Tribe of big dissapointment

So Tribe missed out on going to Prague by 1 point.

We led before half against every team we played and we squandered late leads against Smurf both times.

Based on the results across the weekend, we didn't deserve to go.

But to miss out by 1 point was still tough.

What did I learn?

• When I want to, I can play some good D
• When I want to, I can play really safe offence
• Decision making with the disc is one of the most fundemental parts of the game
• If you don't train properly as a team, you don't play properly when it counts
• When you try and out body someone on a floaty disc, and fail, you look a fool :-)
• Self refereeing can work at any level.

This last point didn't sink in for a few days, but I take it away as one of the most important lessons from the tournament.

France's recent World Cup qualifying debacle, with Thierry Henri's handball, raised the issue of honesty in sport. Although the stakes were comparably lower, the importance of the final game against Smurf was one of the most important ever played in Australia. One team won and go to Prague, the other lost and has to stay home. Yet even in such a high stakes game, the players ability to self referee in a fair and honest manner stood up. There were no bad calls, no arguments, no unresolved disputes. Both teams wanted to win, but not at any cost. Not at the cost of honesty. As one of the captains of the losing team, I know that without a doubt the idea of using our ability to self referee to our unfair advantage never even crossed my mind. And I hope the same thing could be said of every other player.

As the US seem to be experimenting more and more with "active observers", I hope that Ultimate in the rest of the world doesn't and that it continues along the path of allowing the players to make all the calls. Not because it's all nice and warm and fuzzy with everyone being nice to each other, but because it works. It actually works. Players can be trusted to make correct calls, no matter what the circumstance. And that way you can play the game knowing that the best team will win. Not the result of some dodgy call, or lack therefore, by a ref. Not by one team cheating and getting away with it. But because at the end of the day, they were better at the great game we play called Ultimate.

Tiny, tiny horses

The first stage of the Tribe's journey to Prague was completed on the weekend with a strong victory at the Vic Mixed Championships.

Pick Rule

No one knows the current Pick rule properly! Too many times I see a Pick called and then the disc returned to the thrower, irregardless of whether the pick was called during/after the throw or if it affected the play. If a Pick has been called, the following questions should be asked:

• Was the Pick CALLED before the throw or during/after?
• If during/after, did the pick affect possession?

If it was BEFORE - disc goes back to the thrower no matter what.
If it was AFTER, and the pick DIDN'T affect possession, the play stands.

There was a particularly interesting point during the Final v Cranky where a pick was called on a pass that Lori caught for a goal for Tribe. A Cranky player insisted the disc should just go back to the thrower, however I was keen to actually ask the questions above to check if it really should. That wasn't take to well and in a bug huff Cranky just declared it a goal. It's rare that a team kicks up a fuss and then almost demands that a goal be awarded against them!

But that doesn't mean that players shouldn't ask the right questions after a Pick, or any other call.

Defensive Pressure

As I noted in my post Nats post, I feel I can apply good Defensive Pressure if I apply myself, I just don't apply myself enough. I had the chance to mark up on Gak again this weekend and got to apply some good pressure. Obviously he's still Gak so can pretty much do what he wanted, but I made it a little bit harder (plus I got a layout D on him that sadly involved a bit too much contact and was an uncontested foul). I have to try and find someone to focus on applying that pressure on other players too.

Handling

Handling can be pretty fun. As we were short some of our key handlers, I called myself as a handler every point. Ever since Al Don called me as a handler at Mixed Nats 06 in Ballarat I have had a fair amount of confidence handling, and largely due to the excessive amount of League that I play, I am now fairly handy. I am hoping though that when we have our full squad that I can go down field much more often and be just as useful. My decision making with the disc was the best it has ever been, especially in the final, and I think it was because I didn't hold onto the disc for too long. Our team plan is to move the disc quickly, which means that when I get the disc, I look for where I think a good cut would be, and if it's on, I throw it. If it's not, I look somewhere else. I feel that previously my poor decision making came from holding onto the disc for too long and then forcing a throw that wasn't really on. If I focus on moving it quickly, that doesn't become such an issue.

Fun Times

It was so refreshing to play on a team that was so competitive yet so enjoyable. It will be interesting to see if we can maintain that when put under greater pressure at Mixed Nats, but the signs are promising.

