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Category: Youth Ultimate

Ultimate NL launches competition development camp for youth athletes

January 10, 2019Written by Communications Coordinator

Ultimate Newfoundland and Labrador is offering a youth competition development camp for teens ages 13-18 this winter.

Participants will enjoy drills, skills development and game situations while also receiving one-on-one mentorship and guidance from experienced ultimate players and coaches. It’s the the first time that Ultimate NL has offered a camp specifically targeted at developing potential competitive athletes.

“The purpose of this camp is to help young players take their skills to the next level,” says Luke Dyer, Ultimate NL’s youth performance and development co-ordinator. “We will work with them to identify their strengths and weakness as well as show them what’s necessary and expected for players on a provincial-level team. Through individual feedback, we hope they can gain a greater understanding of what they need to work on to improve as ultimate players.”

“The purpose of this camp is to help young players take their skills to the next level.” – Luke Dyer

One of Ultimate NL’s priorities is to grow its junior competitive program. There are currently two competitive club teams in the junior open and women’s divisions, both named Storm. The competition development camp is intended to build player skills and capacity that will eventually help increase the competitiveness of the Storm teams.

In 2018, Ultimate NL sent its first junior women’s team to the Canadian Ultimate Championships where they finished 20th overall and second in the spirit rankings. The open team broke seed to finish 20th (up from a 24th-place ranking) and 11th overall in spirit.

“We’re offering them the opportunity to demonstrate and improve their skills, which they can then bring to competitive teams like Storm now and in the future,” said Dyer. “While you don’t have to be a Storm player to take part in the camp, we hope many participants will discover the fun and camaraderie that comes with playing on high-level teams and come out to tryouts later this winter.”

Storm tryouts will be held in February and March. Details will be announced in the coming months.

The competition development camp will be held on Thursdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Techniplex in St. John’s from Feb. 7-March 14. The cost is $60.

Coaches needed for Storm

January 4, 2019Written by Communications Coordinator

We are currently seeking head coaches (two positions) and assistant coaches (two positions) for the junior open and women’s divisions of Storm, the province’s premiere junior ultimate club teams.

The application deadline is Monday, Jan. 14, 2019. Click the links below for more information and to apply.

Click the links below for more information and to apply.

Head coach

Assistant coach

St. Bon’s wins Mount Pearl invitational

December 14, 2018Written by Communications Coordinator

St. Bonaventure's College recently won the Mount Pearl Senior High invitational tournament. — St. Bonaventure’s College recently won the Mount Pearl Senior High invitational tournament.

Six teams recently took to the court at the third annual Mount Pearl Senior High invitational tournament.

Mount Pearl Senior High, Holy Heart High School, Holy Spirit High School, Gonzaga High School and St. Bonaventure’s College participated in the one-day tournament held Dec. 8.

This year, the tournament format was changed to four-on-four to reflect the version of ultimate recently adopted as a Foundation Sport by School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador (SSNL). This version of ultimate is fast-paced and provides equal playing time for male and female players with a 2:2 ratio.

“Players really seemed to enjoy this change!” said Aaron Power, tournament organizer and coach of the Mount Pearl Senior High squad. “Play was very competitive and quick-paced with all games in the round robin being close and exciting games.”

The gold medal game saw St. Bon’s take on Holy Heart in a competitive and highly-spirited match. St. Bon’s won the game 14-9.

Celebrate Spirit of the Game!

November 30, 2018Written by Communications Coordinator

Spirit of the game is an integral and essential aspect of ultimate, and on Monday, Dec. 3 it’s being celebrated worldwide with International Spirit of the Game Day!

As International Spirit of the Game Day falls on Mile Zero Ultimate (MZU)’s regularly scheduled league play, we’re pleased to partner with MZU to help mark the occasion. We are:

– encouraging spirited play in all games (and leagues!);
– inviting all teams to play a spirit game following their spirit circle;
– celebrating the Most Spirited Players with swag and photo ops; and
– encouraging players to have discussions about spirit both on and off the field.

This year, the theme for iSOTG Day is “youth,” so we’ll also be giving Spirit of the Game extra emphasis in our youth leagues on Dec. 2. We’ll talk about the importance of spirit in ultimate as well as play some spirit games so the next generation of players is able to carry forward the respect, passion and fair-mindedness that spirit of the game represents.

Learn more about Spirit of the Game.

Follow our social media channels for much more about Spirit of the Game and iSOTG Day!

Coaches needed for Acadian Games

November 2, 2018Written by Communications Coordinator

Franco-Jeunes de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador is looking for coaches to lead Newfoundland and Labrador’s French youth ultimate team at this summer’s annual Jeux de l’Acadie.

The games are being held this year from June 27-30 with about 1,500 athletes from across Atlantic Canada participating in a variety of sports.

One or two coaches are needed to lead tryouts and practices leading up to the games as well as coach the team during the games itself. French skills are an asset but fluency is not required.

For more information, contact Stephen Theriault at stephen.theriault@liebherr.com.

