2014 tryouts for the Fryz teams (open, girlz, mixed, and small Fryz) are now set for December 7 and 14th (both Sundays) from 10-3 p.m. at Magnuson Park.  Details are archived below from the Fryz website (where you will find the waiver in PDF format) and there is an announcement and some player comments on the Fryz Facebook page.

Last year (December, 2013) 130+ kids attended the first tryout, vying for ~30 spots.  In December 2012 there were 100+ attendees.  That suggests high demand and high growth in demand for more ways to play youth ultimate in Seattle!

The first tryout this year (on Sunday December 7, 2014) should be an exciting chance to see yet another manifestation of the explosive growth in youth ultimate.  Note that the second tryout (on December 14) is by invitation only, each day of tryouts costs $10, and the pre-registration form involves input from both parents and players (a short essay on why you want to play for Fryz).

Some questions and answers, specifically about Small Fryz:

1. What types of players will benefit from joining a year-round ultimate team as 6th graders?  Is it better to play a variety of sports in middle school, including seasonal ultimate, and then tryout for Fryz in high school?
2. Who will be coaching Small Fryz this next year?  What is their background and experience?
3. Is practice for Small Fryz truly year-round, or are there some Sundays off (e.g. holiday weekends)?
4. Where and how often do Small Fryz compete?  How much travel is involved, for players and parents?
5. What is the annual fee?  What costs does the fee cover?  What additional costs should be included in a player’s annual budget?

If you know an answer or have other questions, please comment!  We will incorporate further information below as it accumulates…

1. There are costs and benefits to (and controversy surrounding) single-sport specialization in middle and high school
   • Good pieces on the risks of specialization and pros and cons of specialization vs “early sampling”
   • Article on risk of injury, especially in “unilateral arm-dominant sports.”  The good news is that ultimate is not (yet?) on this list of youth sports in which injuries are common.
   • An added factor for Small Fryz is that games are against adults which may bring higher risk of injury because of body mass differences, and possibly intensity/competitiveness.  For example there is a fair amount of physical contact in this highlight video from a (high school, not Small) Fryz team playing at a college tournament (Sundodger 2010).
   • What — if any — common injuries Small Fryz members have suffered?
2. The Fryz website has a history (2008-2013) of the impressive coaching team and their backgrounds. Coaches of Small Fryz in 2013-14 were
   • Shannon O’Malley – Head coach
   • Angelica “Geli” Boyden
   • Khalif El Salaam
   • Henry Phan
   • Tian Yen
3. No answers yet.
4. A current parent sez: “Fryz is mostly about training and conditioning.  They play a hand full of tournaments a year.  High school Fryz (3 teams), play college tournaments and travel is national.  Small Fryz play adult tournaments and travel is local.”
   • Small Fryz has played in these tournaments:
   • Fryz has played in these tournaments:
     • Annual Fryz Highschool Hat Tournament (June; 2012, 2013, 2014)
     • Spawnfest (July 2010; Burlington, WA)
     • Sundodgers (Nov.; 2013 women’s champs; 2012 girlz 2nd)
     • Geofest (2012; adult mixed tournament in Lacy, WA)
     • Chicago Invite (2013 open and girlz champs)
     • Paideia Invitational
     • Amherst Invitational
     • WA/BC Club Sectionals (Sep. 2014)
     • Mixed sectionals (2010)
     • U.S. Youth Club Championships
     • World Ultimate Club Championships
     • Junior Worlds
5. No answers yet.

Archived information from the Fryz website (where you will find the waiver in PDF format) —

Please pre-register.  There are 2 tryout dates.  December 7th and December 14th. The December 14th Tryout will be by invitation only for all teams: Open, Fry Girlz, Mixed and Small Fryz teams.

Pre-Registration Form: http://goo.gl/forms/kQQayZsOSu

We use our tryouts to evaluate players on the following qualities by playing, drilling, conditioning and character.

Being a good teammate, fitness, dedication to Fryz, dedication to the sport of ultimate, spirit of the  game, skill, desire and ability to have fun while competing at a high level.  We expect our players to maintain a 2.5 GPA, which is monitored 2-3 times/year by coaches to ascertain whether extra help (from coaches or teammates) is necessary to remain a student first and an athlete second. We also expect our players to remain role models in our community by their stewardship to ultimate as well as their behavior on and off the field – fighting, drinking and the use of illegal drugs are prohibited on and off the field for members of the Fryz team.  We expect dedication from team members and practice attendance is not optional – delinquency is grounds for removal from the team. (Please note that we practice most Sundays year around from 2:00pm-4:00pm).  If the player makes the team, there is a yearly membership.  (All players participate regardless of their ability to fund.) – part and full scholarships are available upon request.

Tryouts are for 4 teams:
Fryz Open • Fry Girlz • Mixed • Small Fryz

Location: Magnuson Park
*Potential carpool: If you are unable to get to Magnuson Park, we will be offering carpools based on demand. Please indicate your need for or your ability to provide a carpool

Times: 10:00am-3:00pm.  Be there 30 minutes early for registration & warm-up

Ages: 6th grade – 12th grade

Cost: $10 (per Tryout day)

If you are interested in trying out, pre-register (with a photo) and download the waiver below, sign and send back.  Please make sure all the contact information is legible so that we can contact you after tryouts.  If you turn in a waiver at the first Tryout on Dec 7th, you will not need to do it again at the second Tryout on Dec 14th. However, a 2nd Tryout fee of $10 will be requested if you are invited back.  Please show up 30 minutes early to register and warm up.  Please bring plenty of water, light and dark jersey with numbers or names.

*Fryz is represented by 18 different high schools and 13 different middle schools from the greater Seattle area. Last year, 28 high schools and 21 middles schools were represented at tryouts. In order to keep our reach as broad as possible, we are testing out the possibility of carpools for tryouts and throughout the practice year.