Double Game Point

Cranky had a handful of double game points over the weekend, all of which they won, and it was no surprise (well it was a surprise that they got pushed to Double Game Point, but no surprise they won). When push comes to shove, the better teams step up and do what has to be done when it has to be done. As much as those games can sometimes come down to luck, or lack there of, the luck will fall on the side of the better team more often than not. I think it comes down to 2 key things - doing those little things that extra bit harder/better and also having the confidence that things will go your way. Belief can go a long way.

Good Team v Team of Good Players

I got to watch a little bit of the semi between Cranky and MUCUS and it was quite amazing. I looked at every single match-up on the field, and Cranky had the better play in every one. But MUCUS still scored. They scored because they are actually a team, they play together often and they play together well. MUCUS took the half by a few points and looked quite close causing an upset. It didn't happen in the end, but it did show the value in playing as a proper team. It also showed the flaw in assuming you are better than the other team and just waiting for them to stuff up, as Cranky seemed to do.

WFDF Rules of Ultimate - Resources and Review

The WFDF Ultimate Rules Committee recently release some additional resources to support the WFDF Rules of Ultimate 2009.

The additional resources are available here:
http://wfdf.org/index.php?page=rules/index.htm#ultimate

These additional resources include:

Appendix:

The 2009 Version of the Appendix

Official Interpretations:

This document aims to assist players determine the correct way to apply the rules and resolve issues on the field.

This document may be updated throughout the year.

Rules Quiz:

This quiz is pitched at Elite Level players. A Beginner Level quiz will be produced in the future.

It is hoped in the future to convert this into an online quiz.

Comparison between WFDF and UPA:

This document aims to support those players who normally play under UPA rules.

Official Hand Signals:

It is hoped that these can be used by all players to assist in communicating calls on the field.

Discussion and Review Group:

A google group has also been established to allow discussion of the WFDF Rules 2009.

The group is available here: http://groups.google.com.au/group/wfdf-rules-2009-discussion?hl=en

The process for reviewing the Rules for 2010 has begun and this group is a place for all players to provide input on this process.

Crocs at The World Games 2009 II

Key Learnings from World Games:

Professionalism

If you act professional - you look professional.

WFDF and the TD put a lot of effort into making the event appear like a legitimate sport event. All the little things, like the uniforms, introductions, commentators, all added up to present a great spectacle. But the key thing is that although behind the scenes things might not be 100% professional, you can give the 'illusion' of professionalism. This is something that smaller tournament could also use.

Self Refereeing Works

Despite appearances in this clip, self refereeing actually works.

Even at an event like World Games, players are capable of self officiating in a fair and honest manner. One of the key factors in this is the level of respect that the athletes had for each other. Also all the players were aware that the sport was on show and were keen to present it in the best light possible. I am confident that Ultimate can occur at the highest level without the need for control of the game to be taken out of the hands of the players.

"Within one" points cap are no good

Games at World Games weren't played to a win by 2 cap, rather they were just win by one. This meant that if each team had the same number of breaks, the team that started on Offence would win. This happened to the Crocs against Japan. Effectively the toss at the start of the game decided the outcome.

In 2001 World Games they had a different method for resolving games that came down to double game point (ie 12-12). Teams played the Ultimate equivalent of a penalty shoot out, where they essentially played "one shot" ultimate until one team had the advantage. One team would start on their defending brick mark and attempt to score. If they scored they got a point, if the turned it over, play stopped and they got no points.The other team then got the chance to score from the same brick mark heading in the same direction. If after this no team had the advantage, it restarted with the team the started second starting first and heading in the opposite direction. In this way the wind was removed as a determining factor. This could be a great way to fairly determine the outcome of games where no team has been able to make more than a 1 point lead.

Mixed is still all about the Men

It's unfortunate, but it's true. The men still dominate Mixed Ultimate.

During training with the Crocs we were quite good at using or women, especially cutting deep. However during World Games is resorted back to the usual pattern of hucking to guys. This was mostly the case for all the other teams, and women making a significant impact on a whole game was the exception rather than the standard. Even with the best women in the world on the field, the lure of throwing to the faster and taller guys seemed to be too strong. This was a real shame as I think one of the great aspects of the sport is that it can be played mixed and that women can have as big an impact as men on the field.

