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

CUJO is looking for players to join its 2011 squad. If you’re new to the game but want to try it out, come prepared to learn lots and work hard. We took a team to Sherbrooke, QC last summer for CUC 2010. Our squad went in seeded 13th and we played some close games to finish 9th in the Juniors Division. This year our goal is to be even better.

Want to get involved? Contact us to take your game to the next level.

Ultimate encourages teamwork and group participation as each team has seven players — usually three female players and four male players. The team plays on a field about half the width (37m) and the same length (110m) as a football or soccer field. The aim of the game is to connect passes between teammates (no running with the disc), and catch the disc in an end zone to score a point. Games are usually to about 15 points and last around 80 minutes.

This sport requires very little equipment (basically all you need is a disc, some cones and some cleats for better traction when running) and can be played in basically any green space — no nets or goalposts needed.

Giving youth the responsibility for making their own calls on the field leads to much greater maturity and socialization by them. They realize that sport is primarily for the enjoyment of all, that winning isn’t everything and that it is possible to play a hard game against another team and still remain friendly with them after the game. Ultimate will have a positive influence on their personal development.

There are lots of ways to get involved:

• Clinics
• Tournaments
• Ultimate in your school

If you’re interested in learning more about the sport or wondering how you can get started playing, email us at juniors@calgaryultimate.org for more information.

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

• Dates: May 2 – July 25, Monday nights
• Location: Kick-off May 2 at McMahon, May 9 onward CRU (9025 Shepard Road SE)
• Times: 6:30-8:30 pm
• Price: $120.00 +GST (Includes: disc, shirt, fields)
• Age Range: 12 – 18 years old

Contact us for more details or REGISTER HERE to enter the league!

Many schools are forming Ultimate Clubs — if you haven’t started one at your school yet, contact us for some tips on how to get it going!

3rd Annual Calgary Youth Ultimate Tournament
Saturday, May 28
Calgary Rugby Union
9025 Shepard Rd. SE

More information will be released as we get closer to May, but here are some highlights:

• School Clubs encouraged to enter multiple teams
• Fields, food, and water provided

Contact us to register or for more information.

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.”