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Ultimate Happenings: Issue 66 - Sept. 16 1998


OCUA Web site:
 http://www.ocua.ca


"Reality? Is that where the pizza delivery guy comes from?"

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CONTENTS:

- Ultimate - An Ideal World?
- 8th Annual Fall Equinox Ultimate Hat Tournament
- Ottawa Disc Golf Club Web Site
- The First Annual Ottawa Open
- Found
- More Found
- More People Looking For Fall League Teams
- My Parting Comment

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ULTIMATE - AN IDEAL WORLD?

By Randall Swartz
(From the Manitoba Ultimate Web Site)

In an ideal world, people play fair. They do not cheat. They
do not try to get away with whatever they can. Honesty.
Integrity.

Ultimate gets you close to this ideal world. Players are not
supposed to cheat. Sportsmanship is supposed to drip from
everyone's sweaty brow. In Ultimate, we do not rely on external
forces to keep us in check. We are expected to do it ourselves.
No referees. Ultimate honour (I believe that is where the name
of our beloved game comes from).

We even have a rule about this, right near the beginning of
the rule book:

 Spirit of the Game

 Ultimate has traditionally relied upon a spirit of sportsmanship
 which places the responsibility for fair play on the player.
 Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the
 expense of the bond of mutual respect between players,
 adherence to the agreed upon rules of the game, or the basic
 joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to
 eliminate adverse conduct from the Ultimate field. Such
 actions as taunting of opposing players, dangerous aggression,
 intentional fouling, or other "win-at-all-costs" behaviour are
 contrary to the spirit of the game and must be avoided by all
 players.

Unfortunately, not everyone adheres to this basic principle
of Ultimate. Over the years, especially due to the exponential
growth of the league, more dangerous plays have occurred, more
players out there do not seem to have the respect for others
that is expected in Ultimate. Why is this? I don't have a
definitive answer to this, but part of it may be a lack of
communication as to the importance of Spirit of the Game to
Ultimate. So that is what I am trying to do here.

Ultimate is different from, and is a great alternative to,
most other sports. Take hockey for example. You often here
about someone taking a "good penalty". There is no equivalent
in Ultimate, thankfully. No one is ever supposed to foul
someone intentionally. We are supposed to have the utmost
respect for our opponents, our team-mates, and ourselves.

A particular problem that is creeping into play more and more
is dangerous plays. This usually occurs when someone is focused
solely on getting the disc, without regard to others around
them. We've all seen someone running full tilt through a crowd
of people to get the disc. I've seen some collisions over the
years, I've seen far too many close calls, and I've heard of
some bad collisions. While it's virtually impossible to
eliminate collisions or close calls, we can all do our part
to minimise it by knowing where we are on the field, knowing
where others are, being in control of what we are doing,
especially when running at full tilt, and, most importantly,
yielding to other players that are already, or about to be,
in your path to the disc. You do not run through players to
get a disc (it does not matter whether you are on offence or
on defence). You yield to them. However, there is nothing
wrong with trying to go around them, as long as you are in
control.

The relevant rules for catching fouls are as follows:

 1. If a player contacts an opponent before the disc arrives
 and thereby interferes with that opponent's attempt to make
 a play on the disc, that player has committed a foul.

 2. If a player's attempt to make a play on the disc causes
 significant impact with a legitimately positioned stationary
 opponent, before or after the disc arrives, it is considered
 "harmful endangerment" and is a foul.

 3. Dangerous, aggressive behaviour or reckless disregard for
 the safety of fellow players is always a foul.

The key here is number 3. However, an often contentious issue
on the Ultimate field relates to number 2. Many people figure
that if they get to the disc first, it doesn't matter what
happens afterwards. Not true. For example, if a defensive
player knocks a disc down just before it was about to be
caught by someone on the offence, then proceeds to plow into
that player, then it is a foul.

Also, just because a player does not impact another player,
does not mean that a foul was not committed. If that player
behaves dangerously or aggressively, as stated in point 3
above, then a foul has occurred.

A certain amount of incidental contact happens in Ultimate,
but in general the game is non-contact. This includes contact
between the thrower and the marker. The marker cannot contact
the thrower and vice-versa. Two fouls that are seen too often
between these players is the thrower stepping into the marker
(rather than stepping around) as s/he is throwing, and the
thrower pushing off the marker after releasing the disc (like
many people do in basketball).

Recently, Jay Rousseau and I were invited by Peter Warren to
be on CJOB's Action Line for an hour. One of the things he
asked us while we were on air was something to the effect
"You have this special code of conduct that players are
supposed to abide by. But are you telling me that there's never
been the odd punch up in the Ultimate league?" I was very proud
to say that there has never been a "punch up" in Winnipeg
Ultimate. I sure hope it never happens either.

Lastly, I would like to state that the vast majority of players
hold Spirit of the Game in high esteem, and adhere to this
important principle. For the minority that do not adhere to
or understand Spirit of the Game, the rest of us must try to
educate them, and hopefully bring them over to the right side
of the fence. Remember, we are all ambassadors to this wonderful
sport!

