Expectations

It's about two weeks until school starts and I wanted to post something about fall expectations. Snaps and I have thrown around some ideas and I wanted to share with everyone what we expect of you this coming fall.

- Dedication. Scattered attendence will not be tolerated. You are expected to make every practice (that includes conditioning) and meeting when you do not have a class. Time management with your school work is important. Handling both work and practice is almost always doable and we expect that you make ultimate a high priority.

- The fall is about growth. We will be attending tournaments with a main focus on developing players. Younger/newer guys will be put into new positions, get lots of playing time, and get experience for the spring. Be prepared to see lots of the field with a new dynamic.

- Your playing time will largely depend on your attendence and hard work. Showing up when you feel like it and expecting to contribute to the team are mutually exclusive.

- You are expected to have a basic knowledge and skill level. Everyone should have clean forehands and backhands. Everyone should be able to effectively dump the disc. Everyone should know when and where to cut. Everyone should be able to make upfield throws without hesitation. Everyone needs to understand defensive positioning. Everyone should be able to do these things consistently. No excuses.

- Improve your weaknesses. If you can't break a mark by now, get that skill. If you can't throw a huck yet, work on it. If you're slower than everyone else, run harder and more often than everyone else. If you have not improved over the summer than you have sincerely wasted valuable time. If you do not use the fall to improve, you are hurting the team.

- Take care of your body. Injuries are always an issue and it's important that we have a healthy roster. Refer to my post on preparation for specifics.

- Come ready to work hard at practice. Expect harder conditioning, more instruction, and a more focused atmosphere.

- Be able to receive constructive criticism. In hopes of getting each player better you will be told about the things you are doing wrong. This is not a negative thing, it is an attempt to help you improve. No one is picking you out and being harsh; we're a team that should want to help each other get better.

- Be positive and communicate. Don't be an ass. Don't ever think you have a right to do/say something mean-spirited to a teammate. If you have a problem with someone be a big boy and talk to them about it. This is important to maintaining a cohesive team dynamic.

This team will not be here for your casual use. Snaps and I will not tolerate you coming and going when you feel like it. Our aspirations are significantly higher than last year and there will be no room for behavior detrimental to the team. We are comfortable with the dedicated personnel we have and will not hesistate to let players watch from the sidelines if they do not make the committment to this team. Snaps and I are both extremely excited and ambitious for this upcoming year, as we hope you are too. I hope we do not have to question the committment of any of the players who step on the field with us. We need that trust. We need that sense of team.

See you in a couple weeks. Get ready to tear up Cook.