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