May 1st Optional Workout

On May 1st an optional workout will be run from 8:30-12. You must have attended at least one tryout prior to be eligible to attend this workout. You will not be evaluated during this optional workout and there will be no cuts, however, it will give you a good insight as to the types of strength and fitness exercises that will be required of you this season.

Complete the following form to show whether or not you are able to attend:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHN2RnZhQm54a1JpV0tUUTloV0JMWWc6MQ


-Coach Snader

Tryout #2 - April 17th & 18th

Gentlemen,

The next tryout is this Saturday from 8:30am-2pm and Sunday from 8:30am-2pm. You need to fill out the form below if you are trying out. This is a different form from last week.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDQ0MVpNaklUWThVUVZZQ0MzVEE5aFE6MQ

You saw that I did not make any cuts at this last tryout. You better bring your best effort this next weekend or it won't be the same case. Over the next six weeks there will be well over 100 tryouts and there may only be 25 spots for this team.

Team Attitude, Commitment, Heart, Skill. You need to show them all.


-Coach

"Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price. "
-Vince Lombardi

2 Days Left

Gentlemen,

We're two days away from the first Philly Team tryout. Besides bringing a white shirt, your cleats and 2 bottles of water you need to bring a dark shirt as well. Black is preferred. You will have numbers pinned on your back so you'll need a jersey on at all times.

We are expecting up to 140 athletes to tryout for this team over the next six weeks. This may be the biggest tryout in the nation. I trust you will come with your best game.

-Coach Snader

Updated Schedule

Here is the updated tryout schedule:

• April 10 - Tryout - 8:30-2 - Edgely Ballfields (Not regular Edgely)
  
• April 17 - Tryout - 8:30 - 2 - Edgely Ballfields
• April 18 - Tryout - 8:30-2 - Edgely Ballfields
• April 24 - Tryout - 1-5:30 - Edgely Ballfields
• May 1 - Optional Workout run by the Coach - 8:30-12 - Edgely
  
• May 8 - Tryout - Time 8:30-2 - Edgely Ballfields
• May 9 - Tryout - 8:30-2 - Edgely Ballfields
• May 15-16 - Bell Crack

If you need directions to the fields click here. Understand that Edgely Ballfields and Edgely (Clubhouse) are two different fields.

-Coach Snader

One Week Away

The first tryout for the Philly Open Team is less than a week away. Your Coach and Captains hope that you have been training this off-season because these tryouts will test your skill, fitness, intensity and heart.

The tryout on the 10th is from 8:30 - 2. I think I've already made myself clear about timeliness.

Things you need:

• White Shirt
• Cleats
• 2 bottles of water
  

Recommendations

• Snacks
  
• Sun block (scrimmages will be shirts vs skins)
  

If you haven't already done so, sign up for tryouts using the following link: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGNRNlI3dVF5NHgwNVh1Mlo1cGd0b0E6MA

If you don't sign up using the link below that will not reflect well on your commitment or ability to complete a simple task. You will also waste a scout's time because they will have to register you. The online form will close this Wednesday at midnight.

This first tryout will be a 6 event combine followed by an hour long scrimmage and then a fitness challenge. At the end of each tryout cuts will be made so I suggest you come ready to play. There will be scouts attending to give input to me and the captains about your skill and effort.

You are going to be pushed mentally and physically this season. We'll see who will endure and raise their game to a true elite level and who won't.

-Coach Snader

Welcome to the 2010 Season

Gentlemen,

Welcome to the 2010 season and try-outs for the Philadelphia Open Ultimate team. My name is Jeff Snader and I will be your head coach for this season. I'm not one for long emails, I leave most of my talking for the fields. I will hit a few items now:

1) Our first try-out will be Saturday, April 10th. Registration will be begin at 8:30am. Location is still TBD.
2) If you are interested in trying out for this team you must go to the following link and fill out your information: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGNRNlI3dVF5NHgwNVh1Mlo1cGd0b0E6MA

This season represents an opportunity that you will most likely not see again in your ultimate career. You have the chance to square off against the best in this area and see if you have what it takes to truly be the best. You have the chance to be a part of the unification of our area and show the rest of the nation that you have the commitment, desire and heart to be at the highest level. You will be tested throughout these tryouts in every way -- and I'm giving you fair warning now -- you are sorely mistaken if you think your talent alone is enough to make this team.

Lastly, I have a simple philosophy when it comes to timeliness: If you're early you're on time; if you're on time you're late; if you're late, you'll pay the piper. Some will learn what that means sooner than others. I have no tolerance for lateness, laziness, weakness or excuses.

I look forward to seeing who will step up and take the challenge that this season presents. Come out and show me, your peers and your town what you're made of.

