Specialization

Why are you on the field?

Western Sharks. Eastern Champs 09.

One of the beautiful aspects of our sport is the versatility individual players possess. Even at the elite club level there are those who reduce the categorization of their style to silence; their talent allows them to play either side of the disc against any player, as well as enabling them to be equally efficient as cutter or handler. 

You likely aren't one of those players. And the truth is that as our sport develops those players will become far more rare - and this is a good thing. Specialization is evidence that skills are being broken down into discrete categories that individuals are mastering. It means we are getting better at what we do. 

Each player has to understand their role. After all, ultimate is a team sport. You need to identify what purpose you serve. There are plenty of players who compete with top notch teams, not because they are better all-round players then they guys who got cut, but because they do one thing really, really well. 

What is your purpose on the field? Don't tell me you are a handler or a cutter - tell me specifically what kind of handler or cutter you are. Are you the unstoppable reset? Are you the timing striker who simply pounds the endzone? Is your help D the best in the league?

Two weekends ago I played for Western at Canadian Easterns. Before taking the field, I told the boys to look to themselves, identify what they do best, and then go out there and do it better than anyone else on the pitch. I find that this type of focus is precisely what is needed to keep players on track.  

Everyone is on the team for a reason. Don't overextend yourself trying to play beyond your means (note that this will often require an ego check). Know why you are on the team, then prove that you were picked for the right reason. 

Why are you on the field?

those are some of my thoughts.

tcs