(Jan. 29, 2015) While it’s not our biggest or most popular achievement, Ultimate Frisbee is an American sport and as it gains popularity, Americans are in increasing demand to coach, mentor and play.
Before the advent of plastic discs, a similar game was played on college campuses as early as 1942, but Wikipedia credits the advent of the modern sport around 1965. Today, there are two organizations, Major League Ultimate and the American Ultimate Disc League offering hopefuls the chance to play their sport professionally. The AUDL, entering its fourth year, is the home to the DC Breeze, which is where West Ocean City resident Alex “AJ” Jacoski plays, and this year, coaches.
“I’ve worked with Morrill Performance and led clinics before I got my Functional Strength Coaching certification from Mike Boyle, who trains the Boston Bruins and the Red Sox,” Jacoski said.
This certification qualified Jacoski for his new role with the DC Breeze as strength coach. To achieve the certification, Jacoski passed both written and performance tests, where he had to understand and demonstrate specific techniques to become certified in them.
Earlier this week, Jacoski joined Morrill Performance in Boracay, Philippines to train pro Frisbee team Boracay Dragons, ranked No. 2 in the world, before heading to the World Championships in Dubai, UAE with the team.
“We’ll be the athletic trainers and also practicing with them. We’ll be teaching a bit, too. Americans have been playing the longest so we’re the most knowledgeable,” Jacoski said.
When he returns in March, Jacoski said he will head Ocean City’s pickup league once again. The pickup league plays at the Berlin Athletic Fields near Worcester Prep, off Route 113 in Berlin, on Monday nights. This league is free. In June, Jacoski will restart Ocean City Beach Ultimate, played on the sands near the Boardwalk, culminating in the Ocean City Beach Classic tournament in August.
A fall league played under the lights in Berlin will follow the summer leagues.
“The Ultimate community here is really following the course of other places. Older players return and newer players join every year. We’ve had people from high school playing against people in their 40s. New people start every season,” he said.
During all this, he will be playing for the DC Breeze, and anyone can join him.
“I like that this league is so new and so small it can still have public tryouts. We get a lot of college kids out to learn high-level ideas. Some are even prospective players. It’s very exciting to me,” Jacoski said.
Tryouts have been scheduled for 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 22 and Sunday, March 1 at the Capital Sportsplex in Glenn Dale, Md.
Before the advent of plastic discs, a similar game was played on college campuses as early as 1942, but Wikipedia credits the advent of the modern sport around 1965. Today, there are two organizations, Major League Ultimate and the American Ultimate Disc League offering hopefuls the chance to play their sport professionally. The AUDL, entering its fourth year, is the home to the DC Breeze, which is where West Ocean City resident Alex “AJ” Jacoski plays, and this year, coaches.
“I’ve worked with Morrill Performance and led clinics before I got my Functional Strength Coaching certification from Mike Boyle, who trains the Boston Bruins and the Red Sox,” Jacoski said.
This certification qualified Jacoski for his new role with the DC Breeze as strength coach. To achieve the certification, Jacoski passed both written and performance tests, where he had to understand and demonstrate specific techniques to become certified in them.
Earlier this week, Jacoski joined Morrill Performance in Boracay, Philippines to train pro Frisbee team Boracay Dragons, ranked No. 2 in the world, before heading to the World Championships in Dubai, UAE with the team.
“We’ll be the athletic trainers and also practicing with them. We’ll be teaching a bit, too. Americans have been playing the longest so we’re the most knowledgeable,” Jacoski said.
When he returns in March, Jacoski said he will head Ocean City’s pickup league once again. The pickup league plays at the Berlin Athletic Fields near Worcester Prep, off Route 113 in Berlin, on Monday nights. This league is free. In June, Jacoski will restart Ocean City Beach Ultimate, played on the sands near the Boardwalk, culminating in the Ocean City Beach Classic tournament in August.
A fall league played under the lights in Berlin will follow the summer leagues.
“The Ultimate community here is really following the course of other places. Older players return and newer players join every year. We’ve had people from high school playing against people in their 40s. New people start every season,” he said.
During all this, he will be playing for the DC Breeze, and anyone can join him.
“I like that this league is so new and so small it can still have public tryouts. We get a lot of college kids out to learn high-level ideas. Some are even prospective players. It’s very exciting to me,” Jacoski said.
Tryouts have been scheduled for 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 22 and Sunday, March 1 at the Capital Sportsplex in Glenn Dale, Md.