The 8 week schedule is coming soon. If you have any questions you are welcome to contact me by phone (215.284.2100) or by email (jsnader at gmail).


-Coach Jeff Snader





"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."
-Vince Lombardi

Coach Announcement

The core has devoted the last five months to countless meetings and interviews looking for the right system, personnel, mission and leadership. We know that there is nothing more vital to the success of this team than its leadership. The core has interviewed players all throughout the area and has assembled as much talent and experience as possible. We wanted to find a leader that could dedicate the time and effort to being this team's coach. We wanted someone who has had success in a coaching or captaining role before with a system that we could believe in. Most of all we wanted someone who inspired us and that we would envision inspiring this team that we've worked so hard on. We have found that man.

The core is proud to announce Jeff Snader as the coach for 2010. For those of you less familiar with Jeff, he brings with him a ton of leadership experience from different arenas, including ultimate, rugby, business and the military. If you're not familiar with Jeff's leadership style, you can rest assured it's different than what you're used to. We believe his style is exactly what we need to build a strong team with a focused mission.

Not only are we proud to announce our new head coach but we are also excited about the supporting cast of Walt Kalicki, Trey Katzenbach (Interim Captain) and J Dono (Interim Captain), who will assist Jeff in leading this team through the tryout period. This combined leadership has the experience, skill, determination and winning record that are second to none.

April 10th is our first try-out. This is a huge opportunity that may not come around again in your ultimate career. Come out and show everyone what you're made of.

The Core,
Dusty, Jon, Reuben, Chris, B-Lo, Tom, and Trey

Meeting Minutes - 21 February 2010

We met at Delancey Bagel near Edgely this past Sunday. In attendance: Reuben, Dusty, Chris, Trey, Tom, Jon, B-Lo, and special guest Jeff Snader. Strangely enough, there was one electrical outlet in the whole seating area so i couldn't plug my laptop in to take notes. Here's what happened as best i can remember.

A few of us have discussed with Jeff the possibility of him coaching, but this was the first time we as an entire core spoke with him.

The primary concern for the core was not so much whether having a coach would be a good idea - we are all in agreement that the right coach would be a huge help - the question is whether Jeff Snader is that guy. For myself, i would break that concern down to two questions:

• Does Jeff have the strategic/tactical wisdom to guide a national level contender in the open division?


• Would bringing in Jeff to a scenario where we're looking to bring in players from 5+ teams - a process that some people are already skeptical about - be too crazy and alienate tryouts?


• I should probably say that most of us are confident in Jeff's general management/people/communication skills.

We discussed Jeff's vision for leadership involving him as headcoach with a possible assistant coach and offensive/defensive field captains. Jeff gave us a sense of how he'd use the collective experience of the team while still being the final word and avoiding the all too common "too many cooks in the kitchen" problem.

The core is looking to come to a decision on whether to bring on Jeff as a coach before we meet with the SC on 7 March.

After Jeff left, the core continued to discuss. One suggestion was to use a model some of us had used before where the leadership was supported by a braintrust of experienced players who discussed issues (e.g. practice agenda, schedule, strategy, etc) on an online forum, but communication with the team was left to the leadership.

Other topics of discussion included:

• SC dynamics: We're looking at a core of 3 people: Trey Katzenbach, Walt Kalicki, and J Dono who have voting power over personnel. If we go with Jeff Snader as a coach, he'd have final say on roster decisions. That group would be assisted by 4 additional "scouts": Dusty Rhodes, Tom Pribicko, B-Lo, and Steve Wherry. The scouts would not have voting power but would provide insights and help facilitate tryouts.
• Schedule: We're debating the merits of going to Henlopen. We're also looking at attending Ring's invitational. We're also waiting on definitive dates for ME College Regionals, CUT, and Boston Invite.
• Jeff George has expressed interest in coaching the second team.

Meeting Agenda - 7 March 2010

For this meeting, we've invited all the potential selection committee members to join the core. The SC candidates are Walt Kalicki, Joel Wooten, Steve Wherry, Jeff George, Tom Carroll, J Dono, Curtis Maier, Brendan Smith, and Jeff Snader.

Topics of conversation include (but are most certainly not limited to):

• Dynamic - our plan is to have a small selection committee with voting power over roster decisions. This group will be supported by a group of scouts who will assist with evaluating, stat taking, running drills, etc. Based on availability and relationships to the Philly ultimate community, our current plan is to have Trey, J, and Walt as the voting members of the SC. The support group would be Dusty, TomP, B-Lo, and Steve. If we bring on Snader as coach, he would oversee the process and have final say on roster decisions. Jeff George has expressed interest in coaching the second team.


• Evaluation criteria - we'll discuss what we're looking for in players, how we're gonna track and share metrics and subjective evalutations, what information we need to have (scheduling conflicts, plans to move, etc).


