Last weeks query on how your amount of ultimate is going to change next season appears to be a Gaussian distribution. Most people plan to play the same while some will retire and others will play more at about the same frequency.
For those of us in colder climates, the winter has no Ultimate unless your playing in some of the winter and fall tournaments (usually accompanied by snow and rain), or there is the option of playing indoor Ultimate.
In Toronto, our indoor facilities have significantly improved over the past few years, moving from hard green covered surfaces to this new fake grass filled in with small little rubber balls. I've only played on the new surface once or twice (outdoors), but in general I've been against indoor Ultimate citing injuries and decreased throwing skills as arguments against. This is most likely because of the old surfaces that I played on and the lack of wind making it too easy to throw the disc (and therefore I lose one of my advantages in the game). This week the poll is divided into three categories for the beginner, intermediate, and advanced player. Do you think indoor Ultimate helps improve player level X's Ultimate game. Poll to the right.
PJ
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Poll Thursday - Indoor
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5 comments:
I think indoor can help at any level as long as you understand it's benefits and drawbacks.
The indoor game is faster, so it's a great opportunity to work on quick disc movement, effective cutting and defense. Defense becomes especially challenging indoors where everyone seems to be able to throw. The speedpoint format also removes a lot of strategy (plays) from the game, which means players get a chance to try to read and manipulate the field themselves, which may improve their ability to play 'intuitive' ultimate.
On the other hand, lack of wind makes long and more difficult throws deceptively easy and you can fall into some bad throwing habits. IMO, you don't want to be working on your throws indoor... but that doesn't mean you can't focus on faking/breaking around a mark.
I used to play indoor quite a bit and found my throws lacked zip come outdoor season (lack of spin usually). But it wouldn't take me long (1 or two times) playing outdoors in the spring to get that zip back.
Now I'm living in a city with a severe lack of indoor space. I found my throws degraded even more and took longer to get back in the spring.
Indoor is indoor and take it for what it is. But I think having a chance to put a disc in your hand once (?) a week puts you in much better shape for the spring.
As a cutter, I like indoor because it forces you to think more about the fake and cut you're going to make since you have less space in which to actually outrun the defender. It's great for working on quickness as opposed to speed.
PJ,
I think if you're conscious of slipping into bad habits and making sure that you're being fundamentally sound it's a great way to expand your skill set.
The muscle memory required for quick pivot/release or the wide extension needed for break throws and deep looks can all be worked on indoors.
When back outside in the spring some fine tuning will likely be required and obviously you won't have the range or precision that was there inside. But you'll be comfortable combining body movements with the throwing motion required to get off throws that you didn't have before.
I think a good idea would be to get a friend to keep you in check. If you've stepped too far out of your game or are deviating from solid fundamentals a warm reminder or a tough slap should work.
AC
I'm playing two indoor nights a week for the next month or so; Sundays (coed) in Guelph, Tuesdays (mens) at BMO.
I'm actually making a point of looking for increased disc time, a little more time spent on the handle, a little more practise breaking a mark, and, most importantly, working on some crucial movement/speed/agility fundamentals.
BUT.
If not focusing on one or two of those things in each game, I find indoor can very easily be less about smart game playing and more about just tearing around like a fruitcake on a big green carpet. And it's not that easy even to focus on those one or two things in a game depending on the strengths of your team-mates and your opponents. Indoor games are usually 50-55 minutes long. Rosters are usually full. Opportunities to get gelled and get flowing are minimized.
SO.
Disregard the game outcomes and treat it like training. (easy if you've no left-over effects from the summer/fall) Treat it like one big drill or a hard run with an excuse to stretch afterwards.
I'll know more about how my plan has worked out come April/May. I may be broken, we'll see.
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