Tactics v 'Ticker'

At the elite level of World Games, every player is an exceptional athlete with amazing skills. So the difference between the teams comes down to other things - like tactics and 'ticker'. And at an event that was so arduous, in terms of player numbers and the playing conditions, 'ticker' became the biggest factor. The different team tactics, and how other teams responded to these, did play a factor, but at this level the impact of the tactics was not huge. It really came down to which team wanted it more - which player was prepared to dig deep and go that extra bit to beat their opponent - which player was prepared to do those little things that help make that next cut work - which player had the 'ticker' to win no matter what their body or mind was thinking. It was a real pleasure to watch some of these athletes go out there and put it all on the line. 'Ticker' is not necessarily something you can train for, but it's something that is necessary to win.

Jonno Holmes is amazing

Every Croc played exceptionally well and I am hesitant to single one player out over the rest, but Jonno Holmes played amazingly. As co-captain he led the team in every way imaginable, with his words and actions. When he was on the field you knew that if a disc needed to be caught - he would catch it. If a huck needed to be completed - he would throw it. If a block needed to be gotten - he got it. He was a true inspiration. Despite his lack of appearance in the huddle's mock draft, Jonno would easily be the first Australian player I would pick for any team, any time.

Before the Opening Ceremony

Waiting for the Opening Ceremony

Entering the Opening Ceremony

Huddle with Canada

Huddle with Japan

Team Photo (minus Keah)

Waiting for the Medal Ceremony

Medal Ceremony

Top 3 Teams

Team Photo

Crocs at The World Games 2009

Nationals 2009 Part 2

Eventually the saga continues:

Adjusting my deep game

I scored a lot of goals at Nationals (the most for HoS).

From our horizontal set up I had the freedom to cut deep at will and a bunch of throwers prepared to put it to me.

But when I had to play teams again, it seemed that now it's not only Johnny Mac that knows I want to cut deep!

When we replayed Chilly and I-Beam I got Gak and Gav on D. Both stood on the deep side of me and let me cut in. At first I tried to just engage them and keep them busy so that the other cutters could cut. But that wasn't working so well, maybe because I had been hogging all the deep cuts previously. I then tried to take more in cuts and then look to get a deep shot off. Maybe because of the extra pressure from the D, none of these shots really came off and I started to loose it a bit. I started talking to myself and telling myself that the D had figured me out - all they had to do was force me in and watch me turn it over. So I tried to "prove them wrong" by cutting in and then punishing them with my throws. But I had gotten into my own head too much and was trying to "punish" them too eagerly and ended up just turning it over more!!!

Eventually, but too late, I think I figured it out - the point is longer than the first few passes. I was trying to score too quickly. I then just took the easy in cut and dished the disc off quickly and reset. Then after a few more passes and faked cuts I found that the deep option opened up again. Hopefully I can remember this the next time I have top quality D on me. Or maybe I just need to practice cutting like this regardless of the D? We'll see.

Individual D pressure

I found I applied much more pressure on D when I was marking better players. Mainly because I was more focused. But maybe I should be that focused on all players and therefore help generate more pressure across the field. That's my goal for the future. I need to make sure though that I check in with the disc more often. When I was really focused on playing D I got too focused on the actual player. Andrew Flemming had a good analogy regarding traffic lights that I need to remember.

Team D pressure

HoS had some amazing runs on D. Once they got a few D's the pressure just started to build. And the confidence. The D team just knew that they could go out there and get a D. And they did. Again and again. And then they scored. It was incredible. Sadly when they failed, the O team didn't hold up their end of the bargain. Too often we let the D team down by not scoring when it counted and letting the oppositions D team go on a run.

In my opinion the rules and design of Ultimate from a technical stand point favour the O. All you have to do is keep passing the disc up the field until you score. The other team can't bump you to get the disc. It should be easy. But when it comes to the crunch, at the end of high level, high pressure games, the D has the advantage. And it all comes down to the mental game. Somehow teams need to work out how to better prepare for this type of pressure.

Value of smaller role players

Like most sports, Ultimate seems to celebrate the more flashy types of players - those who get the big blocks, catch the goals, throw the hucks. And like most sports I think we under appreciate the contribution of the smaller role players. Those players who continually keep the structure right, make that fill cut when needed and stop those offensive resets on D. Sometimes on HoS we would call "Crunch" lines with the majority of our flashy players. Now it could be that we lacked some cohesion from not playing together enough, but I also think that the lack of these smaller role players made life hard.

