Pablo, I'm not saying we need a piece by piece analysis of the GB vs Austria game though I believe a more detailed objective account should be provided by someone so that the facts are clear and the game doesn't become the stuff of ill-informed legend. There were many factors to the game and having spoken to some of the players afterwards their side of the story needs to be heard.
Regardless of the reasons and causes the GB vs Austria game turned into an mess. It was bad for the players, bad for the coaches, bad for the two countries involved, bad for the people who watched, bad for the tournament, and perhaps most importantly horrific for the game of Ultimate itself. Thankfully games like that are very very rare but if we can't discuss them, and learn from them, then we can't guarantee it's not going to happen again. Let's say you're in a high pressure game (international, tour, indoor, it doesn't matter) and you go up for, and get, a D, the offensive player calls a foul, in the heat of the moment you spike your hat and yell that it wasn't a foul. Is this :- A. A perfectly reasonable way to express your passion and frustration at what you perceive to be a poor call B. An unacceptable display of on pitch conduct This sort of occurrence was on display all around EUC, yet I don't know whether the correct answer is A or B, or even if there should be a correct answer or who should supply it, I also don't know what Nick and the Juniors make of it, or the rest of the UK Ultimate community. I don't ever want to have to witness scenes like those in the GB Austria game again and I'm keen to see us as a community come to a consensus about what's reasonable and what isn't so that young players coming into the game know when they've crossed the line. Currently the line is so blurred that it's only obvious you've crossed it when things blow up. I'd rather that good conduct be a little more defined than it is currently. I'd never seen a disc spiked until five years ago, now it happens all the time, is this OK? At what point does it become offensive or antagonistic? Motivational obscenities are also far more prevalent than they were 5 years ago when you rarely heard a four letter word on pitch. Is this OK? I don't profess to have the answers. The fact that impetus for the discussion came from a game at the otherwise brilliant EUC 2007 is probably irrelevant. The discussion is still a good idea. Cheers Tom Styles Flyght Club On 08/08/2007, Russell Parr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Whilst I Iargely agree with you, Tom, I'm inclined to think that in this > instance perhaps it isn't in the best interest to have a "full and frank > debate by the UK Ultimate community". A number of reasons for this: > > 1) The vast majority of the UK Ultimate community wasn't present to witness > the events as they unfolded; > > 2) I'm not sure it's particularly constructive to invite the Ultimate > community at large to offer their posthumous, much considered judgments on > decisions made in the heat of the moment by a young player or players in a > more pressured, higher level game than most of us will ever be dedicated or > talented enough to participate in; > > 3) Although I don't know Nick Sampson personally, I've no doubt whatsoever > that your opinion of him is correct, and therefore the best way for everyone > concerned to learn and move on in the most productive way is almost > certainly for Nick and his team to follow their own, internal course of > discussion / action / whatever, and it's for Nick to decide whether he wants > further input, and if so from whom. Discussion on Britdisc will only make > his job harder. > > Knowing what Britdisc is like, if we're not careful then the only points > that get discussed at any length from the Euros will be the negative ones, > and it would be a crying shame if a brilliantly organised tournament that > saw outstanding performances and results from all of our representative > teams ended up being remembered by anyone for website issues or kangaroo > courts. > > On a final note, the thoughts above are mine and my own, but I'm sure I > speak on behalf of all of my teammates in congratulating all of our players > and the tournament staff who made it such a cracking tournament, props to > you all. > > Pablo > -- 3 -- > Flaming Galahs > > > On 8/8/07, Tom Styles <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: > > > > Dear Alternative Voice, > > > > Whilst I welcome follow players sending out information to the > > Ultimate community particularly of this high standard, it must said > > that it it the lowest form of journalistic cowardice to hide behind > > anonymity while openly criticising one the UKU's most passionate > > volunteers, Nick Sampson GB juniors coach. > > > > You have articulated your point clearly and you are perfectly entitled > > to your opinion, but only if you write your name at the bottom of your > > email. > > > > The incident involving the GB Juniors and the Austrian team is worthy > > of a full and frank debate by the UK ultimate community, it raises key > > questions about conduct, responsibility of players and coaches, and of > > course spirit. These are important issues. If you have something to > > say as part of that debate then say it, but don't hide behind frosted > > glass. > > > > Get some bottle, tell us who you are, and get credit for the good work > > you've done.. > > > > Yours > > Tom Styles (Original Voice) > > > > __________________________________________________ > > BritDisc mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.fysh.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/britdisc > > Staying informed - > http://www.ukultimate.com/staying-informed > > > > __________________________________________________ BritDisc mailing list [email protected] http://www.fysh.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/britdisc Staying informed - http://www.ukultimate.com/staying-informed
