Another Leadership Post: Player Relations

Nation,

It's the night before I head down to Toronto for my first tournament of the summer. Injury to my non throwing hand aside (I hope it's just a bad sprain), It should be a great weekend getting to know new teammates and seeing old friends who are now 'enemies'.

A lot of teams have new players. One of the things I learned through my masters (school, not the division) and through life experience is that handling the relationship between yourself and those you lead on the field is a delicate process.

Why is it delicate? Simply because:

• You're going to want to fix everything now.
  
• You're going to have to figure each teammate out. Skills and mind.
  
• Setting a good precedent early in the season paves the way for a great season, a mediocre season, or a terrible "Let's burn the jerseys cause we suck and I hate you guys" season
• You're going to see your teammates a lot in the season. You have to maintain your credibility and build trust that you're competent and looking out for the team. You have to ensure buy in and accountability. It isn't easy.
• You're leading a bunch of volunteers. You're getting them to eat dirt, sweat, and dedicate their summer for free. In fact, you're making them pay for the privilege.
  
• Any leader has a shelf life. Players can only listen and understand so much at once, and they only listen to one voice for so long.

Okay, the task is daunting. How do you make these players better and come back next year?

• Properly assess your team now and have the right goals and plans for the summer. Stick to the goals and plans, changing only if your estimates are way off. Don't let early season success fool you and lead you to false hope and disappointments.
• If you're a leader, act like it. Be credible, communicate well and often, have vision, use your charisma if you got it, and be damn passionate/good at what you do.
• Realize that there is a difference between constructive criticism and contempt comments. "What the F^ck was that?" doesn't tell someone what they need to do. Get away from telling people what they are doing wrong, and focus of what they need to do. If you tell people what they are not supposed to do.. that's what they are thinking when they go back out there.
  
• Conversely, don't be overly positive. You're maybe winning a few short term brownie points, but you're making it known that you lie. Serious athletes don't need/want that.
• DO NOT PICK ON THE WEAKER PLAYERS AND CATER TO THE BETTER ONES. I see this way too much. I see this a lot, and it's such a poor sign about someone's character.

That's the end of my rant. Personally, I'm loving my season thus far, and have a lot of good leaders to work with/for. However, I know there are new leaders out there that need advice, and I hope they read this.

TUF2008 Hype

Nation,

The Toronto Ultimate Festival is the first outdoor tournament of the year for most teams in Ontario and Quebec. It serves as a final tryout process for many teams and programs, and gives those interested a brief glimpse of team rosters and national contenders from the area.

Originally called the TUT tournament and run by local Toronto Ultimate Club, the tourney threatened to die out in 2005 due to problems with leadership, as per my understanding. However, the Toronto Sport and Social Club picked up the slack. i don't know how I feel about having the TSSC run a competitive tournament, but they have provided a quality event since 2005 and enabled us all to play/visit Toronto as part of our tournament calendar.

The men's, women's and coed titles are all up for grabs this year, as there has been much turnover/change on last years respective winners (BFC has lost much of their roster, Capitals no longer exist this summer, and Last year's open champ was a GOAT tryout team)

I'll do my best to preview some of the teams I know.. but I just wanted to start the hype.

Who are the teams to beat at this tourney?

Picture of the Week; Disparity in College Ultimate

Nation,

There has been a lot of talk about the Ottawa and UBC women's teams and their advancement to UPA college nationals. In fact, I'm part of the hype machine, along with Rec Sport Disc and many other blogs.

Both teams are good and both will be teams to watch in Colorado. However, we must not misinterpret their previous results in sectionals and regionals. We can't think that these teams have necessarily hit their peak, or are efficient machines that can't be stopped.

