If you are a high school student and are interested in trying out for Flywheel in the fall, please email flywheel.info@umich.edu and you can attend one of our practices during the year. We will even hook you up so you can stay with a Flywheeler during your visit to U of M (much better than a hotel!)
Answer: "Frisbee isn't just about tossing a disc. It is much more. It is about textbook offense and tenacious defense. It is about being in shape and being able to keep up with your opponents. It is about learning and applying strategy. It is about forming a bond on and off the field, not just with your teammates, but with your opponents as well. And ultimately (no pun intended) it is about having fun and enjoying the sport."
Question: "I used to play high school sports, but nothing like Ultimate. Will I be able to adjust to such a different sport? Are there certain skills that you need to have in order to succeed?"
Answer: "You need to have a level of competitiveness and a want to do well. The other skills such as reading the disc, knowing how to defend well, and when to apply other strategies comes over time. You have to open your mind to this new sport and allow for yourself to be taught new ideas. Being quick on your feet is always an advantage, but not necessary. Some of the best players are not fast, but their knowledge of the game allows them to compete with the fastest."
Question: "Where do you go on tournaments?"
Answer: "Each year brings about different tournaments. Places that we have traveled to in the past include: California, Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, other places in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Illinois."
Question: "What is the difference between the A team and the B team?"
Answer: "The A team travels to more and further away tournaments. They practice and condition more than the B team. However, both teams are called Flywheel and both have the same jerseys. Additionally, both teams learn and play the same way and are expected to maintain a level of competitiveness."
Question: "So who EXACTLY can play on the team?"
Answer: "Basically anyone can play on the team. As long as you are a college student (undergrad or grad student) and have not used up your five years of college eligibility with USA Ultimate (if you don't know what that means, then you are okay). You have to be competitive and have the will to succeed. Additionally, being hardworking is very beneficial. However, if you want to play Ultimate, you have to want to have fun. While we work hard, we like to have fun doing it, building relationships with our teammates on and off the field."
Question: "What type of equipment is needed? Are all discs the same?"
Answer: "To play Ultimate, you need a light shirt, dark shirt, water, and preferably cleats. If you don't have cleats, good running shoes will work. All discs are not the same. Besides Ultimate, Disc Golf is another sport that uses discs. These are smaller and lighter discs. The discs that we use are 175 gram and made by Discraft."
Question: "Awesome, this sounds something like I would want to do. How do I get more information?"
Answer: "Emailing flywheel.info@umich.edu will answer more questions for you."
