And here it is boys and girls!

Mr. Phil Rodriguez of Negros Frisbee Association is organizing the first ever all male / all female Ultimate Frisbee tournament in Negros! Adan at Eba Ultimate Cup will be on November 8, 2014 at Bacolod City National High School (BCNHS)

Registration fee is only P100 pesos, that includes Socials (Party!) and awarding of who will be crowned as the Ultimate Adan's and Eba's of the tournament! (More Party!!) 

I will be there to cover this one day event. And I'm pretty sure this is going to be a good one! 

So discheads.... Are you up for the challenge?!

Until then.... TULOY LANG ANG PARTY!!

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Here's the part 2 of 3 of Cara's journey as a beginner Ultimate player. 

Read on!

My First attempt to Learning Ultimate (Part 2)

It was August 14 this year since I decided to first set foot on the Ultimate field at Iloilo Sports Complex being invited by a friend. The feeling was so different. It was not like when I run for a marathon which I can do it alone and which I already know my pace. It was not like football, which the ball continuously rolls on the ground to just one goal. It was not like table tennis, which you can plan tactics alone. I trembled the first time I held a disc and being called upon for throws. The numbness and coldness felt from my head to foot. Heart pounding so loud and rhythm became fast knowing that I don’t know how to do it rightly. Plus, the feeling of being surrounded by Pro-Ultimate players was intimidating.

  Perhaps, it was a normal response anyway. I tried to overcome every inch of being low because I was there to learn.  Combining my own sports aided a lot, running which is vital in Ultimate since stamina was needed to be developed. Playing football years back contributed also to have a foresight. Being a winger and midfielder/half back before was beneficial since Ultimate need a space out to get a good pass to a goal. Ping pong also provided me idea on how to throw since forehand/backhand grips were way similar for Ultimate players as well as top/back spin which seemed like a rehearse for wrist flick and reflexes built to relate in catching disc.

  This day I learned backhand grip and backhand throw. My throws wobble at some certain times. And most of the time it went elsewhere, without direction. I got deep labored breathing of knowing I could hit anybody and let the one who taught me pick up the drop disc most often. I could not get body coordination-hand grip with foot forward. Whew! Until then…

  I constantly come to sports complex, in a two-hour time, 6-8PM every Thursday--so little time, to learn so many things. During those times, I don’t know players much. I haven’t talked formally to them. I didn’t know them by name but on how they play. There were times that I just jogged around the track because I am scared --I am just a beginner, I didn’t have the nerve yet of immersing with them much especially when they have drills. Beginner is the term for those who are just starting Ultimate, those who are being taught and being trained. ^^ They were weeks I could not train because the schedule is really hectic. Torn heart, I have to set aside my passion aside and re-focus to priorities. It felt sick in so knowing I have no outlet of the routine school stuff. Life becomes sedentary without Ultimate/Sports. In my absence in sports complex, I just view youtube videos on how to get hold of forehand/backhand grips in between reading breaks. And in the absence of disc, it was way funny to practice hand grips using real plate. Haha.

  Weeks followed, and to count 4 Thursdays only and two hours less each Thursday was way so lacking before the day I and fellow beginners joined the first Ultimate game in the city.

  My first Ultimate experience on September 13 was really fun, exciting and motivating.  I felt the rush and again the coldness. The day started with a good weather until cloud seeding followed. Dark clouds surged, blast of raindrops kept falling, winds blew timid to strong and the field turned muddy. But it didn’t prompt the event to stop. We lose the first game. But my first catch at the end zone was memorable. I could even remember the face of my teammate passing the disc to me with enough support and gladness. Thank you Sam, it would be a lifetime. Second and third time of catching the disc at the end zone relieves the pressure of knowing that beginners could also catch disc. Normally, it would not be easy for teammates to trust the disc to beginners at the end zones. But personally, I understand until then trust is really hard to build the first time like most relationships do.

  Playing Ultimate hence, is building relationships, chemistry and connections. Fear of dropping the disc at the end zone or whenever well-experienced players pass me a disc is nerve-shaking and exciting at the same time. I get pressured upon receiving the disc, in the thought that I could not be able to pass it to teammates when defense player is in front of me. Luckily, my teammates are really supportive. It felt like I belong to a family. When I have mistaken, I am being corrected. The process of learning was way welcoming when I correct myself of the flaw I did in the field. At some point, it felt frustrating to drop the disc or being blocked or not being given a disc. I felt worthless but those serve as motivation to practice and learn more. I still have the rest of my life to learn this passion anyway. Although, contributing scores to the team and assisting to others for the team’s point to transcend was so worthwhile, mistakes made are also memorable.

  Two of Ryan’s disc pass at the end zone were remarkable. One that I caught in most uneasy tiptoe in which I almost fell down but my teammate said to the opponent, nice “D” to the opponent, “Nice D Megan!” Well, thank you, it was so motivating to get a good catch next time. And the other one was when I get advised because the “D” opponent cut in when am about to catch the pass that went drop. I should supposedly to get the pass in front of the “D” opponent. Get near, don’t be afraid! Learnings and mistakes make us grow anyway it’s not too late. The best part I so like about, was when I am on defense. I just felt comfortable with the task of having foresight unto which the opponent will come across, go around and mess up with me. Playing football helped a lot, because the opponent would go to a space uncrowded and could get a comfortable zone to pass for a point. Most D players are apprehensive. Only that, I personally still need to learn more on tactics/techniques because most admirable player Liza, could just leave one defenseless at a certain instant. She’s a real great mentor in the field just by observing how she moves and plays Ultimate.

  Well experienced players and budding beginners-be it a teammate or opponent- were so great to play with because they would teach me the hard way. Gio, Noynoy, Liza, P.R., Ryan, Karl, Sergio, Raisan, Sam, Garen and most of the players from Pototan/Mina, Karlie, Steven, Nikko, Jaira, Bunso Maricris, TEAM SPORTS and everybody else I played with were noteworthy because they would help me and every new player shaped up.

  And when the Social’s night about to commence, I started to get to know people bit by bit. It was just an hour, so little time again, but well, it was remarkable in knowing am being a part of the mythical 7. It means a lot for beginners to be appreciated. At first, I was made to wonder how come? Astonishing and fluttering to be told most promising beginner. But more thanks to Neco and Sheilamar. This couple is really inspiring. Motivating players are the most of what they do and organizing the event is the best thing they’ve done. Our team may not won 1st and may it be pondering to me/others on how I came into that myth7 but the real essence of winning is not just numbers/points but also having a heart into it most especially. 

- Cara Uy