Stop the Swill, UDel Rookie Tournament

Saturday

Game 1: TJHSU-B (The Johns Hopkins State University [at Pennsylvania]) vs. Pitt B

L 2-17

We were a little bit outmatched in this game, both because Pitt is a very good team and because they seemed to have played more returners than we did (a common theme for this tournament). It was our rookies' first college game action and a lot of them got their feet wet. Cuts did not come on time and we didn't dump very well at all.

Game 2: TJHSU-B vs. Penn State-B

L 4-17

Again, this game was tough because they seemed to be playing more experienced players than we were. However, improvement over the first game was clear. A lot of our rookies played some pretty solid defense, especially after being given the seal talk. Abnirmal got a Callahan (woo!). Cutting was again an issue, as a lot of rookies seemed unsure of when to cut and didn't have enough confidence to run their cuts through at full speed consistently.

Game 3: TJHSU-B vs. U Penn-B

L 17-16

Far and away our best effort of the day. It sucks to not have taken this one, but I liked our intensity and focus. We had to come back from a 5 point deficit and even had a point lead late in the game, but couldn't close this one out. Cutting was much better, and we started to take advantage of our deep game. Dumping was also better. Defense was pretty impressive, especially from our rookies.

Sunday

Game 1: TJHSU-B vs. Maryland-B

W 13-9

Woo, our first win for a lot of our new guys. We were much better prepared for this game than the other team, and it showed. We sputtered a little at the end but then focused and closed it out. Derka needed more finesse on a huck to Paranirmal. Good defense combined with some not-so-good offense by our opponents lead to a lot of good turnovers. D-Lines - you have to be able to put in points off turnovers, because that's where we not only get the points we need to win, but demoralize the other team, too.

Game 2: TJSHU-B vs. GW-B

L 13-12

Ouch, another universe loss. Again we couldn't quite get it done. We regressed a little on seals and breaks this game; their ability to break us got them most of their points. Frank actually threw a good huck (either he's developing into a competent thrower, or he had to get a good one eventually by law of averages). Nirmal had a sick lay out face-plant hammer catch from Shane's best hammer ever. Frank also threw a hammer dump to Dug to a much less successful effect. Again, they played more returners than us. Either way, a good and pretty hard-fought game.

Overall

A great first effort from our rookies. Your progress from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon is like night and day. By Sunday afternoon you guys looked pretty impressive. With that said, we have a lot more work to do - if we're going to make it to regionals we need to learn how to focus and play 100% to get the plays we need to close out games.

One thing I want to point out (especially to rookies, but to everyone as well) is that frisbee is heavily dependent on 1-on-1 matchups. When you're on the field, your job is to beat your guy. As a team, we move, flow, and dump/swing in order to open up opportunities for each other to do so, but at the end of the day the team only wins when the players on the field wins their individual matchups - both on D and on O. A big part of that is running 100% always, but an equal part of it is not getting discouraged. Sure, your guy can totally shut you down on your first cut - or maybe even D you on it - but the best players in this game (or any for that matter) will bounce back and beat him on the second (or third, or fourth) cut, or get the D on him to get the disc back. We don't play a professional sport - at this level of competition no one's going to shut you down forever if you commit to giving it your all every second you have on the field - your opponent will break and you'll be in the endzone.