USA Ultimate

In March, the final stage of the USA Ultimate U-20 team try-outs in preparation for the 2012 World Junior Ultimate Championships hosted by WFDF will begin. 160 of the top U-20 athletes were selected from the deepest application pool ever by the US coaching staff to participate in these try-out camps. The first will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, and the second will be held in Burlington, Washington, with the goal of announcing the team in April.

Each try-out camp spans an intense two days, and will be led by national team coaching staffs with support from local coach volunteers. As U-20 Girls’ Head Coach Kyle Weisbrod explains, "We've worked intently to ensure that our try-outs are designed not only to identify the players that will be the best fit for the U-20 team but will also provide every participant with opportunities to develop his or her own skills. All of our assistants are not only top players but tremendous coaches and leaders as well. The less than 6:1 player to coach ratio gives every player ample opportunities to both showcase skills and pick-up new ones."

The process for assembling these teams began in the summer of 2011 as the US Team Coaching Committee reviewed the applications for both head coach positions. Once Kyle Weisbrod and Ben Van Heuvelen (Head Coach U-20 Boys) were selected as coaches, they spent the fall assembling their coaching staffs and traveling to the Youth Club Championships. Along with their staffs, they spent two months reviewing and discussing the player applications and recommendations prior to sending out invitations at the end of January. Coach Weisbrod acknowledged the breadth of this process, "Everyone who participates in the application and try-out process is a part of the US U-20 teams. Their drive and effort pushes the level of play up throughout the country and helps to ensure that the group of players that represent the US is as well prepared as possible when they step on the pitch. Everyone who steps on the try-out field owns a part of the teams' achievement."

Once the team is selected in April, each team will work on coordinating training in anticipation of a one-week camp in August prior to traveling to Dublin, Ireland. It is a long but rewarding process that owes its success to everyone who participates at each level. Many thanks to everyone who has trained, applied, wrote recommendations, and provided feedback thus far. And best of luck to the try-out camp invitees.

USA Ultimate U-20 Boys Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Ben Van Heuvelen
Assistant Coach: Chase Sparling-Beckley
Assistant Coach: George Stubbs

USA Ultimate U-20 Girls’ Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Kyle Weisbrod
Assistant Coach: Jamie Nuwer
Assistant Coach: Leila Tunnell

USA Ultimate U-20 Team Manager: Baker Pratt, Manager of Competition & Athlete Programs (Youth)
 

U-20 Boys’ Try-outs

U-20 Girls’ Try-outs