It would be great if we could come up with a way to recognise and acknowledge those smaller role players.

2009 Rules

Overall I think the introduction of the 2009 rules went really well. When they were used properly it made the game much smoother. Sadly some players still don't quite understand - especially about the travel rule. Very soon WFDF will approve a bunch of supporting documents to help people understand and learn the rules better and I will post more about those when they are released.

One thing that did become apparent to me was the value that could be added by having rule advisers. I have often discussed with US players about the relative merits of Observers and I am still not convinced they are required. I am keen though to actually try a game with observers and have put my hand up to observe a game in the future (not at a major tournament though).

However I think there could be a role for rule advisers. Which is pretty much what I was all weekend. If people weren't sure what a rule was or what the correct interpretation was, they asked me. I never gave my opinion on what had actually happened in a play, I only described the rule that was relevant to that particular incident and left the players to make the final decision. Too often players make calls that are actually not based on the rules or don't even understand basic rules. This could be easily overcome with rule advisers - especially for semis/finals at big tournies.

Nationals 2009 Part 1

Heads of State came third at Nats which was a great result.

What did I learn? Let's see:

Sideline Talk

I understand the importance of sideline talk, and on every team I coach I encourage it 100%. But sometimes I think players need to use the time one the sideline to relax and disengage. Standing on the sideline and being activlt engaged in the play can be very tiring, both physically and mentaly. So when the squad is big enough that not every player needs to be on the sideline, I think they should take it in turns to relax and disengage between points. 

Timeouts

Because we had Boo Boo on the sideline coaching, we were much more purposful with our timeouts. Games to 17/100 mins take a long time, so actually using timouts, and using them well, is very important. We called one nearly every game after 12 points, because in the first 3 games, that is when we started to fade out. We almost always only called timouts between points, and rarely called them on O. Based on this, I came to some basic conslusions about calling timeouts:

• use them all
• call them at a set time/score
• call them between points when about to play D
• only call them on O after multiple turns in the same point
• never call timouts outside the endzone

Off-sides

HoS had practised throughout the year to start half way in the end zone on D to try and avoid going off-side on the pull. It mostly worked, we only got called for a re-pull once. With such a large sideline at Nats, I sometimes took the opportunity to walk down and watch the other teams pulls. I'm not sure why every team doesn't do this all the time.  The mere presence of an opponent standing watching the pull makes teams stay on-side, and if they don't stay on-side, it's very easy to signal this to your team. This doesn't mean I think teams should get called for any minor off-side - but sometimes, especially when teams are playing zone, going off-side can be a big advantage.

Club Championships

The tournament is called the Australian Ultimate Championship (AUC), but I really think we should change the name to the Australian Ultimate Club Championship (AUCC), because that is what it is. AUC conjures up ideas of State v State, which is not what we have. And this would then line up with WFDF's WUCC.

Club Strength

While considering the nature of these "Club" Championships, I was struck by the imaginary "salary cap" that all teams seem to adhere to. Even though they could, each state doesn't just send it's best team, well at least the good states don't. NSW and VIC could easily put the States best players onto one team and almost guarantee a win. But they don't. The Dingos could all get together and play as one team, but they don't. There is this unwritten idea that clubs want to try and win, but only with a team that isn't considered "stacked". Fakulti may have suffered over the years with this idea, hence the A/B - X/Y dilemma. 

But as the strength of Nationals increases, and the weaker teams become stronger and stronger, it will be interesting to see how far clubs are prepared to push the limit of "stacked" to ensure they can still guarantee they get to compete at the top level.

More to come soon.

My first layout callahan.

This evening I finally did it.

So many times I have been guarding the dump, standing 45 degrees away from the dump up field, eyes half downfield, half on the thrower and half on the dump. I watch the thrower and think - if he throws the dump I could make a bid on the pass. The dump pass is thrown and for a brief second I think "Oh, I could have got that". But it don't leave my feet and the pass is completed.

