The level 1 coaching course still doesn’t allow you to infuse freshers with the ability to throw a flick and tends to be belittled based on its basic curriculum. However the value of it doesn’t come from its content, rather it comes from throwing 20 experienced players into a room that definitely shouldn’t fit 20 players, for a 9-5 of deep frisbee discussion. Highlights involved: how to coach spirit; how to coach at all; how to be an above average coach and how to throw a backhand. To summarise the theoretical aspect of the day; yes the content seems a bit obvious but if you put effort into getting involved and chatting to people it is 100% worth it for what you will pick up.

The practical part of the day involved pairing up and delivering a drill for everyone to take part in, before then being critiqued on both your drill and coaching style. Here’s a diagram of my drill:

To summarise it as simply as I can, it’s a communication centric variation on a ladder zone defence drill. Defenders are restricted to a box, although the two defenders from each of the ladder steps can overlap in their central dashed zone. The aim for offence, to work the disc up through the 3 ladder steps and score in the endzone. The aim for defence, get a turnover. The aim for the drill, to teach players that you are never an inactive defensive player regardless of how far away the disc is from your area of the pitch. (I did explain this a lot better the first time but then accidentally deleted the whole thing and had to rewrite it so I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.)

As I’m sure is no revelation to you all, ultimate is still self funded, and as I’m sure is also no revelation to anyone who plays on a team with me, I have a kit addiction. Such issues make affording opportunities like my level 1 difficult, which wasn’t helped by the nearest venue being in Leeds. (That is until I checked my phone on the way back from Leeds to see they’d just advertised one in Brighton for November, thanks UKU) Fortunately with BU’s rejig of how funding works I could easily apply and was fortunate enough to have my level 1 fully funded due to the benefit of having another coach in the BU community particularly focussed on coaching Stingrays as a youth development team.

I hate to disappoint all my keen readers but having my level 1 now means that I’ve been roped into coaching a BU session, the date of which I won’t tell you so you can’t skip it :))

This blog was written by your new favourite coach, Jack Halkyard.
—–
Jack received funding from Brighton Ultimate’s funding scheme. To find out more about this scheme, including how to apply go to: www.brightonultimate.co.uk/forms/

The BU Summer League 2018 is here!

Sign up now

Sign-ups are now openhttps://goo.gl/forms/cG9atCF3fZibq5cq1, or just turn up on the day (preferably sign up though!)

What: The BU Summer League is a team-based Ultimate Frisbee competition, open to beginners and experienced players alike! Sign up / turn up, be allocated to a team, and enjoy playing 2 or 3 games in an evening. If we only have enough players for two teams, we’ll mix up the teams a few times and keep track of everyone’s wins on a leaderboard!

When: Every Monday evening (6:15pm throwing/warm-up, 7:00pm games start), from 11th June 2018 for 5 weeks (final week: 9th July)

Where: Wild Park, Lewes Road, Brighton

Who: Come along whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned veteran – everyone is welcome, all you need to bring is a light & a dark shirt, footwear to run around in, some water, and £3 to play on the day. Any questions just contact [email protected]

Sign up here

Want to volunteer?
If you volunteer to run the warm-up or be “League Organiser” on-the-day (putting out cones, collecting names/fees, recording wins, and so on), you’ll be able to play that week free of charge! (or receive a £3 refund if you’ve already paid £10). If you want to volunteer, say so on the sign-up form, or email Felix.

Summer club