casual ultimate » 2009 » August

I’m playing for a coed team out of LA. It’s a really special team with a great spirit and a commitment to using our women. My kind of coed team.

So I started thinking about what I want to get out of this season with this team. I want to bring a generous, heartfelt approach to this team, much the way I did with Revolver and Brass. It’s a little different with this team for me because I’m a big fish on this team whereas on Revolver and Brass I was not.

The challenge for me is to stay humble and not sour during the course of competition. We played a tournament called Revolution down at Stanford a couple of weeks ago, and the team did really well as did I. I noticed that I definitely was arrogant and contentious at times. I was also a prima donna, showing up late both days and taking certain other liberties. I don’t think there is anything that I need to apologize for, but I didn’t like it. It’s not how I want to be anymore. The standard is higher.

It reminds me a great deal of the challenge I had with Northwestern when I was there. I was a big fish there too, and I very easily got into an “I know best” attitude about everything, and I was able to manipulate folks to get my way pretty much all the time. I had nothing keeping me in check. No superior to tell me to just shut up and play. To work hard. To let my play do the talking.

So what are my intentions for this team and this season?

1) To remember that it is an honor to be on the field.
2) To remember that my biggest asset is the team-mate that I am.
3) To respect my opponent and always try to play fair.
4) To learn from all of my team-mates, particularly the ones I am inclined to overlook.
5) To trust my team-mates and let them know that I trust them.
6) To play with Intensity, Humility, and Discipline.
7) To do what the disc wants, including high-release flicks.

Sidenote: It was great to see my Northwestern brothers at Sandblast. I wish I were closer to Chicago so that I could be a part of that program.

As I think back, this is a big opportunity for me. I don’t know that I’ve ever played on a team where I was one of the best players and stayed gracious and grateful all the way through. I’m on board for that.