USA Ultimate

USA Ultimate Announces Head Coaches for 2014 World Junior Ultimate Championships Teams

Boulder, Colo. (July 31, 2013) – Fresh off of a 36-0 record and four gold medals in international competition at the World U-23 Ultimate Championships and World Games this year, the 2014 World Junior Ultimate Championships (WJUC) are next for the U.S. National Teams.

USA Ultimate is pleased to announce the head coaches selected for the U-19 Boys and U-19 Girls 2014 WJUC teams. The coaches were chosen by the USA Ultimate Coaching Committee and USA Ultimate staff and will select the rosters and lead their respective teams up to and through the 2014 WJUC.

Chase Sparling-Beckley (Portland, Ore.) will coach the U-19 Boys team, and Kyle Weisbrod (Seattle, Wash.) will return to coach the U-19 Girls team for a second consecutive time.

		Chase Sparling-Beckley served as an assistant coach for the boys’ squad that won gold at the 2012 WJUC as well as the first-place 2006 U-19 open team. He is one of ultimate’s most accomplished leaders and players. He has coached high school and college teams on both coasts and has no shortage of international playing experience. Sparling-Beckley is an alumni of the 2005 and 2013 U.S. World Games teams. He has won championships at every level: youth, college, club and international. A testament to both his skill and character, Sparling-Beckley was also the recipient of the 2007 Farricker Award.

"It has always been an aspiration of mine to give back to the youth community as a coach in the same way that I was coached as a youth player. The coaching staff looks forward to attempting to fill the absurdly deep shoes of those coaches who have come before us. It is truly an honor to be a part of representing U.S.A. youth ultimate on the world stage and having the opportunity to teach ultimate, in some small part, to the future greats of our game," explains Sparling-Beckley.

		Kyle Weisbrod has made a name for himself in the ultimate community as one of the top coaches in the women’s game and as a constant proponent of youth ultimate. He coached the 2012 WJUC girls’ team to a silver medal in Dublin. He has served as Youth Director for USA Ultimate and as State Youth Coordinator for both Colorado and Georgia. Weisbrod was the head coach of the powerhouse Paideia School girls’ varsity team from 2008-2011, in which time he coached the squad to two Eastern Regional Championships. Most recently, he began coaching Element, the University of Washington women’s team. Element finished tied for fifth place at this year’s College Championships.

"The U.S. U-19 teams represent the highest display of talent, team and spirit of the youth division in our country. I am very excited for the opportunity and challenge of building a team that showcases the best of U.S. youth ultimate at the international level while having a lasting impact on the sport here at home," said Weisbrod.

The United States began participating in the World Junior Ultimate Championships in 1988 when the youth competition coincided with the World Ultimate and Guts Championships. The first girls’ division championship was held at the 2000 WJUC in Heilbronn, Germany. In the 13 events held since its 1988 inception, the U.S. has participated 11 times and brought home 8 gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze medals. The U.S. boys’ team has won gold in each of the last five WJUCs. Most recently, the United States earned a gold medal in the boys’ division and a silver medal in the girls’ division at the 2012 Championships.

The exact dates and location of the 2014 World Junior Ultimate Championships have not yet been determined. The World Flying Disc Federation will announce additional details as soon as they are available.

Stay tuned to usaultimate.org this fall for more information about player applications.

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