This time I didn't think. I remember positioning myself at 45 degrees and thinking if he throws it I'll go, and the next moment I was in the air. Then the disc was in my hand. Then I landed in the endzone. Then I got up and, just like Matt Dowle would, I strolled nonchalantly towards the sideline, gave a few low fives and left the field to cheer on my team for the next point. Sweet.

On the drive home all I had to do was think of that moment and a smile came to my face.

My first layout callahan. Now the key is to make sure it's not my last.

Regionals 2009

That time of year again - Southern Regionals.

HoS were only pushed in the last 2 games, conceding only 7 goals total from the previous 4 games. The ability to put away weaker teams was one HoS didn't have last year so it was good to achieve this and therefore conserve energy for the games that mattered.

Semi: HoS v Karma

This was a very tight game, although we ran away with it at the end.

Karma went up a break on the first point but we managed to take half. Most points were hard fought. Karma have some impressive key players and some solid support players. But too much rested on the heads of the key players and our support players were much stronger.

Final: HoS v Chilly

We got of to a great start but it didn't last. Chilly ran away to a sizable lead that we never clawed back. However there were no easy points, with several turns every point. It was quite windy which affected throwing and the D from both teams was tight. Chilly have a very tight lineup with no real weak spots so will challenge for the title once again at Nats.

Key Points from the weekend:

Rules:

I will follow up this post with another about the new rules, but: NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE KNOW THE RULES!! I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that I know the rules so well. It seems that people just rely on me to know them rather than know them themselves. I had to point out a number of key rules to fairly experienced players on the weekend.

Zero Pass Transition:

My League team tried this a number of times and Chilly used it to good effect in the Final. They set up like man and then switched to zone or vice versa. Very effective at stopping the flow off the first few passes.

Catches:

I can still take a nice catch. I took a nice one handed backward layout catch finishing in a shoulder stand that felt awesome. I feel it is always best to leave your feet to try and make a catch, especially when you're not exactly sure of the line/flight of the disc. Being in the air makes you more balanced to be able to adjust your hand position at the last moment.

Let's get physical:

I had quite a few points on D where I got real close to my defender, both on the mark and guarding. Not illegally close, but close. At one point I almost got rammed by a cutter as I stepped into their path - I knew where they wanted to go so I moved there before them. As long as I move early enough that they could reasonably avoid me I feel I am not breaking any rules. I think one of the great things about a self refereed sport is the players can decide what's acceptable and what isn't. If a ref had to call every incident of contact it would be really annoying.

Sideline talk works:

HoS finished a game quickly and had time to go support HoS white v Tassie. HoS White were down 8-4, and thanks to some huge sideline talk from HoS (plus some great play by Hos White of course) they came back to win 10-8. I don't know that they would have achieved that without the sideline support we offered.

That's about it for now.

Stay tuned for 2009 Rules discussion soon.

Throwing Mindset

Wednesday night at League I managed to set my Throwing Mindset to just the right spot - not too risky, not too safe.

My aim as a thrower is to be able to take advantage of any opportunities that are presented.

This means not forcing things that aren't on.

AOUC Highlights

Here are some highlights I put together from the Final of the WFDF Asia Oceanic Ultimate Championships 2007.

Japan v Australia



Japan won 15-11.

(For those who don't know, I'm number 8)

Decision Making and catching

As always I have been very busy with other frisbee stuff, namely: working on the 09 WFDF rules, the VFDA Strategic Plan, sorting out League for this season and World Games.

But I have been trying out a fun new mental exercise.

Now when I walk along the city streets I practice my throwing decision making. 

I pick a target from one of the people walking down the street and work out which throw I would use to get it to them. 

I also take into account which other people are playing d - ie if that guy in red was playing D I wouldn't throw it, if that guy with the hat was on d I would throw an IO backhand etc.

It would be great if there was some sort of software where you could simulate real time decision making, but in the absence of that I find this a potentially useful technique. 

I have only been trying it for a few days so I will have to wait and see if it has an impact on my actual in game decision making.

Over Christmas I also made my own disc catching practice pole. It's just a bunch of poles that connect together and slot into a microphone stand base. There is a string with a magnet on the end and I have glued a small piece of metal to a disc. The string can easily be lowered and then raised to reattach the disc.

(it doesn't actually need someone to hold it - but it helps)

I am hoping it will be useful in practicing different jumping techniques and identifying the highest point I can get the disc - from both a running and standing start and from odd angles.