Intelligence in Ultimate- Is it Valued Enough?

Nation,

Every year the NFL carries out an extensive "combine" of potential NFL draft prospects. It has been formed into a profitable sport event that has extensive TV coverage and is fodder for pre draft discussion and hype.

Players are weighed, measured and fitted. They are poked, prodded, and sampled. They sprint, run, jump, listen to beeps and read charts. They dash, cut, catch, tackle, and block. It's a very complete process. Everything is taped and technologies (Dartfish) are used to analyze players.

In fact, if I am selected to help with Team Canada U-23 team, any type of tryouts will borrow from these types of combines. Limited by manpower and funds, it might simply be a case of videotaping and coding all scrimmages in the tryouts, and recording vital sprint, shuttle, and jump stats for each player. These "stats" shouldn't decide a players fate.. but they can help put a true numerical value for comparison and it can be used over time to see the development of players and the ultimate development system. (e.g. Are the athletes getting better)

The NFL and IQ- The Wonderlic Test

I have never played Football but it fascinates me that one of the most barbaric sports in the world is so sophisticated in planning, preparation and evaluation of its players. It is very impressive.

The NFL understands the importance of athleticism. Seeing them overlook Heisman Trophy winners and college championship players for division three players from small town Arkansas is done for a reason- They understand the link between winning and various player traits.

One of these traits is intelligence. They use a simple IQ test called the Wonderlic to get a measure of how well each NFL prospect will be able to mentally understand and adapt to the rigors of the NFL game.

Wonderlic is used in many professions as well. Getting a score of 10 out of 50 means a person is literate. Below that score of 10 suggests a person might be mentally challenged. The average participant scores a rating of 24

Here is an article on the scores for this year's best QB prospects. It also lists some of the current NFL Starting QBs and great past QBs for reference.

What has the NFL learned from this process?

• Intelligence certainly helps, but it is not the lone factor in deciding stardom
  
• Players with low Wonderlic scores have a tough time playing the game despite any great physical dominace (Vince Young, who originally scored a 6 in his test, and is alleged to have gotten someone else to write the retest in which he scored a 15)

Player scores in the Wonderlic vary by position. Some positions have higher averages than others. Here is the breakdown:

• Offensive tackle – 26
• Center – 25
• Quarterback – 24
• Guard – 23
• Tight end – 22
• Safety – 19
• Linebacker – 19
• Cornerback – 18
• Wide receiver – 17
• Fullback – 17
• Halfback – 16

Back to Ultimate- How do We Value Intelligence?

With respect to ultimate, our tryout process are a little more primitive. They usually involve tryouts where most of the spots are already decided before the tryouts (Few teams are upfront with that) and the majority of the spots are available for the following

• Tall people
• Athletic and Fast people
• Flavor of the month (Those who make a few big d's or layouts at the tryouts, someone new in town, etc)
• In co-ed it sometimes simply comes down to romantic relationships
  

One of the reasons for this is the majority of captains who serve as leaders or coaches are handler types. I hypothesize that they have longer careers, and assume such roles of leadership. Asking these people to pick players who can/might replace them on the field is a tough task. Naturally they will pick players that compliment their importance to the team. This is understandable, simple human nature. That doesn't mean it is best for the team though.

I can say with some pride that the teams I played for or lead did place value on the mental makeup of a player and intelligence. Just like "you can't teach tall", you'll also be hard pressed to teach players how to think, read and react both on and off the field if they have a limited amount of grey matter to work with.

Along with cognitive ability, emotional intelligence is very important in picking your ultimate team. It's a long season with ups and downs, and few things disrupt a team faster than people who can't keep their own goals and emotions in check for the team.

Yes, there are many "smart" people in ultimate. However, there are many great stories of incredibly smart people who cannot relate to the real world, let alone teammates. Their inability to read and react to teammates is not helpful to team success.

Failing Wonderlic exams for your tryouts, I pose some simple guidelines to use in spring tryouts

• Value the cognitive ability of players being considered
• Take the time to correctly know and understand the emotional intelligence of people you are considering.
  
