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Skills and drills series a success

Written by Communications Coordinator
Melissa Wheeler, right, demonstrates throwing techniques. Credit: Nicole Bishop

Ultimate NL successfully hosted its first skill development series for female-matching players from April 10-May 15.

Fifty-three athletes participated in the inaugural series targeting female-matching players to improve their skills through group instruction and drills. With players divided into beginner and intermediate levels to better target the needs of participants, each session focused on one rule and one skill. Topics ranged from backhand and forehand throwing, proper cutting techniques, and offensive and defensive strategies.

All participants who provided feedback indicated that they enjoyed the sessions and felt that their skills improved over the series, says Kathleen Sullivan, Ultimate NL’s sport development co-ordinator.

“We identified the need for this series through feedback from the leagues and our membership, and we decided to create this league to improve the skills and confidence of female-matching players in the community,” says Sullivan. “I am so proud of all the facilitators for their commitment to this series and of all the participants for coming out and wanting to improve on their skills. It was amazing to see how much people improved their skills in only one hour sessions! I hope that everyone had fun and learned something.”

With participant feedback indicating an interest in continuous skill development, Ultimate NL will explore similar opportunities in the future.

Funding for this series was provided by the City of St. John’s Sport Grant.

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Free MZU/Tempest clinic

Written by Communications Coordinator

Mile Zero Ultimate (MZU) and Tempest, the province’s competitive club team for female-matching players, are hosting two free skills clinics soon.

The first clinic will take place on Monday, May 13 from 9-11 p.m. at the Techniplex in St. John’s. Primarily targeting beginner and intermediate players, the clinic will help participants improve their backhand and forehand throws as well as learn how to defend both cutters and throwers, and different cutting techniques.

There will also be a group warm-up and an injury-prevention discussion.

For more information, click here.

To register for the clinic, click here.

Details about the second clinic will be released in early June.

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Winter elementary, junior high leagues announced

Written by Communications Coordinator
Elementary-aged participants in our summer elementary camp are pictured with discs.
Ultimate NL is hosting elementary and junior high development leagues this winter.

Ultimate Newfoundland and Labrador is pleased to announce that it is hosting development leagues for elementary and junior high-aged players this winter.

The winter elementary development league will be held on Tuesdays from Feb. 19-March 26 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Players in Grades 3-6 are eligible to participate, and the cost is $50.

Register here

The winter junior high development league will be take place on Mondays from Feb. 18-April 1 (no games on March 18) from 7-8 p.m. This league is open to players in Grades 7-9 and there is a $50 registration fee.

Register here

Both leagues will be held in the gymnasium in the Paul Reynolds Centre in St. John’s.

These leagues will focus on introducing new skills and enhancing understanding of ultimate while also providing the opportunity for more experienced players to develop their skills with progressive drills, one-on-one coaching and weekly scrimmages.

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Ultimate NL launches competition development camp for youth athletes

Written 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.

Register here

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