Offhanded Scoober

I realized that my life revolves around ultimate. It's clear and simple. I coached the Fukuoka University open team on Thursday. It made me realize how much I enjoyed coaching and teaching. I take a lot of pride in my playing, but at this point right now, I think I am taking a lot more pride in the Fukudai team. My mind is filled with things that they can do to improve. Drills that will help them understand. Strategies that can help them win. For the most part, the kids are the team have responded well to my feedback, and some even show excitement. But I think I outshine every single one of them in excitement.

I wish I had known all the things I know now. Obviously, the strategies, drills, and the lot are important, but also the things I've learned other than ultimate, such as effective feedback, team building, and how to lead. I can't help but to look back and reflect on how much better WM could have been: I still think, and perhaps I think even more now, that we had the personnel to do quite well in the college series. The talent was there. What wasn't, was the training. The strategy. Talents individuals, yes. Team, no. There is no way to know if I could have lead the team any better than the people who did; granted every single one had very large obstacles to face every year. I don't know if the way I would conduct practices now really would have an impact on the results. Moreover, it doesn't matter, because I didn't get my chance to prove it, so I have no results. But looking at the Fukuoka team now really makes me wonder, "What would it have been like?"

I see much potential in the Fukudai team; they have a number of individuals who are definite threats. Namely: Yuusuke, a quick handler with beautiful throws (especially his backhand). Shun, a smart player with height (amazing field sense). Kishin, a super intense defensive player able to lay out for anything on both O and D. Kani, a lanky handler with quick and intense cuts. Yuuji, a lanky cutter with speed and good timing. But the first three stand out by far. They are what the Japanese would call "keyman". Each holds an important role on their team as the guys who can reel in the win.

Yuusuke, by far, has the best throws, and his handling abilities would be equal to my own, if he were able to get some more knowledge under his belt. His throws, field sense, and awareness are all top notch; the only thing he needs to being a dominant handler is believing that he is, and acting like it.

Shun is the key offensive cutter; his height makes Japanese defenders scared of him taking off deep (especially if Yuusuke could learn how to better utilize him with floaty throws), and his throws are good enough to make him a threat with the disc. More than anything, his superb field sense and instinct to sniff out the most devastating move makes him an important asset as a game changer.

Kishin's intensity is key to pumping up a team. He is unwilling to give up and is aware that he can be the one to bring back the momentum with one big layout D. He is single-minded about improving, both himself and the team. Only being a junior, he is the future of the Fukudai team, and I expect him to step up quickly, and get large.

It is vital that these three further step up and grow into their potential. Their team depends on it.