BD, UU, I will be player-managering the GB Open team for the upcoming World Beach Championships. I am now seeking applications from players wishing to take part.
The tournament is in Italy in August, officially 21-28th, on the Mediterranean coast between Venice and Trieste. Games actually only run from the 22nd to the 27th. This means, for players planning playing Nationals with their club teams, it is feasible to play both days and then still head to Italy in time if they wish. For more information on the tournament, visit: www.wcbu2011.org APPLICATIONS The UKU has registered an Open team with the tournament directors, but as yet we have no finalised squad. If you would like to be considered for selection for GB Open, please email me an application by Monday 16th May at the latest. In your email, please state: - Name - Nickname - Number of years played - Playing experience, including; (beach experience, teams played for, tournaments played at, captaincies and positions of responsibility, level of play [A tour, B tour, C tour]etc) - Preferred positions (cutter, handler, utility player, O or D, etc) - Any injury issues - Confirmation that you have understood the cost implications of the tournament, and believe you can meet the costs by the payments deadlines (see below) - Any reason not covered by the above questions which you feel makes you more selectable (i.e. are you 8ft tall? can you do the 100m in under 10s?) - Attach a face pic if possible Following previous emails to Britdisc by the UKU, a selection of players of varying of experience have already put themselves forward - I will be contacting them by email directly in the near future. If you do not receive an email and believe you should have done, please contact me. I will be available at Mixed Tour 3 in Cheltenham if anyone would like to discuss things in person, at the UKU AGM and playing for St Albans. SELECTIONS Due to the lateness of this team being formed and the resulting proximity to the deadlines for player registration and payment, I plan to do a selection within the next fortnight directly based on the applications received, ideally by May 20th - please note; no formal trials are expected to take place unless deemed absolutely necessary. I aim to select a team of around 12-14 players that is as competitive and well spirited as possible. Applicants must qualify to play for GB in one of the usual ways. See this link for WFDF's rules on eligibility: http://www.wfdf.org/rules/NTPER_WFDF_Ultimate_Worlds_Events_2007-12-17.pdf Otherwise, there are no restrictions, and I actively encourage anyone who is interested to apply. I am not averse to potentially blooding younger players with development potential. Selection will largely be based on experience and proven ability where possible, with the overall balance of the team (cutter to handler / D to O ratios, etc) taken into account. TRAINING AND PREPARATION PLANS Again, due to time pressures, training and preparation will be limited. I plan to have one training session and attend one beach tournament / have two sessions between now and the end of August. These will be decided based upon the availability of the players selected. More sessions may be added at a later date as required / desired. I intend to supply all players with a fitness plan to work on in the coming months. COST OF THE TOURNAMENT My own rough calculations place the cost of the tournament itself at around £300-350 – there are three payment/registration deadlines for early (May 31st), on time (20th June) and final/late payments (July 15th), each incurring higher fees. This includes player fees, BULA and WFDF fees, a share of the team fee, and full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) on-site accommodation for 7 nights. For more info, see: www.wcbu2011.org/index.php/en/fees-a-deadlines On top of this, players will need to cover transport costs. A quick search shows flights are currently available for around £150-200, though cheaper deals / options may be available. Applicants should not be put off by the price - if anyone feels they may struggle to fund the trip, they should mention this in their application. I will advise and help where possible. Students in particular may well be able to obtain funding from their college or university. Apologies for the long email, but all essential information. I look forward to receiving your applications, and am happy to field any questions from applicants. Tom Howard GB Open player-manager __________________________________________________ BritDisc mailing list [email protected] http://www.fysh.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/britdisc Staying informed - http://www.ukultimate.com/staying-informed