NL Storm members named national junior all-stars

October 15, 2018Written by Communications Coordinator

Madison Hull

Cameron Penney

Two members of NL Storm were named to junior all-stars at the 2018 Junior Canadian Ultimate Championships.

Madison Hull was named to the junior female squad and Cameron Penney to the junior open team. A player from each team at the tournament is named a junior all-star.

NL Storm competed at CUC Aug. 12-19 in Brampton, ON, finishing with the province’s best performance at the national competition. The open team broke seed to finish 20th (up from 24th) and 11th overall in spirit. The junior women made their first-ever appearance at CUCs, finishing 20th overall and second in spirit.

Ultimate NL launches new high school league

September 27, 2018Written by Communications Coordinator

We’re proud to announce that Ultimate NL is hosting its first-ever fall high school hat league!

This league will play the four-on-four format of ultimate recently adopted by School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador as a Foundation Sport. It’s a fast-paced version of ultimate that’s great for newcomers and experienced players who want to learn and have fun.

A hat league encourages players to sign up alone or in small groups and be assigned to teams. This allows players to meet and learn from new people while making friends and having fun!

League Details:

Dates: Oct. 14-Dec. 9 (Sundays)
Times: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Ages: 14-18
Location: Techniplex, St. John’s
Cost: $60

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New fall camp for elementary and junior high athletes

September 26, 2018Written by Communications Coordinator

Ultimate NL is offering an eight-week junior development camp for elementary and junior high school-aged athletes this fall.

The camp focuses on skill development through progressive drills, one-on-one coaching and weekly scrimmages. It’s great for newcomers and experienced players who want to learn and play ultimate!

Camp Details:

Dates: Oct. 14-Dec. 9 (Sundays)
Time: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Location: NL Sports Centre (PowerPlex), 90 Crosbie Rd., St. John’s
Ages: 9-14 (by Dec. 31, 2018)
Cost: $60

Summer clinics reach 600-plus youths

September 15, 2018Written by Communications Coordinator

Will Kerr leads a youth ultimate clinic in Bay Roberts this summer.

Thanks to Ultimate NL’s summer outreach clinic program, over 600 youths experienced ultimate this summer.

William Kerr, UNL’s tournaments co-ordinator, led 38 clinics in St. John’s, Foxtrap, Paradise, Mount Pearl and Bay Roberts.

The clinic series was available to any individual or community group interested in learning more about ultimate. Kerr led participants through drills and scrimmages to introduce youths to the sport with the aim of growing ultimate throughout the province.

“Our summer clinics program is one of our most valuable tools in reaching new athletes and showing them how fun the sport of ultimate can be,” says UNL president Nick House.

Clinics are still being offered by request throughout the year. You can request a clinic here or by emailing tournaments@ultimatenl.ca.

UNL will be hiring a co-ordinator for its summer clinics program again next year. Please email president@ultimatenl.ca for more information.

Ultimate named Foundation Sport by School Sports NL

September 13, 2018Written by Communications Coordinator

Students and coaches at the 2018 senior high school provincial tournament.

We’re excited to announce that ultimate has been named a Foundation Sport by School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador!

School Sports NL is a provincial organization working to ensure students develop healthy living habits and experience the life-long benefits of participation through physical activity and sport. In the 2017-2018 school year, School Sports NL organized over 200 regional and 45 provincial tournaments. The organization offers programs in 10 Official Sports and six Foundation Sports for male and female student athletes.

“This is exciting news for the growth of ultimate in the province,” says Nick House, UNL president. “Being named a Foundation Sport with School Sports NL will expose kids all over the province to ultimate and allow us to support them with funding, equipment, training and resources. It’s a great step towards making ultimate a truly provincial sport.”

“This is exciting news for the growth of ultimate in the province.” – Nick House

Road to varsity sports

Foundation Sport is the introductory phase of any sport wishing to become part of School Sports NL’s varsity program. Foundation Sport status helps develop interest and skills on a regional basis so that when enough participation is generated, it can become an Official Sport with the organization.

“School Sports NL encourages diversity in sport and promotes balanced athletic development for student athletes,” says Sean Connolly, the organization’s varsity co-ordinator. “We’re happy to welcome ultimate as a Foundation Sport and hope to see it reach Official Sport status in the near future.”

The version of ultimate being introduced to schools will see co-ed teams of four face off against each other in one of ultimate’s most fast-paced iterations.

Accessible sport for rural schools

“Ultimate is a co-ed sport and that makes it especially accessible to rural schools with small populations,” says Mr. House. “Using the four-on-four version of the game means that small schools also have a greater number of students to form teams with, making it easier for them to field teams in regional and provincial competitions.”

As part of the Foundation Program, School Sports NL will oversee and promote regional tournaments for students. Ultimate NL will provide coaching resources, equipment and other support. Teams and individuals may also apply for funding to assist with travel costs associated with participating in school tournaments.

Participation in the School Sports NL Varsity Program exceeds 7,000 student athletes and over 500 volunteer teacher-coaches across the province.

Over 800 people play ultimate each year in adult and school leagues in the St. John’s area.

Teachers and coaches interested in introducing ultimate to students may find more information here.