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.