Through my ultimate career I have thought a lot about how to build an ultimate team/program. I have read tons of articles and talked to friends and opponents about their perspectives on the topic. There are all sorts of ideas about recruitment, playing time, practicing, and anything that goes into building the skills of your team. Opinions on this differ, and it's important to understand that every team is different and what works for one, may not work for another.
Through my 5 years, my perspectives on this have changed, and I have been proven wrong in ways that I once believed I was absolutely correct in. With that being said, these are some of my thoughts on the subject from my perpective right now. I may be wrong, you may disagree with me, but take what you like from this. These are some of the things that have played into what has gotten Scorned to where we are at right now.
1. Commitment. This is the first and foremost important aspect to having a successful program. Not every team defines this in the same way, but the bottom line is that you need to have a defined level of committment that is held by every player on the team. I would also stress attendance, although I believe that if a player is truly committed, then attendance on a regular basis is likely not an issue. It takes time, hard work, repetition, and communication, all with your teammates to create a team that works well together. If you are a young player, and you come to every practice, work hard, and are dedicated to learning, I believe you will improve at this sport. Teams that hold each other accountable and push each other to continue with these goals, continue to improve and this is how solid programs are born.
2. Play. "The best way to get better is to play." I have heard that so many times that it is ingrained into me. Play summer league, play pickup, play club, play college, teach your friends, throw at lunch- this is how you get hooked and this is how you get better. The first summer I played club was so eye opening. I drove to St. Louis alone, tryed out with a bunch of girls I didn't know, with styles I had never played with. It was ridiculous and I can't believe the money and time I spent on that adventure, but it made me such a better player and it was fun as shit! Play ultimate, you are not perfect yet and there are so many different styles to learn from.
3. Use your whole roster. This is one thing that people have mentioned about Scorned a lot this year. We have a roster of 21 girls, everyone plays. On any ultimate team, no matter who you are, you have players who play more than others. However, putting 21 girls on a roster, requiring them to commit to 3 practices, 1 lifting, and 1 sprint workout per week and then only playing 20% of them for 2 points per tournament just seems wrong. The more playing experience you get, the better you develop as a player. If playing is the best way to improve, then wouldn't it make sense to play your girls and build your team so that you can maintain the depth and skill that is needed to continue to dominate in that 6th, 7th, or 8th game of the tournament? No one player plays every point on Woman Scorned. No player goes the entire tournament without playing. Every player is held to the same minimum commitment level, every player contributes to this team (on the field and off), every player gets playing time (even if it isnt equal), every player makes plays in games, and every player is valued.
When I was a rookie one of my seniors told me she was glad we didn't have tryouts (we still don't, we can't get enough girls). She made the point that if we had, she and I wouldn't have made the team. She was right, I wouldn't have made Scorned when I started. I wouldnt have made the team the next year. It is debatable if I would have made the team in my 3rd year. However, I started on a team with a roster of 13ish. My first tournament was savage or 8 players, and I played a ton! I was so terrible, out of shape, and confused, but it was so fun. I remember my first D- a girl threw the disc behind her girl who was open force side and it was right to me. I smacked it down as hard as I could and yelled right at Dersch who was on the sideline rolling because she was laughing so hard. I was baaaaad, but I got to play, and I got better because of it. It made me want to get better so I could play more. It can be scary to throw to a less developed player in an "elite game" situation because they might turn it right? But let's be honest, this is college women's ultimate. Did you see the turn over stats last year from nationals?? Take the chance. If they miss it, its just another turn over of the 2 or 3 that are almost guarenteed in every point, but if they catch it and make the play then a seed has been planted, confidence has been boosted, and your team just got so much better.
4. Have fun. Scorned has always been a fighting team. We work hard and can get serious when we need to, but we have always held a core value that I think is vital to our success. "Nothing is worth it, if you are not having fun." We do so much for this sport and team. If you are going to put the time in, you better enjoy it. I'll admit it now, Scorned is weird as crap. At nationals last year we all had purple, red, and blue hair. We refuse to get a "legitimate" flag despite how much Flaggy falls apart. We dance more during a tournament than most people do at their high school prom. Hula hoops, streamers, temp tats, fake mustaches, and other ridiculous things are what we use our time outs and half times for. Every team has their own form of fun.
story time- I remember one specific game at Midwest Throwdown a few years back, we were strugglin hard. Dersch had been giving us all sorts of tips and suggestions during the first half and we just could not bring things together. The other team took half and we all huddled up and just looked to Dersch for some words of wisdom and she delivered. She looked at us (a woman of many many wise words) and just told us to go dance it off. We took a ten minute dance party half time, went back on the field and tore it up (i think we won?). Have fun, sometimes it is the difference between a W and L.
Hopefully these ideas are somewhat helpful. Also I wrote this during my epidemiology class so I feel compelled to tell you all not to drink raw milk. It has all sorts of disease risks... not worth it.
Gapstur #2
I can't remember how many times I just pushed play on the boombox during a tough timeout to dance it out with the team. Sometimes it was the only way we made it through (or at least I was able to make it through after:). Good positive post on the subject Gappy Poo.
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