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8TH ANNUAL FALL EQUINOX ULTIMATE HAT TOURNAMENT:
										
Lynda Lane Fields
Saturday Sept. 19th (this Saturday!!!!!!)
@ 10 am - 3 pm

ALL WELCOME ALL WELCOME ALL WELCOME ALL WELCOME ALL WELCOME
										
										
Sorry for this really short notice everyone but I really was
NOT going to have this tournament this year. But there seems
to be a might popular demand for me to get off my ass and pull
it together again. Sooo... lets get on with the particulars.
All Those players who are interested can register two ways

1) e-mail me under the subject of '8th Equinox Hat Tourney'

 Include,
  YOUR NAME
  # of YEARS PLAYED
  PHONE #
  SEX (No Yes/No answer)

2) Or you can call me at 231-6530 and leave the particulars.


Please send info by 6 pm Friday Sept. 18th, We will CALL you
that evening and leave a message as to the colour of shirt you
are to bring for Saturday at 10 pm.
										
How much is this all going to cost... $5 Canadian Dollars.
										
Couple of things, a Hat Tournament is where all names are
dropped into a Hat and selected randomly by six captains
Friday night. They will determine the shirt colour and then
give you a call to inform you of the particulars.

Also, every player MUST wear a hat (NO BASEBALL HATS OR VISORS).
If the hat comes off while you are catching the disc...
turnover. There are other small rule involving 'hats' and they
will be explained to you day of.

This is a good chance to mix up all levels of players and meet
new people. Many players have been "discovered" (Doug Taharali)
by playing in this tournament.
 
There will be HATS given out to the winning team, oh yes I
forgot, Past Equinox Champions HATS are the only Baseball
Hats that can be worn.

Again sorry for the short notice, but lets see if we can get
this together.
										
My e-mail address 668prouf@sympatico.ca
My phone # 231-6530

Jack Webb
										
Nota Bene:
 If you have talked to me about this before I was not taking
 any names so please register now.

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OTTAWA DISC GOLF CLUB WEB SITE:

There is now a web site for the Disc Golf course at Jacques
Cartier Park.

http://www.magma.ca/~spratley/discgolf/

his site includes the rules for Disc Golf, a description of
the course and the best ways to play each hole.

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THE FIRST ANNUAL OTTAWA OPEN:

Saturday, October 3rd

This is Ottawa's premier Disc Golf tournament. All interested
players please E-mail Steve Seabrook at seabrook@lsec.lete.dnd.ca
to book tee off times. More information on the tourney will
be available next week. Come out for a great day of disc and
challenge for the coveted "Plaid Jacket". The Masters may
have the green jacket but we have style!

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FOUND:

One Mitre cleat, rt. foot - approximate size 6 at Sod on Sat.
Sept. 12 at the Corp. Challenge.

Near the field where Interchorus, Mosaid, Ernst & Young played...

Rob
 h: 236-2961
 w: 940-2161

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MORE FOUND:

Someone's winter boots last year at indoor Ultimate. I cannot
remember whose they were but I did exchange e-mails about
them last spring. With the cold weather coming on I thought
you might want them back. They have had a nice home for the
summer but it is time for them to go home. :)

Mike
 e: mharley@sympatico.ca

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MORE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR FALL LEAGUE TEAMS:

If in a week you still have not had any success finding a
team let me know. I will put your blurb back in the next
Ultimate Happenings. If someone wants to step forward and
be a captain and scoop some or all of these people then
just give them a call. Jack Webb (h: 231-6530,
e: 668prouf@sympatico.ca) may also be able to fit you in
somewhere.

--------------
I'm looking for a fall team to join. My husband and I are
novices, and would like to play on a team that has other
novices. I also know of 2 other people looking for a novice
team as well (another husband and wife).

Thanks,
Faelyne
 e: ftempler@newbridge.com
 w: 599-3600 x 1959
 h: 271-1439

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My name is Chris Saumier, I'm looking for a team to play with
for the fall league. I played in the summer league with
"RELEASE THE HOUNDS" I' m 26 turning 27 Sept. 18th, 5'9"
205lbs in fairly good shape. I played football for the Ottawa
Sooners and I really enjoy playing Ultimate. I'm looking for
a fairly competitive team.

Thanks,
Chris Saumier
 h: 830-4702
 pager: 719-5750

--------------
Hello... one more stray looking for a team to join this fall :)
I have played for four years, am interested in a competitive
team in Level One 4/3 or Level One Women's leagues and I have
no restrictions on the night of the week.

Thanks
Dara Finney
 e: lfinney@cyberus.ca
 w/h: 234-3624

--------------
Hi I'm 14 years old and this past summer i played on a women's
team "Prissy in pink" and enjoyed it a lot. I was just wondering
if there are any junior teams I might be able to join.

Please reply with any information.

Thanks
Sarah Pquin
 e: sassmo@hotmail.com

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MY PARTING COMMENT:

I had a great time at the party last Saturday.
Hope you did to!

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Ultimate Happenings is a e-mail newsletter for the
Ottawa-Carleton Ultimate Association.

If you want to subscribe send an e-mail to
mharley@sympatico.ca with the subject
"Subscribe Ultimate Happenings".
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