Welcome to the
2016 GREELY
Middle School
Ultimate League!!!
We
want to announce a new partnership this year between the Town of
Cumberland Recreational Department and the Middle School Ultimate
program. This is a mutual partnership benefiting both
organizations. The
town provides one stop shopping registration process for our
program along with other administration services. Greely
Middle School Ultimate now has access to many of the towns playing
fields and other athletic related resources. We also hope that
this alliance will bring additional exposure to the great sport of
Ultimate within our community (you may have noticed us in the Rec Department
mailing this winter)!! Please go to the Registration pull down or the following link to sign up: http://cumberlandultimate.blogspot.com/p/ms-signup.html
We are coming off a fantastic middle school season last year!! I’m not quite sure where to start: We had over 60 kids participating last season!!!! The kids caught on to the rules quickly and embraced the “Spirit of the Game” (see attached for explanation). The skill level rose exponentially as the spring wore on and the winds died down. We were able to connect with other schools and played a number of games/scrimmages. We played in 4 tournaments – including traveling out of state to a tournament in Amherst, MA. We look to build off the momentum from last season, and can’t wait to get going.
Indoor
Practice: Indoor practices will be every Monday in March @ the GMS Gym from 5:00 -
6.30 pm for 5th and 6th graders and 6.30-8:00 pm for 7th
and 8th graders. The current practice schedule is already on the
calendar (http://cumberlandultimate.blogspot.com/p/ms-cal.html) . Practices will be added as gym space becomes
available.
Greely
Middle School Ultimate League: Last year was
the inaugural season of the Greely
Middle School Ultimate League. This
year, again we will divide the kids into 4 equal co-ed teams for “League Games”
(all kids - all ages). This will provide the kids with tons of playing
experience and gets as many kids as possible moving at one time while keeping
them all engaged.
League
games will be on Mondays and Wednesday at Twin Brook fields (Tuttle Road) from
5:30 – 7:00 pm once we get outdoors. PARENTS – please be prepared to
stay, watch and cheer on you players for League games. Would you drop
your kid off for a Little League baseball game and not stay and watch?!?!?!?!
Games
/ Scrimmages:
We also
plan to play schools from other towns. “Friday Night Lights” will be
back!!! Last season, we had a number of games under the lights on
Friday nights and it proved to be very popular. Games will be on
select Friday nights (but not all Fridays). It sounds like there
are a number of new middle school teams forming so I’m expecting there will be
6 - 8 other local teams this year!! We have at least 3 tournaments
scheduled this spring including Amherst, MA on 5/22. Last year we
brought a full co-ed team down to Amherst and had a blast!!
Because
of our LARGE numbers, the players who are invited to participate in town games
will vary from week to week depending upon a host of factors. Some games
will be open to all players - some games may be limited to all 5th
and 6th graders and some to just 7th and 8th
graders. A lot will depend upon the make-up of our opponents team (big,
small, young, old, experienced, inexperienced, field space, etc.). All
players will be invited to play in the Cumberland Invitational allowing
everyone the opportunity to play in a least 1 tournament. We will do our
best to make sure that everyone who wants to play against other schools will
have the chance.
Communication: Communication can be a
challenge with kids in grades 5 – 8 who have a wide range of communication
devices available (or not available) to them. We plan to communicate
practice and game information via an App called TEAMSNAP.com this year.
More details to follow.
In
addition, the CU Web Site will be a good place to get up to date information
www.cumberlandultimate.com . It has a Middle School
section that will include an up to minute calendar/schedule, instructional
videos and all the information you will need to sign up and play. I can
always be reached at my cell (207-712-7181).
Parent and Player Middle School Ultimate information meeting: April 7th, 2016 from 6 – 7 pm at the Cumberland town office (Council Chambers).
Parents: It takes a village…
and I need help!!! Work has me traveling quite a bit this spring so I am
looking for volunteers to help me manage the team. Parents are encouraged
to come and participate in all aspects of the team!!! I am also looking for assistant coaches – NO
PRIOR Frisbee experience or knowledge required!!!!
Have your kid tell their friends and encourage them to try out Ultimate!!! ALL Boys/Girls in grades 5 - 8 are welcome!!!!! We are especially trying to recruit GIRLS with the hope of fielding an all-girls team for some games.