The Start of the Elite Club Season

Going to see if we can't get some discussion going on this one:

The first weekend in August usually marks the beginning of the elite level ultimate season. Teams have solidified thier rosters, introduced the year's new offense, and have practiced as a team for just over a month. So the question is... Who is going to come out on top when the dust settles in Sarasota in November?

This weekend gets us started with three tournaments (two of which former scapegoats will be perticipating in. Dave Baer and CJ in the New York Invite with Pike. Simon in the Colorado Cup Elite Division with Bravo).

Colorado Cup Elite Division

The New York Invite

Furniture City Shootout

So lets here it goats... lets hear some predictions... either on the weekends tournaments and the season.

(hoping those links work),
Simon

2009 Club Season

Goats,

Tryouts for the Club series have wound down and Goats, graduated and current, have found themselves teams. Below is a listing of who is where for 2009:

Current Goats
Larry Ashton - Big Floppy Clocks (?)
Eric Helm - Bear Proof (Central PA)
Chris O'Sullivan - Big Floppy Clocks (?)
Chris Williamson - Bear Proof (Central PA)

Alumni
Dave Baer - Pike (Philly/NJ)
Jonathan "Finch" Hoffman - Bear Proof (Central PA)
Simon Jarrett - Operation Kapow (Mixed) / Johnny Bravo (Open-Alternate) (Boulder, CO)
C.J. Kozarski - Pike (Philly/NJ)
Derek Rabold - Bear Proof (Central PA)
Brandon "Soap" Soper - Bear Proof (Central PA)
Stephen "Tex" Thetford - Crude (Austin, TX)
Ernie Zeh - Bear Proof (Central PA)

If you are playing for a team, let one of the captains and/or coaches know and we will add you to the list.

Off Season Throwing

I figured I would take a few moments and steal the Simon show and post some thoughts on some things we should all be doing to keep our throwing game sharp over the summer.

Throw Fakes

No matter if this is a casual throw with friends in the backyard, at summer league, at the beach, etc. you should be working fakes into your motion. I'd say 70-80% of the throws we have to make in a real game require some kind of fake to get the mark out of position and setup a throw. So you might as well get comfortable with it. Yea, you might get some chuckles from the crowd and yea you might turf some but it makes the tough throws easier and the easy throws damn near a guarantee when it counts.

Snap the Fakes

Focus on throwing a fake and instantly snapping into a throw. This means throwing the fake and getting a crisp throw off in a second or less after, which would be about how long the mark takes to adjust. Even the most elite players struggle with this but you gotta start somewhere. For this you want to start in closer quarters (15-20 yards apart) and gradually work your way up to a hucking distance.

Switch the Fields

If you are throwing, about half way through, switch directions. Get used to easing off and putting more touch on down wind throws and getting that little bit of I/O you need to move the disc up wind just right. The teams that have rosters where everyone can deliver the disc consistently, no matter the environment, are lethal.

All in the Release....

All long time ago, a blonde haired kid that weighed all of about 130lbs arrived at Shippensburg. He didn't look like much but when he hit the field, he was able to launch the disc the length of the field with what looked like relative ease.... This man we now know as DBaer. At that point, I was sold that it isn't how much you put behind the disc but all in how you release it. The better you become at whipping your arm and snapping your wrist through your release point, the less you have to muscle it and the easier the disc becomes to control, even at long distances. When you try to use too much arm, that is when your hucks blade, line drive, and just outright miss their target. Best thing I can reccommend for this is to throw at close quarters (3-5 yards) and concentrate on literally using nothing but your wrist motion to deliver the disc. Gradually increase the distance and as you do, keep the same snap in your release but add some whip in your arm to start compensating for the added yardage.

Alright, thats all I got. As everyone can probably tell, this is the end of the Club tryout season and the big boy tournaments are starting Simon and I are in Go mode with conditioning and practice. I understand this is everyone's off season to get money together for the school year and chill out but what you do now will help keep you sharp and come into the Fall season in a better place. Yea, all the freshmen will be dazzled initially by everyone's ability to throw back and forehand but as the season goes on, they will be looking to the veterans to show them how to throw and get them the disc consistently when they are cutting.....