Friday, May 13, 2011

Carpool to GCC

The A Team Carpool is leaving Sunrise Park Middle School at 7:30 SHARP on Saturday, May 14. Call Jordan Farley if you have any questions 651-260-5427.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Be "In The Know" Using Our Email Distribution List

Parents, Players, and Fans-

Would you like to know about last minute cancellations or details on upcoming tournaments? Subscribe to our WBLUltimate Yahoo! Group and you'll be sent an email as events unfold.

The purpose of this this email distribution list is to communicate last minute schedule changes, tournaments, league policy changes, and things that require immediate attention. But posts may also include summer camp and other playing opportunities. Don't worry, you will not be spammed... in six years, only 87 message have been sent to the list.

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It may take a few minutes to process, follow the instructions to verify your subscription.

So now, the next time a game or practice gets canceled due to bad weather, you'll be "in the know."

Ten Things You Should Know About Spirit of the Game

1. The golden rule: treat others as you would want to be treated.

Spirited games result from mutual respect among opponents. Assume the best of your opponent. Give him or her the benefit of a doubt. You would want the same for yourself. But if you are thick-skinned, do not assume that your opponent is. Maybe you should think of this rule as, "treat others as you would have them treat your mother."

2. Control: SOTG takes real effort.

SOTG is not just some abstract principle that everyone adopts and then games run smoothly without effort. Close calls are made in tight games. Hard fouls are committed. SOTG is about how you handle yourself under pressure: how you contain your emotionality, tame your temper, and modulate your voice. If you initiate or contribute to the unraveling of spirit, the concept falls apart quickly. If you act to mend things (or at least not exacerbate the situation) by following (1) above, the game heals itself.

3. Heckling and taunting are different.

Ultimate has a long tradition of good-natured heckling. Heckles are friendly barbs, typically from non-playing spectators. Heckling can be fun, but taunting is unspirited and wrong. Harassing remarks after an opponent's foul call or close play are NOT heckling: they are abusive taunts which create unpleasant playing conditions and often escalate to acrimonious disputes.

4. SOTG is compatible with championship play.

It is a fallacy to argue that the stakes are so important that some aspect of SOTG can be cast aside. Time and again, great teams and star players have shown that you can bring all your competitive and athletic zeal to a game without sacrificing fair play or respect for your opponent.

5. Don't "give as you got."

There is no "eye for an eye." If you are wronged, you have no right to wrong someone in return. In the extreme case where you were severely mistreated, you may bring the issue up with a captain, tournament director, or even lodge a complaint with the governing body. If you retaliate in kind, however, a complaint may be filed against you. We recall point (1): treat others as you would have them treat you, not as they have treated you. In the end, you are responsible for you.

6. Breathe.

After a hard foul, close call, or disputed play, take a step back, pause, and take a deep breath. In the heat of competition, emotions run high. By giving yourself just a bit of time and space, you will gain enough perspective to compose yourself and concentrate on the facts involved in the dispute (was she in or out; did you hit his hand or the disc; did that pick affect the play). Your restraint will induce a more restrained response from your opponent. Conflagration averted, you may resume business as usual.

7. When you do the right thing, people notice.

When you turn the other cheek, you know you've done the right thing. You may not hear praise, there may be no standing ovation, but people do notice. Eventually, their respect for you and their appreciation of the game will grow.

8. Be generous with praise.

Compliment an opponent on her good catch. Remark to a teammate that you admire his honesty in calling himself out of bounds. Look players in the eye and congratulate them when you shake their hands after a game. These small acts boost spirit greatly, a large payoff for little time and effort.

9. Impressions linger.

Not only does the realization that your actions will be remembered for a long time serve to curb poor behavior, it can also inspire better conduct. Many old-timers enjoy the experience of meeting an elite player who remembers their first rendezvous on the field and recalls the event in detail. A good first encounter with an impressionable young player can have considerable long term positive impact.

10. Have fun.

All other things being equal, games are far more fun without the antipathy. Go hard. Play fair. Have fun.

Special thanks to Eric Zaslow and members of the 2005 Conduct Committee (Jeff Dunbar, Kate Bergeron, Eric Zaslow, Will Deaver) for the development of this document. Adopted by UPA Executive Committee, March 29, 2005.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

St. Cloud Granite City Classic - May 14-15

This weekend (May 14-15) is the annual Granite City Classic Tournament at Whitney Park in St. Cloud.

