East Ultimate

Making A Difference

I sometimes feel as if I am drowning in obligations and requests for help. Sometimes it's hard to see that sending another check or volunteering time makes much difference.

I want you to know that the help you gave East Ultimate this year has made a difference - a significant difference in some lives - lives that, in a way, are just getting started.

That might sound rather sappy or over the top but read these excerpts from e-mails that new players sent to their teammates about their experience playing ultimate this year:

This weekend  finally made something clear to me:  Ultimate is the best thing that has happened to me in high school.  It has introduced me to a game I never knew existed (and which I now consider the best sport ever invented) but more importantly it has brought me together with a group of the most genuine people I've ever met.  This team's dedication to the sport of ultimate and to each other continues to amaze and inspire me. Thank you for making this season so wonderful.  I hope you all know how much I admire you, and I have great faith in us for next year.

Here's another:

Nothing I do is particularly remarkable, I'm no great artist, nothing, and so far, this is the thing that has defined my high school years, as sad and I Bleed Black-esque as that may be . . . . I feel confident in saying I have become an infinitely better player, and, I like to think, a better person thanks to this season. I've never been in a better group of people in my life before I joined this team, and I wouldn't change a thing.

And this one was just funny:

. . . I'll just say that I don't think there is any other sports team out there where such a majority of players are so damned literate.

We all helped make East Ultimate possible this year, and we should be happy about our part in that.

Recruiting and Summer League

We need more players, and you can help us find them.

Why should you get other parents and kids involved? How about this: ultimate is a great sport, and this is a wonderful group of kids. Getting another kid involved may be one of the best things you can do for them. (Another reason is this: nearly half of our players graduated this year.)

Spreading the word about the East team to parents whose kids will be going to East next year (or are already there) is easy. New parents are always asking us what East is like, what's good and bad, and what they should encourage their kids to do. (Current parents are always "checking in" on what's going well with our kids.) When other parents ask, mention ultimate.

Just mentioning ultimate helps, but at the moment, we also need a more active approach.

Yes, ultimate is mainly a spring sport. BUT, by the time spring comes around, ultimate is just one of many sports competing for players.  The sooner we can get new players involved, the better chance we have of getting them to play ultimate in the spring.

We have great opportunity to get kids involved now rather than later: Denver Youth Summer League. If a new kid plays summer league, he or she will learn something about the game and get to know our team. AND, he or she is almost certain to be with us in the fall and spring.  It's also cheap and fun!  (More info: denveryouthultimate.org)

Here are the basics . . . Summer League is designed to be fun. It is relatively informal. There is a schedule and the games are competitive, but the league itself and the teams are relaxed. Missing a few weeks for vacations etc. is not a big deal - no one really pays attention.

The teams are picked by the organizer. All the teams have players who are playing for the first time and haven't a clue about how to play or throw.

Though each team has players from several high schools, there are a couple East players on each team to help a new player feel comfortable.  (If it's really important for someone new to be on a team with a particular player, I can probably ensure that that will happen.)

Generally, the players carpool to the games, which are all held at Schaeffer Athletic Complex.

If anyone needs help negotiating the Summer League registration or forms, or needs more information, I'd be happy to help. 

Summer Dates & Clinics

Just when you are overwhelmed with a million end of school events and planning for summer vacation, here are a few more things you might need to stick on your calendar. 

One thing on the list is really important: the End-of-the-Season Potluck.  It's particularly important this year, because we're saying good-bye to Derek -- the person who created East Ultimate and has given it life and soul (as a volunteer) for three spectacular years. 

May 31 - Last YCC Tryout
The Denver Summer League is putting together a team to attend the Youth Club Championship in Blaine, MN on August 5-6. To go, you must tryout.

June 3 - End Of The Season Potluck (or Gala, depending on your attitude).
The Potluck will be in the Sage Hospitality Lounge at Johnson & Wales University.

The Johnson & Wales campus is across the street from Denver School of the Arts, on the southwest corner of Montview & Quebec. (Directions to campus.) The Sage Hospitality Lounge is on the first floor of the Hospitality College, just off the lobby. The Hospitality College is building number 11 on the campus map.

Ellen Hokanson, who has kindly volunteered to organize this not-to-be-missed event, will send out more details in a separate e-mail.

June 13 - First Day of Summer League.
Games are every Tuesday through August 8 at Schaeffer Athletic Complex. (More info: denveryouthultimate.org)

July 15-20 - NUTC, First Session.
The National Ultimate Training Camp is the original and best known ultimate camp. This year NUTC is in Northfield, MA. Derek is a coach for at least one session. The next session begins July 22 and the last on July 29. Brenna, Nicole, & Elise attended in 2004. (More info)

July 23-29 - JEM Camp Begins.
Run by CU's ultimate team, Mamabird, JEM (Junior Elite Methods) is an incredible opportunity for good players to improve their skills, get to know other HS players from around the country, and rub shoulders with Mamabird players. It's in Boulder and campers stay in CU dorms. This year, JEM has added an adventure component, so it's not only ultimate. Several East players went last year and reported it was well-organized, fun, and very helpful. Unfortunately JEM is for men only - see the next item. (More info)

July 24-28 - Kali Clinics.
CU's women's team, Kali, again plans to run a series of clinics for HS women. The reviews from last year were excellent. The Kali women are wonderful, and Kali's coach - Mike "Whit" Whitaker - is the best. The clinics will probably be free.

August 5-6 - Youth Club Championships
The Denver Summer League is putting together a team to attend this tournament in Blaine, MN. To go, you must tryout - see above.