• Be very clear about the goals of the team and the expectations of how players will carry themselves.
  
• Have leaders that talk the talk and walk the walk (competent leaders in their roles who carry themselves well)

I look forward to reader feedback on the importance of IQ in ultimate.

Team Fundraising- What Works, and What is Acceptable

Nation,

There are three world championships this summer. The implications of these events include but are limited to the following.

• Some very good ultimate is going to be played
• Some very deserving players are going to get some great experience
• We're going to take the temperature of Canada's competitiveness at the world stage and who the emerging countries are

And...

• Players will be scrambling to raise funds
• We as a community will be exposed to a number of fund raising schemes and efforts.

Yesterday, I was asked to assist one of our Canadian clubs by taking part in an orange order (Mephisto is the team, if you are interested in buying some contact them). I have not been involved in the "buying oranges"game since I was in grade four. I remember the school fund raising oranges being of good quality, but even grade four me knew that I was selling a product that people could get in a more timely and cost effective manner. The chocolate bar racket was much better for the school, the sellers and the buyers, but it became less popular as getting kids pimping chocolate became less acceptable socially.

It doesn't stop at oranges. Fund raising efforts have included the following

• Teams running their own tournaments for profit
• Raffle tickets
  
• Illegal poker tournaments
  
• March Madness and other fantasy pools
  
• Selling Live strong rip off bracelets (That has ceased thankfully)
• Calenders (Most notably Storm of 2004)

All of the fund raising schemes appear to be the quick hit easy to plan and make happen projects. Unfortunately.. most of these projects end up merely taking money out of the pockets of loved ones and ultimate community. That raises a moral dilemma for people who think.

So, I ask you the reader to tell me

• What is the Return On Investment for these Projects? Do people do them because they actually make money?
• Which activities have worked the best for you or your team in the past?

Just some Friday Banter in Early March

Nation,

Where have all the bloggers gone during the off-season?

First Jeters left his post early last year and hasn't returned. The Huddle has not put out anything new all year. MSSUI was a classic example of a hype site with a bad name and even worse dedication follow through (started in 2008.. no new articles since 2008). Parinella has been the most active blog whose posts I consider a must read.

As for me, I've been silent as well. Partly because some of the Ultimate Canada groups I am working on with require me to be silent. Partly because work and life have been pretty hectic as of late. However, all excuses have to be put aside when I get e-mails from readers like this.

"Dude that was one hell of a break on the blog...I felt like an abandoned child in a mall"

I'm not just a deadbeat blogger.. I'm also a terrible parent. Let's make some amends then shall we?

U-23 Worlds- Go of No Go?

It's a go. Men's and Women's divisions.

A very tough decision for Ultimate Canada. Here is why:

• WFDF really rushed the decision to move forward on this tournament. No real bid process was followed.
  
• The USA has pulled out for some very valid reasons.
  
• Other countries were slow to commit
  
• The tournament directory team looks a little inexperienced and their ability to carry about such a tournament at an International level is question.

We had a tremendous amount of feedback from players interested in attending. Hopefully that will remain the case when these players must spend money to travel and train with Team Canada. (Interest does not always equal to Commitment in ultimate).

Personally, I have put my name in for the Team Manager and Coaching positions. I feel like my experience working with the Operations section of the Canadian Olympic Committee for the 2008 games should be a strong case for the Manager position. Visas, accreditation, travel, accommodation, and tryout processes are all "little things" that are surprisingly important.

Coaching wise, I'd love to get a chance to coach some of the under 23 players who have expressed interest. Who wouldn"t? The players I've seen through college and open play are talented and have the ability to carry out gameplans and schemes. U-19 and U-23 National Teams are a great way to prepare these players for future development and World/Club level participation.

Olympic Thoughts.. and dispelling Olympic Dreams

Nation,

I'm off to Vancouver tomorrow to watch some Olympic action live, meet some old COC colleagues. I will try and post anything interesting while I am there.