The following White Bear Lake teams will be participating:
White Bear Lake A
White Bear Lake C Black
White Bear Lake C Orange

Captain's meeting at 9:00 each day at the Headquarters Tent at Whitney Park. Games to begin at 9:30. Most games are over by 3:00. Please allot a minimum of 90 minutes to commute to the fields. The tournament director is Chris Reicher. Mr. Reicher may be reached at 320-492-1005 or cgreicher@aol.com. The tournament schedule may be found here. The USA Ultimate Score Reporter for this tournament may be found here. Score Reporter for the B Division may be found here.

From I-94 – Take St. Augusta / Highway 75 Exit, go right off ramp. Follow 75 for about 6 miles to 25th Avenue South (large Tenvoorde Ford dealer on corner). Go right on 25th. Continue to 12th Street North (a T intersection), go right. Follow Northway Drive about 8 blocks (at 3 blocks street curves left) to Whitney Park (on the left, YMCA on the right)

From Highway 10 – Take Golden Spike Road/Highway 3 exit in Sauk Rapids. Top of ramp, go left. Continue on about 1 mile, cross Mississippi River, go straight thru stoplighted intersection and follow 9th Ave N about 4 blocks to Northway Drive. Go right on Northway Drive. Continue 2 blocks to Whitney Park (on right, YMCA on left).

Safety First:
• Drink water; stay hydrated.
• Seek shelter during a lightning delay, GO TO YOUR CARS.
• St. Cloud Hospital is 2 minutes from field.
• Coaches must bring normal medical kit---wraps, band-aids, cold packs, Bactine, etc.
• Coaches must have UPA Medical Authorization form for each player in case of emergency.
• If weather conditions are difficult, games may be shortened.
• Keep yourself and personal items, including but not limited to coolers, tents, strollers, bags and chairs 15 feet away from the sideline.
• For everyone's safety, please remove all earrings, jewelry, watches when playing.

Tournament Rules:
• UPA 11th edition rules. Exceptions noted below.
• Games to 13 on Saturday, 15 on Sunday.
• Each game will be 80 minutes long.
• Soft cap at 70 minutes (add 2 to the high score) signaled by 1 horn blast.
• Hard cap at 80 minutes (finish the point you are playing) signaled by 2 horn blasts.
• Time outs: 1 per half, 1 floater, for a total of 3 time outs per team.
• 5 minute Half Time at 7 points on Saturday, 8 points on Sunday.
• After each game, the score must be reported to the Headquarters tent by the winning team or called or texted to the following number: 320-492-1005. Please use this format: Open, WBL-A 13, Como Park 10.

Players should remember to bring both a light and dark shirt, snacks, and sunscreen. For a comprehensive list of what to pack in your ultimate bag see http://wblultimate.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-should-i-pack-in-my-ultimate-bag.html

Parents, if this is your first tournament please download this Spectator Guide to Ultimate to have a better idea of what to expect. Here are some things you may want to bring:
1. Folding chair.
2. Hat.
3. Sunglasses.
4. Sun block.
5. Food and drinks. (Especially water to stay hydrated. Oranges and trail mix are also good.)
6. A camera and/or video camera.
7. Appropriate clothing for the weather.
8. Ultimate Spectator Guide.
9. Event program/game schedule, which may be found here.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Week 6 Schedule

MNHSUL Week 6 (May 12) games have been announced!
A Team is Home vs Como Park A
B Team is Home vs Mahtomedi A
C Black Team has a BYE
C Orange Team is Home vs Mounds View B
Good luck to all teams. Have a fun, spirited game, and be sure to apply all those rules you've been learning.

C Black at Henry Sibley B Makeup Scheduled - Tuesday, May 10 @ 6 pm

This game, originally scheduled for April 28, was rained out. It has been rescheduled for Tuesday May 10 @ 6 p.m. The game will be held at Henry Sibley High School. Best to park on Warrior Drive, near the intersection of High Ridge Circle. Good luck and have fun!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Location Change - C Black vs CDH-B on May 5th

There is a location change for one of May 5th games. The WBL C Black game versus Cretin-Derham Hall B will be played at SUNRISE PARK.
An email about this event was sent to the WBLUltimate Yahoo! Group at Wed May 4, 2011 11:27 am.