HUC -- Winter League -- Ultimate Frisbee League

Hey Team 9,

I, Tom Northrup, am captaining our squad, along with AJ Beard, and I am looking forward to meeting everyone this Saturday. I am pasting a long e-mail from the league organizer, Thomas Jackson, below. Please review it before Saturday. I will try to condense it a bit in the following bullets:

-Games start at 10 on Saturday; please come at 9 to get registered and pay if you still need to.
-There is a get together Thursday night; it starts around 7; I am not going, but it is at: Texan Indoor, 4137 Pinemont Dr Houston, TX 77018-1105
-If you don't know the rules then don't sweat it. They are pretty easy to learn and there are plenty of chill people on the team who you can ask about them if have questions. If you like to research them on your own then go to www.upa.org

See you Saturday.

Tom

Longer e-mail:

Welcome to HUC's Winter Leauge 2009-2010

This year there will be 12 teams with 215 participants! That is pretty amazing, thanks for making this the biggest HUC League ever (FACT CHECK!!!). Teams will be spread out a little more thinly than last year so please know your teammates are counting on you to show up.

First I want to go over the schedule for this week and then the rules so please read this entire message. Future communication will be coming directly from your captains.

Thursday night we will be having the Pull Party. Last year's event was kind of lame so this year we are going to try to make it more fun by combining the Pull Party with Thursday Indoor Pickup. You can come out, pick up your shirts and disc and watch some sweet indoor Ultimate or play some sweet indoor Ultimate. Cost to play is $5, no cleats allowed (please read rules on HUC website). There will be a crew upstairs to get you your stuff and there is a bar downstairs.

Saturday: Games start at 10am sharp! So show up by 9:00 to pay and get your stuff. We will have multiple people out there to help you. Please know your team number when you come to pay so you know which person to go to. As always Paypal is preferred. If you pay that morning by paypal please print out your receipt and bring it. If paying by cash please have exact change. Checks are made out to HUC. PLEASE do not let a line discourage you. This will be the only week that we will have a crew of volunteers there to assist. You will not get your shirts and disc until you pay. A late fee will be assessed on a weekly basis for those who do not pay by week 4. Having to hunt people down to get them to pay is no fun for anyone.

Rules:

All games will be played by the UPA 11th edition rules. We don't expect new players to have the rules memorized but it is helpful to read through them. I encourage fouls and violations to be called and rules to be explained where appropriate. However when you do so please remember that not everyone has been playing for years so be nice about it!

The most important aspect to the rules is the "Spirit of the Game". Learn it, Live it.

"Spirit of the Game. Ultimate relies upon a spirit of sportsmanship that places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect among competitors, adherence to the agreed upon rules, or the basic joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to eliminate unsportsmanlike conduct from the Ultimate field. Such actions as taunting opposing players, dangerous aggression, belligerent intimidation, intentional infractions, or other 'win-at-all-costs' behavior are contrary to the Spirit of the Game and must be avoided by all players."

We will be allowing substitutes. The cost will be $5 a day and the individuals will be assigned to teams that are short handed. Please send all substitutes to me at the beginning of the day. Substitutes found playing on a team of their choice and not paying will be asked to leave so if your buddy shows up it is your responsibility to explain this rule to them.

Games are to 15, length is 1 hour and 20 minutes. Soft cap will sound at 1:05, hard cap at 1:15. Time outs will be permitted in the soft cap but must last no longer than 60 seconds.

Gender ratio is 7:0, 6:1, or 5:2. Offense dictates.

Remember that this is a recreational league and it is all about having a good time. If you are not, come and see me and I will try to solve the problem.

That should about cover it.

Looking forward to a great league.

Thomas Jackson and Black Angus

Comments

Games - 11/21/09

Hey Team 9,

Here are a couple of quick details about the games on Saturday:

*Please e-mail me if you have to miss one or both of our games.

1. Games start at 10 AM this week. We are on field 2 at 10 AM and field 1 at 11:30 AM.
2. I plan to arrive a bit before 9 AM and do a full warm-up. Therefore, if you are old, hobbled, or want to prevent becoming so then join me at 9 AM.
3. I want to organize some throwing drills and discuss zone defense; therefore, please plan to arrive no later than 9:20 AM. If you want extra practice then come at 9 AM for the skills clinic.
4. The second T-shirt order has arrived so come at 9 AM if you did not get yours fromt the week before.
5. BRING WATER, A SNACK, AND SUNSCREEN. Bring more than you think you need when it comes to water. Drink often throughout the morning to avoid cramps and dehydration. Chairs are a great idea too.
6. It is supposed to rain on Friday night, but games will not be cancelled for light rain. If you are unsure of the game status, please check your email or call the HUC Hotline 713-589-5790 by 9 am to find out if games are on.

Okay...I think that is it. See you Saturday.

Best,
Tom

Game Cancelled (11/21) and Happy Turkey Day

Hey All,

If you are reading this than you probably already saw the e-mail from Eric that the games have been cancelled today (11/21)...bummer. About half the fields were too wet to risk playing on (due to injury potential and tearing up the fields too badly). Also, I just wanted to wish everyone a great Turkey Day, and give you a reminder that there are no games on 11/28; our first game back will be on 12/5.

Best,
Tom

Toys for Tots 12/19

Hey Team 9 (aka, the Monkeys),

***The Toys for Tots donation pickup is scheduled for 12/19. Please contribute something to those less fortunate. If you will not be in town on the 19th you may bring something this Saturday (the 12th) and I will keep it until the Marines come and pick up all the donations the following week. Whatever you can bring will be appreciated and make a difference in the joy experienced by a youngster during the holidays.

Weekly recap:

It looks like we squeaked out a great victory last Saturday and then narrowly lost another game. Staying competitive, having fun, and playing fundamentally sound Ultimate are the things that are important to me, and from the scores it looks like we are accomplishing those goals. I am back in good health and will be at the games on Saturday. Please try to be at the fields by 9:30 to warm-up and meet with the team to discuss some new plays or defensive strategies so that we can improve as a squad. I will get to the fields by about 8:45 or 9:00 if anyone would like to come that early to help setup, get some extra warm-up, or participate in one of the clinics that Mary Fuzat will be running.

Best,
Tom

Toys for Tots

Hey Team 9,

Don't forget to buy a toy for our charity drive -- for Toys for Tots. You don't have to spend a lot to make one kid's holidays a little nicer. Please donate if you have the time and money.

See y'all bright and early on Saturday.

Best,
Tom

Game Tomorrow

Hey All,

This is extremely late notice, but I would like to know who is coming tomorrow. Please drop me a quick line at tommytlove@hotmail.com and indicate your whether you will or will not be in attendance. I need to give TJ some idea about our need for subs.

I hope y'all enjoyed the holidays.

Best,
Tom

Tournament Details

Hey Monkeys (Team 9),

We finished fourth in the regular season, and we have a first round bye this weekend. Congrats! This means our first game will be at 10:30. I plan to come around 9:30 to warmup and watch the other 8 teams play. This weekend is the end of our season and our last chance to be monkeys! Let's go out on top and make sure we have some fun while doing it. I know that a few people can't come this weekend, but shoot me a quick reply to remind me again of who we can expect to be in attendance. We have a strong, I repeat a strong chance of taking this whole thing down. More than anything I want to keep up the positive teamraderie we have had all season long. See you Saturday.

Best,
Tom