Bay Area Youth Ultimate
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| As a self-officiated game with a popular coed division, Ultimate is unique in its potential for teaching young athletes the true meaning of the word sportsmanship. This is well described in the Official Rules: "Spirit of the Game: Ultimate relies upon a spirit of sportsmanship which places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect among players, adherence to the agreed upon rules of the game, or the basic joy of play." Participating high schools should expect to see this potential flower quickly into an athletic environment where young men and women compete alongside one another, develop genuine respect and admiration for both their teammates and their opponents, and carry the Spirit of the Game (SOTG) with them each time they leave the field of play. Chris 'Schmed' Schneider Bitney Springs Charter High School Nevada City, CA |
| I love everything about Ultimate... the camaraderie, the intense athletic competition, the coed possibilities, and especially the Spirit of the Game (SOTG). Introducing these unique aspects of Ultimate to my high school kids has been one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life. Watching kids experience SOTG, playing hard but never at the expense of mutual respect between players, reminds me of the potential we all have to be good. Most of my kids have come from some sport, whether it be soccer, baseball, or football, and have not felt the kind of connection to the sport or opponents that they have felt after playing ultimate in just one tournament. My unpaid volunteer time has been instrumental in forming valuable connections with the members of my Ultimate team. Watching these brand new players going on to experience sports at the college level has also been very rewarding. Where only a small percentage of traditional high school sports players have the chance at playing their sport on a college team at a major university, virtually all of my players will play in college at any school they go to... and continue to play all the way into adulthood, as I have done myself. Jesse Woodward Castro Valley High School Castro Valley, CA |
| Coaching Ultimate was a dream of mine for many years. I thought I had some good insights into the fundamentals of the sport, but for the most part I just wanted to share Ultimate with young people. I really had no idea how well-received the program would be. My players aren't just infected; they're rabid about the Spirit of the Game and the irreverent culture surrounding the sport. As a tiny charter high school up in the Sierra foothills, we travel all over California, but rarely win a game. All that matters to my kids is the opportunity to mix with other Ultimate fanatics, the chance to make that killer layout bid, and the rush of scoring against another athlete whom you genuinely respect. As a teacher, I can't help but notice how the academic investment of the team as a whole affects the players who exist at the margin of success. There is no question in my mind, but that the team is an essential positive force within my school. In more ways than I could ever have imagined, the experience is a dream come true. Chris 'Schmed' Schneider Bitney Springs Charter High School Nevada City, CA |