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Subject: Re: Discussion on World Ultimate
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 98 15:30:49 +0100
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From: Paul Hurt <paul@ultimatum.demon.co.uk>
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>1 - Identify the players that have the dedication to - and would like to
>-play for GB.
>2 - Identify which of these players can afford to play for GB (AFAIK there
>are no subsidies at the moment please correct me if I am wrong.)
>3 - Select 2 teams an A team and a B team, forming 1 squad.
>4 - Train as many weekends as possible, (midweek can be difficult)
>5 - During tournament season take the GB team as a club to European
>tournaments (inc. British Open).  Of the top of my head I think that this
>could be about 1 every 6 weeks from end of Feb to end of Oct.  This club
>team would be formed as a subset of A+B, as there will indoubtedly be other
>commitments, injury etc.
>6 - Play friendlies against other top teams in the country (e.g let us
>assume that UTI and Catch form the basis of the GB team: Play against
>Druids, Chevvy etc.) on a regular basis.

Isn't this pretty much how it's supposed to work already? The problem 
seems to be that because GB cannot compete in the Tour, their 
opportunities for playing together in a competitive environment 
throughout the year are limited.

As I understand it, the suggestion that has been mooted by some players 
is that they could form a "super-club" of players that largely all live 
locally (probably London), train together during the week, AND compete in 
the Tour as a club team (as well as elsewhere in Europe).

When Worlds selection came 'round, then the presumption is that most if 
not all of the players on that team would get selected for GB (though of 
course with the current selection procedure, no-one can guarantee this).

We then have a "club" team which forms the core of the GB squad.

You obviously can't stop a bunch of players deciding to do this. How 
popular a move this would be is the question. It might be unpopular if it 
was found that this "super-team" walked the Tour and Nationals (but 
that's not necessarily a given - there's lots of very good players on 
very good teams out there these days. How many people just "assumed" UTI 
would win Nationals?). It could also be unpopular with players who might 
be playing on that team but for their geographical location.

But in terms of competing better at Worlds or Europeans, I can see how 
this might (would) be beneficial. But only if pretty much everyone on 
that team got selected. The situation would certainly put the selector in 
a difficult position.

Alternatively, as Colin suggested, just change the bloomin' GB selection 
procedure. Send the top club team (however you decide who they are) and 
let them select whoever else they want to take to Worlds. Certainly a lot 
less grief and hassle than the current selection procedure! But might not 
be so beneficial for domestic Ultimate perhaps.

Paul


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Paul Hurt
Editor, Ultimatum Magazine, London, England
editor@ultimatum.demon.co.uk

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