Summer Clinics Program Has Best Results in 2025
In the world of sports, we think that few experiences rival the sense of community found in Ultimate Frisbee. That’s why our 2025 Summer Clinic Coordinator, Claire Fancey, spent the summer offering youth clinics to community groups, summer camps, kids’ camps, and not-for-profit organizations on the Avalon and beyond.
The Summer Clinics Outreach Program aims to introduce and showcase the sport of ultimate to as many kids as possible. Each clinic may have had a different focus, but youth participants got instruction on throwing and catching techniques and basic game play fundamentals/strategies. Participants also got the chance to scrimmage each week in small-sided game play. From Claire’s early days on the field being introduced in third grade at her elementary school her passion for Ultimate has been deeply rooted in the connections she’s forged along the way, saying that “the best part of Ultimate is the community,” she reflected.
“The support and kindness shown from everyone is incredible. It creates a warm, welcoming environment that makes the sport open to everyone, whether they’re new or experienced.” This inclusive atmosphere is what drew Claire in and continues to inspire her to give back. So, for her, applying for the summer clinics coordinator position was a great way to share her knowledge of the game “and my love for the sport with the kids,” she explained. Her hope when she began as the coordinator was “to help participants build their skills and confidence while ensuring they have a great time on the field.”
Claire’s love for the game is reflected in her excitement about the opportunity to help grow the Ultimate community with her role, emphasizing, “I care a lot about making the sport accessible, fun, and welcoming for everyone.” With 67 clinics conducted with over 2000 participants in St. Johns to Placentia and other communities in between, she fulfilled her hope for “youth and community groups to have fun and learn the fundamental skills of Ultimate.” Looking ahead, she also hopes “to see some of them join future Ultimate leagues because of the experience!”
The overall goal of the Summer Clinics Outreach Program for UNL has been to not only shape the skills of young athletes but also nurture the next generation of Ultimate players who will carry forward the values that make the sport so special. The clinics were well received and as noted by Claire “all the groups said they had a great time and learned a lot about Ultimate.”
Since the Summer Clinics Outreach Program began in 2019 Ultimate NL has facilitated over 130 clinics to different organizations, reaching approximately 3500 participants.