Tag Archives: DiscNW

News, elementary, middle school, high school

Jude LaRene is new youth director for DiscNW

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Jude in action (from his public FB photos)
Jude in action (from his public FB photos)

Congratulations to Jude LaRene who will be the new Director of Youth Operations for DiscNW.  Jude is a talented, serious player (who was on my pod in the 2013 Masters Hat League) who in a game often takes the time to lead strategically or offer guidance to newer adult players (like me).  With his extensive experience playing and coaching with DiscNW, and running small businesses like Izilla Toys and Velocevelo, I hope he will improve how youth ultimate is organized through DiscNW and continue the impressive growth accomplished under the outgoing Director, Wynne Scherf.

The news on the DiscNW site (posted Aug ~12, 2014)
The news on the DiscNW site (posted Aug ~12, 2014)

Jude’s DiscNW history shows that he’s been actively playing and coaching in DiscNW leagues since at least 2006 and has captained the teams “Tofu” and “Vince.”  He has coached the Washington Middle School “Dawgs” since at least 2006 (along with Pam Kraus, Autumn Tocchi, Adam Roca, and Noah Boudra) and coached an elementary mixed team in 2011 (Montlake Epic).   The Dawgs participated in Spring Reign in 2013 and 2014.  He coordinated a USA Ultimate coaching clinic in 2011 and generally seems deeply dedicated to and steeped in the sport.

Co-ed, Fun and games, summer, Tournament, All levels

DiscNW Field Day to benefit youth ultimate this Saturday

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This Saturday DiscNW will host their annual Field Day — a fun hat tournament in the morning combined with a picnic lunch and carnival/skills games in the afternoon.  The event is a fundraiser for the youth ultimate activities supported by DiscNW.

I attended last year and was amazed at all the ultimate jerseys, shorts, and other gear that was handed out as prizes!  I also enjoyed the format of the morning games in the low-key division: one point was played by the kids on a team; the next by the adults.

The event will take place from 9am to 3:30pm Saturday (June 14, 2014) at Magnuson Park Sports Meadow.  Players should arrive at 8:30am to warm up and sign in.  Pre-register as a individual, small group, or team.   The registration fee is $35/player, or $100/family of 4 or more.  More details.

Everyone is encouraged to participate — from seasoned veterans to beginners, from 8-year-olds to 108-year-olds.  Bring your friends and families to introduce them to the awesome sport of ultimate.  In the morning games there will be a “Friends and Family” division, designed for elementary and middle school players and their parents, coaches, and other adult friends.

Field Day is a fundraising event to support the Youth Development Fund (YDF) and the Youth Club Championship Scholarship Fund (YCCSF).   These funds allow us to promote youth ultimate to new groups, support the participation of underserved populations, and provide financial aid for players both playing in local events and traveling to represent Seattle at the USA Ultimate Youth Club Championships in August.

Co-ed, elementary, Spirit of the Game, spring

Spirit standings for the 2014 spring elementary league

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While the standings for the 2014 spring elementary league are ranked according to wins on the DiscNW site, below is a version of the standings ranked by spirit score.  Perhaps the counterpoint (antidote?) to the increasingly competitive world of adult ultimate is glorification of the Spirit of the Game in youth ultimate?

If so, it is particularly fitting that the team with the most Spirit in the entire league comes from the youngest of the divisions.  Congratulations to T. Marshall 3/4–Mooses from Division C, winners of the 2014 spirit award with a high score of 4.86 averaged over 7 games!!

And, with no further ado, here are the winners of each division!

Standings

Division: A

Team Overall Division Spirit
Won Lost GF GA Won Lost GF GA
Whittier WUF Gang 5 2 56 47 3 2 37 34 4.71/7
T. Marshall 5th Grade -Purple Reign 4 1 40 38 4 1 40 38 4.60/5
Bryant Blasters 5th 1 6 40 53 0 6 29 51 4.57/7
JSIS Lightning Goats 4 2 52 37 3 2 41 34 4.50/6
Three Cedars Waldorf Echo 5-3rd Grade 3 2 43 33 2 2 33 29 4.40/5
Evergreen 5th Grade 1 5 33 49 1 4 30 43 4.33/6
Wildcats – SCDS 5th Grade 5 0 54 25 4 0 43 24 4.20/5