So far, here are my thoughts as a viewer

• I feel for the VANOC people that have to deal with the thrashing from hostile media, protesters over weather, accessibility and plain bad luck (Zamboni breaking down yesterday at the long track speed skating oval). When things happen at an event, despite the best efforts, you simply have to solve the problem and take crap from people regardless of how fair it is.

• At the last Olympics, Canada converted only 30% of the world championships medals they won leading up to the games. The USA converted 120%. This is something that the sport pych. team for Team Canada was well aware of and trying to solve. We'll see how our conversion rate works this time around

• Jennifer Heil really wanted that gold medal in Canada for Canada. She also wanted to be famous forever.

• I often find myself reminding others who sigh in disgust at Canadians who finished 16th in the Olympics that so many of these events are split second differences that determine final place, and so few of us will ever be 16th best in the world at anything. Makes you think differently.

• It really seems like the action has been slow... but I assume more events will take place as we enter the first full weekend

The Old Olympic Debate- Sigh.........

It never fails. Every Olympics, ultimate open forums are clogged with "Why isn't Ultimate an Olympic Sport?".

I could go on with reasons why this discussion is foolish. The infancy of the sport in terms of organization/recognition and rules, the fact we're not even really a sport in Sport Canada's mind, the politics of the IOC, the sheer size of the Olympics as it is and the competition to get in.. I digress.

I understand that we have a great sport here, and I know we outsold Rugby 7s at World Games last year and they were just selected for the summer games, but we have to be realistic. Wondering why the game isn't in the Greatest show in the world when you can't find it at any major multi sport games level (Provincial games, national games, etc) at levels far below the Olympic Games.

I feel like a killjoy... so I will throw the dreamers a bone

Did anyone ever think that we would get our first gold medal in Canada by a Canadian in a sport that wasn't an Olympic sport until 1992 and wasn't created formally until the 1960's?

Maybe Ultimate has hope some day.

World Junior 2010 Tryout Information

Nation,

The recruitment and tryout process for selecting Team Canada men's and women's World Junior teams is well under way. The tournament will be held August 3-7 in Heilbronn, Germany.

The coaches for the mens team are as follows: (teamcanada.jrmen@gmail.com)

• Kirk Nylen- Head Coach
• Patrick Mooney - Assistant Coach

Facebook Presence found here

The coaches for the womens team are: (teamcanada.jrwomen@gmail.com )

• Stephanie Chow- Head Coach
• Dan Byma- Assistant Coach

Who Can Apply?

If you are born in 1991 or later then you are eligible to represent your country at the World Jr. Ultimate Championships in Heilbronn, Germany (Aug 2-7th).

Applications and details regarding tryouts for Team Canada Jr men and Jr women are now available here:
http://www.canadianultimate.com/WJUC2010.html

We encourage all those interested to apply and look forward to seeing you at one of the three tryouts.

Vancouver 2010 Games- Be Part of the Opening Ceremony!!

Nation,

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games start next Friday and my wife has asked me to post this:

Sign up to be part of the Opening Ceremony!

Canada wants to welcome the world and—for the first time ever—people all over the world can become part of the Games. On February 12 during the Opening Ceremony, an official Olympic souvenir will be sent out digitally to those that want to be part of the action.

Everyone who is watching, listening, or reading about their favorite athletes or their most inspirational story, can receive a unique memento that will be sent out while billions of eyes are focused on the Opening Ceremony.

To be part of it, go to code.vancouver2010.com, which is the official digital and cultural interaction site of the 2010 Winter Games. Just click on the invite, sign up, and you’ll be ready to go on February 12, 2010.

Signing up is also your ticket to a global social media event that will give you the opportunity to be a virtual participant in the Closing Ceremony.

Cheer on your country, and become part of history.

I'm Back.... CUPA name Change.. World Clubs

Nation,

I apologize for a huge blog vacation I took. There has been a lot going on in Canadian ultimate during the off season.

Please note I'm probably going to be pretty terse in this review. Apologies in advance to my more "diplomatic" readers.

CUPA becomes Ultimate Canada

Just wanted to bring it to everyone's attention that Canadian Ultimate Players Association is now legally called Ultimate Canada.

