USA Ultimate Dues

If you receive a postcard from USA Ultimate regarding dues renewal, you can disregard this! Your dues were paid for as part of your registration, and we are taking care of all the renewals for you.

Club meeting on Sunday 5:30 p.m.

Where: Hopkins HS Little Theater
Eat supper early and come to the Hopkins Ultimate team meeting Sunday. JV players can pick up their jerseys and everyone can get details about the upcoming schedules and teams.

Please bring your checks for Chicago if you haven't delivered them already!

March 7 All-club meeting

All Hopkins Ultimate parents and players are urged to attend an All-Club meeting.
When: Sun., March 7 at 5 :30
Where: Hopkins H.S. Little Theater
What's it about? All sorts of important stuff...

• Spring schedule including tournaments and league game info
• Sign up for Madison Mudbath (drivers and players)
• Info on the Hopkins Hustle
• Breakout discussion with each team's coaches, players and parents
• We'll finish before 6:30 p.m. so that players can go to the practice at NJH.

***JV jerseys are expected to be available for distribution at this meeting; varsity and girls will have to wait a little longer.

Tell your teammates and parents about this meeting. See you there!

No Practice Tuesday Due to Registration

Hello All -

As a friendly reminder, there is no practice tonight, Tuesday September 16, because of HUrt Registration. 7:15 at the high school, see Sheri's post below.

Coach Mikey K

Ultimate Registration Mtg Tues - All players/parents

When : Tues., Sept. 16, 7:15 p.m. at Hopkins High School room W230
What: Registration for Hopkins Ultimate
Who: Players and parents
Why: To see schedules, meet coaches, pay dues, select uniform size, meet other players and parents, submit registration forms; ask questions

Players alert your parents to this meeting. There's a link on the right with registration forms if you want to fill it out in advance, but we will have forms on site as well. You'll need to know insurance stuff, UPA number and medical and emergency contacts besides the usual name, address, telephone. Registration cost: $300 for returning players; $311 for new players (like last year).

Keep Sept 16 at 7:15 p.m. open

Parents and players (7th-12th): Mark your calendar for Ultimate registration night on Sept. 16. I'll post more details soon.

Attn JV Parents: need volunteers & drivers.

Pursuant to Mike's post below, we really need adult drivers to go to get our team to Madison and back again. Parents, if you aren't busy that weekend, it would really help the team. Contact me if you are interested or have questions.

We also need parents to volunteer to drive us to our two scheduled away games:
April 10 - Twin Cities Academy (POSTPONED - TO BE RESCHEDULED)
May 8 - Hastings

I also need another parent help me coordinate these activities, to be a "team parent." I already have a volunteer who is willing to share some of the duties. Mostly this encompasses confirming rides for a given week from a list. It's not difficult, but it is a critical task.

If you can drive us to our Thursday games, or if you can help coordinate, please contact me (see comments), or post in the comments.

Coach Russ

JV Team Roster

Bauer	Deric
Bayer	Jeremy
Benji	Moscow
Brand	Jackson
Bumstad	Sam
Code	Chris
Englert	Tim
Farrell	Chris
Hershkowitz	Billy
Hoffman	Jake
Jepson	Jonny
Kachelmacher	Tom
Kitchener	Aaron
Lee	Alex
Leonard	Eli
Lifson	Andrew
Litin	Danny
Menzies	Lucas
Mintzer	Asher
Rafowitz	Adam
Raskin	Daniel
Rosenblum	Max
Segal	Sam
Skogland	Austin
Sobelman	Billy
Wexler	Nathan

Here's what I've got so far, if your name is in RED then you need to get your paperwork and dues into Diane Arenson tonight (Wednesday) to get a jersey and discs on time. Include your jersey size and # preference.