• Schedule/Itinerary- As spring draws closer, we are honing in on a finalized schedule. We'll be discussing what we'll be looking to accomplish with each weekend with an eye on providing ample opportunity to evaluate everyone while developing strategic foundations for the fall.


• Feedback model - we're very concerned with providing extensive feedback to tryouts through the tryout process. We'll be discussing how to structure feedback into the schedule.


• Second Team - We'll be discussing how to manage tryouts/practices for one will start as one team and eventually become two.


• College Players - How will we accomodate tryouts playing the college series?

Meeting Agenda - 21 February 2010

We're meeting tomorrow to discuss the possibility of having a coach help lead this team. More specifically, we'll be meeting with Jeff Snader to talk about his possible involvement. I'm sure some of you do not know Jeff or don't know him well, so if you have any questions/concerns, please pass them along.

As was discussed at the last core meeting, we see leadership as a big issue. We're sure everyone is as concerned with making sure the right leadership (and/or the right process to establish leadership) is in place to guide the team.

As with any team, we are looking to create a leadership model that can pull from our multiple experiences and maximize all our resources while maintaining a unity of message. Leadership needs to encompass management, communication, organization, administration, strategy, tactics, etc. We simply want to address them more overtly considering how large this group is and how many teams we come from.

Thank you to everyone who's sent us thoughts about leadership, captain, coaches, etc. Keep the thoughts coming.

Other topics we're gonna try deal with involve scheduling:

• SC meeting scheduled for the next 2 weeks.
• tournament logistics: fools, henlopen, bellcrack (home tournament), boston invite.

Mission Statement

As promised awhile back, we've got a working mission statement:

The leadership from Pike, Love, and Roots are teaming up with men from Hooray, Amp and elsewhere to bring together the best talent the area has to offer with the express goal of raising Philly open ultimate to the top echelon of our sport. While we understand that every team develops it own identity as the season progresses, we will strive to play under the following core beliefs. We are looking for players that value chemistry and commitment to excellence as much as talent and athleticism. We are looking to build a sustainable team that is able to represent the Philadelphia community and ultimate as a whole respectfully. We will work hard, play smart, have fun and always put the team first. We recognize that the journey towards excellence is what makes men into champions.

Meeting Minutes - 31 January 2010

So we're back after the holidays! We met again at the gracious Finks'. In attendance: Jon, Chris, Reuben, B-Lo, Dusty, and Tom (via conference call). Absent: Trey.

Fools Fest: Again, this is not an official event, but we're gonna try send a group of locals to haev some fun and play some disc. Tom is gonna submit a bid. We've even come up with a spectacular idea for the team's theme... but i'm gonna keep you all in suspense until the bid's submitted and accepted. We've gotten a good response so far, so we're gonna cap the roster at 21 people. Still email me (B-Lo) if you're interested, and i'll put you on the waiting list. It's likely we'll have a few people splitting duty on multiple teams.

Selection Committee: All 11 candidates have been contacted and all expressed interest along with a desire for more details. We discussed important determining factors in picking the final SC such as availability, dynamic, representation, objectivity, ultimate intelligence, etc. Our plan is to have the core meet with the SC candidates on 21 February to hash out the tryout process and discuss roles.

Leadership: Pardon the obvious, but considering the nature of this venture, strong leadership is critical to our success. The core members don't want to presume they are the best people to lead the team beyond June. At the same time, we want to avoid a clumsy leadership transition from spring to fall. Nothing has been decided, but we're discussing different models of leadership including: single captain, co-captains, junta, coach w/ field captains, coach w/ junta, etc. Please feel free to share your opinions with the core.

Schedule: The schedule has been updated to reflect the most current intelligence we have. Keep in mind that there's still plenty that's not set in stone. If you expect to have difficulty making events, then you must let a core member know as soon as possible.

Second Team: We need to have a game plan to ensure a second team exists and is supported. In our meeting with the SC, we will discuss how to coordinate/manage practices/tryouts. The core will assume responsibility for submitting bids to tournaments for a 1st and 2nd team for the time being.

Other random things that came up: It was proposed that we hold a town hall style meeting for people to come ask the core questions and pick our brains.

Meeting Agenda - 31 January 2010

Here's a list of things we're gonna discuss at this weekend's meeting.

• Schedule: Henlopen and ME Regionals have announced dates. Bell Crack seems to be honing in on a date too.
• Coordinate with PADA for Bell Crack.
• Organize a team for Fools.
• Move ahead with SC selection. Candidates have been contacted. We need to hash out roles and dynamic.
• Discuss leadership during spring and transition in summer.
• Get out mission statement.
• Fix core googlegroup.
• Coordinate off-season training.

This is all very general, but again, if you have something to share, contact a core member.