Bigger, Faster, Stronger
Source: Alex Benedict

Using only the scores and the pictures for Ottawa, I have to wonder if the reasons for such lopsided results has less to do with Ottawa being dominant and more so their opponents being hopeless. Looking at the example picture (Kate Crump finally appears on my blog, so settle down guys), there seems to be a great disparity in the physical height and fitness of the Gee Gees to their opponents. Couple that with better or equal disc skills, and you have blowouts.

And hey, I love my team dominating at ultimate as a coach and as a player. Love it. But when it happens to my team I know when it's a case of weak opponents and when it is a byproduct of team efficiency. I enjoy the latter much more!

This disparity isn't good for Ottawa. It prevents a need to improve leading up to nationals, and it can lead to some bad habits. You can't pick your opponents, so one hopes the leadership of the Gee Gees can push them to be fully prepared for the elements of Colorado.

Disparity within sections and regions of college ultimate, along with schedule, makes it hard to predict with any accuracy who is a legitimate championship contender. That's why I wonder how Wisconsin can be considered such a easy pick as men's champions. Surely they have a weakness, even if it is the fact that they are a bunch of young twenty somethings that are subject to emotions and mistakes. As the season has played out, they have proven beatable and unpredictable.

Soggy Bottom Bowl

Nation,

My questions
-Who's in the tourney this year?
-Who do you predict will win?

The Soggy Bottom Bowl IV: The Conquest of the Field of the Mud is being held at the Centennial CVI sports fields May 3rd and 4th. For those out of towners the address is 289 College Avenue W.

The party this year will be at Wallys Tavern (107 Wyndham Street North). The first act will go on at about 8 (the very cool Wellington Harry) with the main band (GUPA's funky friends Cooper) going on around 10.

For more info about anything contact Mike at sbbATguelphultimate.ca

Canadian World Junior Teams Announced

Nation,

As posted on the CUPA site, the mens and womens juniors teams were listed for the world championships this summer in Vancouver.

Congratulations to all the players named, and I hope to do an interview with the coaches from the mens and womens teams so we can get to know our juniors a little better before their big event.

Junior Open

Coaches
Head Coach: Kirk Nylen
Assistant Coach: Geoff Urton
Assistant Coach: Peter Jamieson

Athletes
Aaron Liu (Vancouver)
Andrew Vogt (Winnipeg)
Andy Siy (Vancouver)
Cam Burden (Winnipeg)
Cam Harris (Toronto)
Carson Turner (Ottawa)
Danny Alary (Sherbrooke)
Einer Lim (Vancouver)
Giorgio Traini (Toronto)
Graham Landon (Vancouver)
Ian Chan (Vancouver)
Kevin Fong (Vancouver)
Kevin Tran (Ottawa)
Kyle Lohrson (Winnipeg)
Mark Lloyd (Winnipeg)
Martin Jim (Vancouver)
Myles Sinclair (Vancouver)
Nick Tam (Ottawa)
Quin Rusnak (Winnipeg)
Ryan Sun (Vancouver)
Sean Brooks (Winnipeg)
Shaw Dungate (Barrie)
Simon LaViolette (Ottawa)
Stan Tsia (Vancouver)
Thomas Black (Toronto)
Tim Tsang (Vancouver)

Alternate
Dan Dantzig (Toronto)

Junior Women

Coaches
Head Coach: Sheri Madigan
Assistant Coach: Lexi Marsh
Assistant Coach: Danielle Fortin

Athletes
Caitlind Lusty (Barrie)
Catherine Hui (Vancouver)
Catherine Lacome (Sherbrooke)
Celine Tsai (Vancouver)
Chantal Africa (Vancouver)
Corine Masse (Sherbrooke)
Dom Rioux (Ottawa)
Erica Tucker (Toronto)
Gera Stancheva (Vancouver)
Heather McCabe (Ottawa)
Jeanette Quach (Toronto)
Jessica Circe (Sherbrooke)
Jessica Fun (Vancouver)
Jordan Meron (Toronto)
Julie Moens (Vancouver)
Kaiya Seaman (Winnipeg)
Kaylee Sparks (Ottawa)
Latitia Seaman (Winnipeg)
Lauren Roberts (Winnipeg)
Maria Chau (Vancouver)
Olana Wach (Winnipeg)
Rena Kawabata (Vancouver)
Robyn Fashler (Vancouver)
Samie Lovat (Winnipeg)
Taryn Haggerstone (Vancouver)
Taylor Rusnak (Winnipeg)