I know I didn't include everyone. If you're not on this list and would like to be, get your Hurt paperwork into the Arensons and write in the comments that you want to be on the roster.

coach Russ

Captains, Coaches, Parents

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
Sunday November 11
7 PM
Schock / Baken House

# 1 Mission - New Parent Volunteers!

Michael Schock
4316 Glencrest Rd
GOLDEN VALLEY, MN 55416-3319

Map of 4316 Glencrest Rd Golden Valley, MN 55416-3319, US

Time To Vote!

There are two votes available right now

1. Vote on a new Youth Bumper sticker:
http://www.upa.org/polls/youth/bumpersticker

and secondly and MOST IMPORTANTLY,
2. Vote for the UPA Board of Directors. Anyone who is a UPA member may vote, so please please please read up on the candidates and place your vote here:

http://www.upa.org/bod/candidate/2008

There are some great options there, especially ones who have programs like ours in mind, so seek them out if it is important to you that the UPA keeps supporting Youth Ultimate!

Jake

Hat Tournament Flier

Here is our Hat Tournament and Clinic Flier, which includes a waiver for all participants to sign. The flier should come in handy for promoting the event, as I know all of you are doing diligently.

Looking for some help...

Hey Hurtems and families.

We're starting to get organized for our fall kickoff, and we're getting our practice spaces lined up!

If you know of a park, soccer field, open space, or that perfect spot to play ultimate in your neighborhood, please post it in the comments section.

Our Fearless Field Facilitation Fanatic Ron Curme is going to work hard to get us the spaces we need, but we're certain you all know of some spots that we don't.

Please post any and all info in the comments section of this post and it'll get entered into our database to be used for years to come.

Thank you for your help!!!
Coaches, Exec Committee, Parents, and ESPECIALLY the kids who make up this team.

Important!!!!

The UPA is hosting a round-table discussion with anyone who would like to be involved in the decision-making process about the future of Ultimate. It will be held at the National Sports Center in Blaine on Sat. June 30, and I'd like to see a number of you there. I think this is a great opportunity for everyone involved in Hopkins Ultimate to really understand what the sport will look like in , 5, and 10 years from now, and have a voice in how you would like it to progress.

You need to register if you want to attend, so read up on it here:

http://upa.org/upa/strategicplanning/minneapolissummit


See you there!
Coach Jake

UPA Westerns

I realized recently that this blog makes a lot of announcements, but doesn't communicate the progress and results of all of our hard work. So, sit back and enjoy a rundown of a boys-centric experience at UPA Westerns (a.k.a. "High School Nationals", though there ARE two "Nationals" tournament for high school).

Friday, arriving at the airport was a bit of a mess, complicated by trying to organize synchronized carpools to the hotel, despite having several folks on different flights. Once we hit the road, however, it was smooth sailing. Checking in to the hotel went well and people had time to relax, even swim, before the team meeting at 9:00 p.m.

We reinforced some team goals and reminded everyone to act in a manner that made us want to attend and to be wanted as an attendee next year. Mama Brick's note speaks volumes to the behavior of everyone.

Saturday morning, we were the first or second team to the field. A cool calmness filled the air, as an eerie overcast sky shielded us from the sun. In the first boys game, we faced Churchill High School, the (deserved) number 2 seed in the tournament. Our defense amazed even ourselves in this game. Big layouts, hand blocks, interceptions, a lot of big plays. But as good as our defense was, our offense was equally weak. Uncontested drops and throwaways let this game get out of hand early. A 15-8 loss and we were 0-1. Churchill would go on to lose a close game in the semifinals and finished tied for third.

We faced the 7 seed (Lakeside High School) in our second game. You might recall we had a huge game against them in semifinals last year, coming out on top 12-9. This year, and like our first round game, our offense made unforced mistakes while our defense dominated, allowing our opponent to take a 6-2 lead right away. As soon as we stopped making mistakes, however, it was our game. We charged back to tie the game 9-9. With the time cap on, it was a game to 10 with Lakeside receiving. Our defense intensified, but so did Lakeside's offense, who managed to score the game winner. We were now 0-2.