Excited about the name change, and I am glad my friends in sport will stop asking me why the national sport organization sounds like a players union. :)

World Ultimate Club Championships

This issue was simple: WFDF had decentralized the roster rules for teams/countries for the upcoming championships in Prague, Czech Republic. They left the rules for composition of teams up to the national organizations. Teams representing our country can look as much or as little as the club that won the right to go to WUCC. (In canada, you had to be at CUC 2009).

Personally, I find this decentralization of roster requirements for a world championship a major mistake by WFDF. Downright stupid really. I still am struggling to find the reason why.

Having this thrown on the NSO's, Ultimate Canada assigned the task of handling roster rules to our competition committee. The committee, which I chair, is made up of competitive players of varying experiences both on and off the field. We had extensive discussion on this, and tried to cover every single point and counter point.

It would have been EASIER if WFDF had told us we had to set roster requirements, and we could have set clear rules before CUC 2009. Of course, WFDF couldn't do this. That would take some leadership.

Teams had to play in CUC 2009 in order to qualify for World Clubs. Teams knew this heading into the summer season. Despite this, some teams ditched nationals to play at the Emerald City Classic. Should we allow players who didn't attend nationals to be part of the World Club Experience? Opinions from those outside the board were polarized, ranging from giving Furious and GOAT their own bids and private jets to shutting all non CUC 2009 players out altogether. (A little puffery there on my account regarding the private jet.. just trying to keep this discussion light)

If we make rules too easy for roster requirements, good players who went to CUC 2009 and qualified for worlds would be ditched for better players who did not attend CUC 2009. If we make rules too strict, we'll get tremendous flack and we'll handcuffed captains/coaches of teams going to Prague.

In the end, we came up with a decent solution. Moving forward, I believe we need to make world clubs bids and player eligibility contingent on CUC series participation (regionals and nationals in the year leading up to World Clubs). Executing these incentives, in partnership with changing the culture and quality of the CUC series, will be vital to ensuring better attendance at our national championships from our elite teams.

WUCC PROPOSAL

PRINCIPLES
Provide rules to support Canadian club teams attending the WUCC instead of all-star teams. In doing so, rules should accommodate the regular changes a team’s roster undergoes from year-to-year. Provide a policy that is fair to all Canadian ultimate players.

PLAYER CLASSES
Please note that while Ultimate Canada may not have any roster restrictions for the number of players from a certain player class, the WFDF has a roster limit of 28 players.

GENERAL REQUIREMENT
Canadian teams attending the WUCC must have a number of Class A players equal to the lesser of the following numbers:

a) 12
b) 50% of the number of players on the team's 2009 CUC roster.

Example a) If a team's 2009 CUC roster had 26 players then they would require 12 class A players (50% of 26 is 13, so we use the lower value of 12).

Example b) If a team's 2009 CUC roster had 19 players then they would require 10 class A players (50% of 19 is 9.5 rounded up to 10 which is lower than 12).

Class A (Regular players): A member of the club who was on the club’s 2008 CUC series roster and/or the club’s 2009 CUC series roster. There are no restrictions on the number of Class A players on a team’s WUCC roster.

Class B (Practicing players): A member of the Club who:

a) has been playing with the Club since May 1st, 2010, and has not
competed in that team’s division (i.e., Open, Mixed, Women’s, Masters,

Juniors) at a National Championship or WFDF Sanctioned Regional
tournament or series with any other team during that time.

b) practices with the team and has attended two team events (training
camps/ practice weekends or tournaments) since January 1, 2010, with
at least 1 event being a tournament.
c) meets one of the following criteria: Canadian citizen, Canadian
permanent resident, Canadian work visa holder or Canadian student visa
holder.
There are no restrictions on the number of Class B players on a team’s
WUCC roster.

Class C (Other players): A player who does not meet the requirements

for Class A or B. Class C players must meet one of the following
criteria: Canadian citizen, Canadian permanent resident, Canadian work
visa holder or Canadian student visa holder. Teams are restricted to
three (3) Class C players.