It’s Spring 2011 and the third year of Calgary Juniors Ultimate (CJU). A lot has happened and our future looks very, very promising.

Starting with nothing, we are about to host the 3rd Annual Youth Tournament on May 28th. Schools from across Calgary and some from B.C. are coming. We have both a junior high and high school division and expect 16 teams – twice as big as last year!

Schools are actively forming Ultimate Clubs and those clubs are busy. They practice a few times each week and many meet up with other schools’ clubs for games. CJU is happy to coordinate those games, assist with coaching and help develop strong players. To get your school club started and involved simply ask us for help.

I am also very pleased to announce our first Juniors League. This program is a fantastic opportunity for kids to play ultimate. The league has been set up to introduce NEW players to the sport as well as offer great competition to the top players. By the end of the season we’ll have a large group of very skilled, passionate young athletes. If you want to try it out just send me a note and I can set you up with a FREE trial session. Youth from 12-18 are welcome. Registration for the Juniors League is available online.

So how far can you go with Ultimate? The possibilities are huge. CJU took a team of local kids to Sherbrooke, QC last summer for the Canadian Ultimate Championships (this year in Ottawa, ON). Our squad went in seeded 13th and we finished a very respectable 9th in the Juniors Division. This year our goal is to be even better. The best Juniors from across the country are also scouted for Canada’s National Team. In 2012 that group will represent Canada at Worlds, which is likely to be in Brazil or Japan. If you want to have a spot on that team, the place to start is with CJU.

Looking ahead, Calgary’s youth ultimate program has a bit of growing to do for the 2012 season. Things are changing on the national scene and the sport is moving from the current coed model to split-gender squads. That means Calgary will be sending its first all-girls and all-boys teams to CUC ‘12. We need lots of new players to fill those spots and we want to see YOU on our teams.

That’s the update for now. Our programs are designed to help individuals, schools, youth groups and clubs get started with ultimate. We’re here to get kids playing. Ultimate is really, really fun and tremendous exercise. I promise you’ll have a great time and meet some really nice people. You need to give it a try. The only catch? After you try it, you’ll want to play all the time….

Tim Friesen
juniors@calgaryultimate.org

Where do I start? Its been an interesting, busy, productive and sometimes frustrating first year.

Calgary Juniors Ultimate is firmly established, very active and growing every day.

In the past year we’ve gone from zero teams to hosting our first tournament. We started with six teams representing kids from nine schools. We’ve also taught in-school clinics to about 5000 kids across the city and continue helping teachers get Ultimate going in the school system.

This weekend we’re hosting our 2nd Annual Youth Tournament. Come by at watch. We’ve grown to ten teams and have teams in both the Junior High and High School divisions.

We’re at Saints Rugby Fields, 1500 – 30th Ave NE. Games will be going on from 9:30 – 6:00. Bring your lawn chair, sunscreen, cowbell and air horns!

One of the things I’m most proud of is watching the ongoing development and accomplishments of the young players which started only a year ago. A group of them have stayed together as a team, practiced diligently and even entered the league last summer. Those kids did so well they WON their division! Very nice job.

Now that group is working even harder as they prepare to represent Calgary this summer at the national championships in Quebec later this summer.

I am absolutely amazed at how much they’ve learned, how good they are already and the incredible potential they have.

We have some very good Juniors Ultimate started in Calgary. You too can be part of that.

We want to encourage all of you to get in touch with us, to start teams at your schools and help us grow Ultimate for the kids of Calgary.

Tim Friesen
Juniors Coordinator
Calgary Ultimate Association

Tim Friesen joined the Calgary Ultimate Association (CUA) in January 2009 to spearhead an effort to revitalize youth Ultimate in Calgary. “I want to provide the tools and resources for anyone and everyone interested in getting kids playing our sport,” says Friesen. “This time it’s about getting a base of skilled players, teachers and volunteers coordinated to grow the game for the kids.”

Friesen himself is no stranger to climbing Ultimate’s competitive ladder. Looking back on 20 seasons of Ultimate, Friesen has played a role in nearly every facet of the sport – from league play, to competitive touring to coaching. He ran Vancouver’s league from 1992-93 and wore the CUC Tournament Director hat when Vancity hosted the championships in 1992. He’s captained Farm Accidents (Masters) who took gold at CUC 2000, and his current Calgary league team Pi is a regular contender in the CUA’s A-league finals.

“It’s been a wonderful ride all along,” Friesen says. “Now, with kids of my own, I want them to have the chance to experience just how awesome playing Ultimate really is.”

Not to mention, Calgary has some catching up to do.

“We have great youth programs going in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto already,” Friesen notes. “Calgary needs to count itself in that elite group.”

A key to the program’s success will be the local buy-in and support from ultimate fans both on and off the fields.

“It’s vitally important to have our whole Ultimate community embrace this program,” Friesen says. “The kids need coaches and mentors and we’ll need lots of help. We need everyone to pitch in.”

When asked what the future holds for Calgary’s Juniors program, Friesen was enthusiastic about its potential.

“We’ve got a new crop coming up who are learning fast.,” he says. “This group is a bit younger to start with (Gr. 9s), but they will have the advantage of four years together. Look for them at CUC 2012 as solid contenders.”

CJU exists to promote awareness of Ultimate by providing the training, tools and environment for Calgary educators and our youth to become actively engaged in the spirited sport of Ultimate. Our vision is to develop a successful ultimate program that attracts young players to learn and participate at all skill levels in Calgary and within the Calgary Ultimate Association.