To stay in contention of a top 8 finish, we had to win our last game against Cherry Creek High School, who had lost to Lakeside 14-9 in round 1. They had a smaller team and not much experience. By this time, we had our offense and defense running well and we coasted to a 15-5 victory, putting us in the prequarters.

To make the top 8 (quarterfinals), we had to go through Seattle Academy (10 seed). Their team loved to launch long throws every chance they got and took off to an early 4-1 lead. We scored, put on a clam (type of zone) defense, and Greg "Snuggles" Milbrath caught a callahan (an interception in the opponent's endzone) for perhaps the highlight of the tournament. Our opponent called a timeout, regrouped, and took back control of the game to win 13-8. Captains Greg Arenson and Carl Peaslee both injured their shoulders in this game. Seattle Academy would go on to tie for fifth.

After Saturday's games, we enjoyed an exhibition game between the 2004 mixed (co-ed) UPA Club Champions, Shazam, and a merged mixed team from the 2006 UPA Club Champion open team Sockeye and womens team Riot, being billed as "Rockeye." We also ate tournament supplied pizza, which might have been our downfall, as 4 players from the boys team became ill (possible food poisoning) and were unable to play on Sunday.

Sunday morning, now playing for ninth and in much cooler weather (55 degree high), we faced Junction City High School, who had not yet scored 6 points on anybody. Our younger/newer guys got a lot of playing time and showed that they were able to play at a very high level in the game as we cruised to a 15-4 victory.

Our next game, we had a rematch against Lakeside. Our defense excelled in this game. No doubt one of the best defensive efforts of any team that was at the tournament this weekend. But again, our offense was slipping and not taking advantage of opportunities. We kept it close throughout the whole game, but found ourselves down 11-9 with the time cap approaching. Suddenly, our offense began executing solidly and we maintained our defensive intensity. The effort resulted in us scoring the final 5 points of the game, winning 14-11 and guaranteeing we'd finish top 10 in the tournament (we were seeded 11th going in).

Our last game was another rematch, this time against Cherry Creek. The result would again land in our favor in a 15-7 victory. The boys then finished with a 4-3 tournament record, basically with losses just to the third place and fifth place teams.

The girls finished tied for 5th, with a 3-4 record in the tournament, with their four losses going to the four teams in semi finals. The highlight for them was the 1 point loss to the team that would go on to win the championship in a 15-3 game.

Carl Peaslee and Angela Lokken-Hopkins were our individual spirit award winners.

All in all, both teams had very tough draws, having to go through some tough teams just to make it to a place for a shot at top 4 finishes. We proved decidedly, however, that we belonged there and, having brought such relatively young teams, that Hopkins has a very prosperous future.

An ENORMOUS thank you to the parents who helped plan, organize, shuttle, feed, comfort, attend to, provide caffeinated stimulants to, and support the players and coaches. Without you, these amazing events would not be the same, let alone even take place. Thank you thank you thank you.

SUNDAY PRACTICE CANCELLED

sorry for the late notice y'all, but the coaches have decided to cancel sunday throwing practice. Have a great weekend and cheer on your teammates at the YWCA on sat, and have a safe, fun time enjoying your (now non-ultimate) sunday!

Coach Jake

11th Edition

(Carl Edit: Don't forget about the edge, below!)
Anyone want to make a difference?

read about it in the comments!

GIRLS MEETING THIS SUNDAY

There will be a HERt FORCE meeting this Sunday at Erin Curme and Ann Shaw's house. Some items on the agenda are: team and personal goals; expectations of players, captains, coaches; setting up "Hang Time", the Klane Kooler, the Blogs.
TIME: 2-4p for meeting, with an extra hour afterwards of hanging out together
PLACE: 4902 Beacon Hill Road, Minnetonka 55345

Thank you!
Kelley

PS - Please call me if you are unable to attend, and check the blog to find out about Saturday's practice.