Tryouts

Tryouts for Fall, Winter, and Spring Leagues

In the fall, Ultimate at Hamilton is a no cut sport, meaning that all interested and qualified (through the official athletic program) players are able to play. If there are players who do not place on a league team, coaches will create an "open" or practice team. These players will not participate in the regular DiscNW league games but will have a weekday practice and a chance to participate in exhibition games throughout the season.

Winter league at Hamilton is not mixed and tryouts are not required. There are no after school practice days. The season is also quite short.

Spring league has required tryouts. The program is run outside of Seattle Public School's athletic program.

The Purpose of Tryouts

Tryouts are an important part of placing players on Ultimate teams fairly and building teams that can compete well during the season. The goal of tryouts is not just to find the best players—it is to make sure every player is placed on a team where they can learn, improve, contribute, and have a positive experience.

One reason placements are necessary is that each team has a limited roster size. League rules and practical considerations (such as playing time, coaching, transportation, and field space) mean that only a certain number of players can be placed on each roster. Because of this, coaches sometimes must make difficult decisions when there are more interested players than available spots.

For mixed Ultimate teams, roster balance is also very important. Games are played with a required number of Gx (girl or girl-matching) and Bx (boy or boy-matching) players on the field at the same time. To make sure teams can participate successfully in games all season long, each roster needs enough Gx and Bx players to meet these requirements. This means team placement decisions are sometimes influenced not only by skill level, but also by maintaining a workable balance of players across genders.

During tryouts, coaches look at many things, including:

• Throwing and catching skills

• Defensive effort

• Athleticism and game awareness

• Teamwork and communication

• Attitude, sportsmanship, and willingness to learn

Not every player develops at the same pace in middle school, and placements are never a judgment about a player’s value or future potential. Many strong players improve dramatically from season to season. Coaches aim to create teams where players will be challenged appropriately, receive meaningful playing time, and continue growing their skills and love for the sport.

Not every player, especially in 6th grade, needs experience to be placed on a team. However, the program is fairly competitive.

Tryout Schedule

The schedule for the fall or spring league will be posted on the home page.

If a player cannot attend tryouts they can attend a different grade's tryout or try to meet with a coach to be placed.

Placement Criteria

Sixth grade players will be placed on a team determined mostly by the player's practice schedule. This is to give an opportunity for new players.

The exact placement for a player is determined by scoring at tryouts by coaching staff.

Preparing for Tryouts

Here are some ideas for excelling at tryout time:

• Practice throwing and catching at home with friends or family.

• Watch online videos on correct throwing technique, especially forehand or flick throws.

• Participate in summer camps or Ultimate leagues before the school year.

• Participate in other field and team sports, including soccer, track, etc.