Junior league would be Ultimate: organizer
Posted By IAN SHANTZ
Posted 2 months ago
Ultimately, Julianna Lerch would like to see more youngsters picking up the flying disc.
That's the basic reasoning for a new junior Ultimate league Lerch and Diana Davis, her disc-flinging counterpart, are in the midst of forming.
"There are juniors who come out and play with the adult league, but there's no junior league," Lerch said. "What we're trying to do is start a junior league."
Lerch has been playing the sport through the Barrie Ultimate club for the past four years.
Her sons, Dylan and William, tried it out last year, as did Davis' daughter, Bailee.
"They like it," she said, adding her 14-and 15-year-olds played out of one of the club's adult leagues, but she thinks a junior-aged loop would be more fitting.
With the full support of the Barrie club, Lerch will attempt to get the ball rolling on a junior league this winter that will be open to new and experienced players alike.
"It's a really friendly game," the Barrie resident said, adding the sport is a great way to stay active in a competitive, yet welcoming environment.
Ultimate has proved to be a hit among local high schoolers, with the provincial high school championships taking place in Midhurst for the past few years.
Lerch and Davis' children play the sport for the Barrie North Vikings at the high school level, but this league will allow them to stay involved outside of school.
Ultimate is a non-contact game combining the athletic endurance of soccer and the aerial passing skills of football. It's played on a field, with a flying disc being the centre of attention.
Junior league participants will be taught how to throw and catch a disc along with the basic rules of the game, which is self-refereed.
Each week, league members will take part in a warm-up, various drills and a scrimmage.
The six-week league begins at the Barrie Sports Dome on Jan. 11, with the action taking place Monday from 6 p. m. to 7 p. m. The cost to register is $50 before Dec. 1, or $60 after that.
For more information, or to register, visit www.barrieultimate.com.
ishantz@thebarrieexaminer.com
