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.