BananaCut

First, we need to be conscious of how Ultimate subversively teaches leadership and life skills.

Elite coaches recognize that at the top of their sports, athletes need a large toolbox of psychological and mental skills they can draw on: adaptability, the ability to only focus on the controllable elements in the immediate present, the ability to manage emotions, mental stamina and self-confidence.

Members of the Fresno State Ultimate Frisbee Club will head to Long Beach this weekend to compete with 15 other university teams in this sport that combines the non-stop movement of soccer with the aerial passing skills of football.

This sport is growing exponentially in high school. Being a player on a good YCC team no longer translates into immediate success in college. The level of play jumps dramatically, and without knowledgeable and experience leaders, players are left stunted in their ability to grow their skills.

One of the things I learned through my masters (school, not the division) and through life experience is that handling the relationship between yourself and those you lead on the field is a delicate p

Of the most fundamental skills in Ultimate, throwing definitely tops the list. But close behind is catching. Catching is absolutely vital to playing Ultimate.

Before the weight of the world begins to chip away at our mind and bodies. Before the years start to catch up with us and life choices have pushed us down one road or another, there is a time where ultimate is at its purest, with no distractions, no drama and best of all, no BS.

Here we're focusing on fall practices: what drills and skills do you focus on; how do you keep your returners progressing; do you implement your spring system before the winter?

After finishing a Summer League game the other night, I was walking to the car thinking a little bit more about the comparisons I was trying to draw between soccer, basketball, and chess, in particular the importance of establishing space in the middle of the field or in the middle of the board.