Division: A2

Team Overall Division Spirit
Won Lost GF GA Won Lost GF GA
Seattle Waldorf School 5th Grade 2 4 37 52 2 4 37 52 4.67/6
UCDS2014 4 3 58 49 3 3 47 45 4.57/7
Blasters 4th/5th 5 2 64 40 5 1 57 32 4.43/7
Eton Phoenix Yellow 1 6 31 67 1 6 31 67 4.43/7
Sanislo Allstars 3 4 52 46 1 4 35 40 4.43/7
Bright Water Elementary A Team 0 6 17 46 0 4 13 31 4.33/6
Salmon Bay Elementary 4/5 1 6 37 64 1 4 31 43 4.29/7
Bertschi School—Bugaboo FC 5 2 54 44 2 2 27 34 4.29/7
West Woodland Wildcats 4 3 48 50 4 2 42 39 4.29/7
Assumption St. Bridget Bulldogs 6 1 61 34 4 1 47 28 4.14/7
T. Marshall 5th Grade–Meese 5 3 59 58 5 2 56 47 4.12/8
Pacific Crest Montessaurus 7 0 74 18 5 0 52 17 3.57/7

Division: B

Team Overall Division Spirit
Won Lost GF GA Won Lost GF GA
Bryant Blasters 3rd/4th 4 3 43 44 3 3 33 41 4.57/7
Daniel Bagley Stingers 1 6 22 56 0 5 12 46 4.57/7
Bright Water Elementary B Team 3 3 38 35 2 3 29 32 4.50/6
Olympic View Elementary 3 4 36 45 3 2 29 26 4.29/7
Evergreen 4th Grade 7 0 76 22 5 0 49 18 4.29/7
Uco-op Blue Cheese 5 2 56 43 5 1 51 33 4.29/7
Soundview Dolphins – 3rd-5th 1 6 24 57 1 5 23 46 4.14/7
Eton Phoenix Blue 5 2 47 39 4 2 39 35 4.14/7
Laurelhurst Bears 3/4/5 grade 4 2 41 43 2 1 30 24 4.00/7
Flying Saucers (wallingford consortium) 2 5 40 48 1 4 27 38 4.00/7
Salmon Bay Elementary 3/4 4 3 54 37 2 3 32 32 3.86/7
Wildcats – SCDS 4th graders 4 2 57 35 3 2 48 31 3.71/7

Division: C

Team Overall Division Spirit
Won Lost GF GA Won Lost GF GA
T. Marshall 3/4–Mooses 3 4 42 45 3 3 38 37 4.86/7
JSIS Lightning Goats 2 5 2 53 41 5 1 49 28 4.57/7
Green Lake Dragons 1 6 24 66 1 3 15 40 4.38/8
Evergreen 3rd Grade 3 4 43 37 3 2 34 19 4.29/7
UCo-op 3rd Graders 0 7 20 65 0 4 13 35 4.29/7
Laurelhurst Bears 3/4 grade 3 1 31 14 3 1 31 14 4.25/4
St. Thomas Falcons 4 3 42 39 4 1 36 19 3.71/7
Wildcats – SCDS 3rd Grade 1 6 20 58 1 5 20 44 3.71/7

 

Seattle Country Day School had the lowest Spirit score in every division in which they competed (A, B, & C).  The lowest scoring team in the A2 division was Pacific Crest Montessaurus.  Because SCDS and Montesaurus had the most wins in Division A and A2, it is tempting to suggest that the dominant teams generally get the lowest Spirit scores.  However, based on wins in Divisions B & C, SCDS ranked 4th (out of 12) and 7th (out of 8), respectively.

Looking at all the spirit scores versus the % of wins (within a division), it appears there isn’t a strong correlation, though the overall slope is negative.

spirit vs wins overall
In youth ultimate (DiscNW elementary league in spring 2014), Spirit scores decrease slightly as the % wins within a division rises, but the correlation is weak (R^2 = 0.037).

The mean Spirit score is about 4.3.

spirit vs wins by division So generally, the more you win more likely it is your spirit score will be (slightly) lower.  But the relationship barely holds in division B and the slope is positive in division C.