and spirit... it can all be found this weekend in Blaine.

 

Hope you're all having a terrific summer!  Let me know if you have any questions.

Jeff Hagen
UPA Minnesota State Youth Coordinator
Board of Directors, Minnesota High School Ultimate League
Head Coach, White Bear Lake Ultimate
wblultimate@...
651-341-9448

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YCC Ultimate Tournament Announcement

The 2007 UPA Youth Club Championships ( http://youth2007.upa.org/) are being contested in Blaine on August 11 & 12 and presented by the Ultimate Players Association ( www.upa.org) and the Minnesota High School Ultimate Leauge ( www.mnhsultimate.org).  This tournament is a showcase for the best Ultimate players from youth leagues around the country.  Teams (including several Minnesota and other nearby teams) will be competing in Open, Girls, and Mixed Divisions.

We are in need of volunteers for this tournament.  Volunteering at YCC is very easy.  You won't be hauling water or garbage!!  Your main duty will be to watch kids play ultimate and keep score.  Its a great time!  There are volunteer opportunities available from Friday evening August 10th through Sunday afternoon August 12th.  If you will be able to volunteer, please visit our volunteering website at

http://www.mnhsultimate.org/volunteer.aspx

I apologize if you get this message multiple times, but I wanted to err on the side of inclusion.  Thank you.  I look forward to volunteering with you at the 2007 UPA Youth Club Championships!

David Raflo
daraflo@...
cell:  (952) 221-4477