Alternates
Crystal Koo (Vancouver)
Kristin Yip (Vancouver)
Lesley Cheng (Vancouver)
Nicole Steinbrecher (Vancouver)
Sarah Wildgen (Ottawa)
Tess Studenis (Toronto)

Mr. Trainor Goes to Gatineau

Nation,

I had an excellent time representing CUPA at the 2008 Sport Events Congress yesterday. Upon the listing of our sport's profile (e.g. major tournaments), the sport business community was greatly interested in speaking with CUPA.

I'll hold back some of the major details until submitting a report to the CUPA board, but here is a brief glimpse of some of the highlights

• We were present for the Government of Canada's major funding announcement of sport events.
• The new policy builds on the Strategic Hosting Framework for Hosting International Sport Events, previously approved by the 14 federal-provincial-territorial governments. With the addition of a $14.7 million annual investment to the current base funding of $1 million, this new policy will help the Government of Canada work with national sport organizations, multisport service organizations, and other orders of government to take a proactive approach to bidding for and hosting international sport events in Canada.
• We had 20 requested appointments yesterday (maximum appointments possible) from cities, athletic groups and hotel chains, and I took extra appointments afterwards.
  

It was an incredibly positive day for CUPA and ultimate in general. I expected that we would not be taken seriously. However, the information provided in the marketplace program outlines the fact ultimate is indeed good business and can have a serious economic impact on potential city hosts and sponsors/partners.

Other things that happened

• Had an excellent chance to speak with people and groups working with the Worlds 2008 organizing committee and get some feedback on the positive things that are being done for the tournament, as well as constructive feedback based on stakeholder respective expertise.
• I heard some excellent reviews of the organizing committee for CUC 2008, being held in Calgary.
• Groups that help the 2007 CUC championships heaped great praise for the TUC organizing committee and plan to feature the tournament as one of their past success stories.
  
• We were able to disseminate business information to these sport tourism groups, and get feedback as to how CUPA can help organize Canadian Ultimate groups in an effective manner.
• There was a lot of interest in our sport from communities that do not have strong local ultimate groups. These organizations seem intent on helping local ultimate groups with fields and hosting opportunities.
  

UPA College Regionals 2008 Update

Nation,

Very exciting news at UPA College Regionals from a canadian perspective.

• Ottawa Lady Gee Gees dominate their regionals. In their four games, Ottawa surrenders a mere 5 points, defeating Maryland 15-2 in the finals.
  
• UBC women win their regionals, defeating respected rival Washington 15-5 in the final. Dominant victories throughout the tournament for the Thunderbirds, with the closest margin occuring in a 12-9 victory over Stanford.
• UBC men suffer a painful elimiation from UPA final contention in their regionals. After advancing to the finals. the Thunderbirds lose 15-11 to California Santa Cruz. They then lose the backdoor game to go match versus Standford by a score of 15-13. By a mere two points, Standford wrest the last bid to finals away and UBC goes home.
  
• Carleton Chess Club is upset in the quartefinals of their regionals and finishes in a tie for 10th spot. Delaware and Pittsburgh qualify for UPA finals by granering the top two spots.
• Queens Mothership has a tough weekend, losing to eventual semi finalist Pennsylvania in pre quarters elimination. Pennsylvania manages to eliminate both Queens and Carleton in successive rounds. Canadian killers!

Congratulations to the excellent performances of UBC and Ottawa women. Thanks to UBC , Carleton and Queens for representing Canadian University Ultimate well this season.