Youth Ultimate in Tasmania

Introduction

Youth ultimate (players under 19 years of age) has had somewhat limited targeted promotion in the Tasmanian Ultimate Association to date although youth players have been playing in senior competitions in Tasmania ever since the TUA started, with some notable youth based teams playing in the TUA leagues and players as young as 12 playing in the Two-Hat.

Two of Tasmania's youngest players, Alice and Ollie, playing in Two-Hat IX in 2007.

At a national level, youth players have also played for the Tassie Tiggers, the senior open team from Tasmania that plays the Australian Ultimate Championships. Ashley Button (2005 at Nationals) and Michael Dunne (2006 at Regionals) both received TUA grant funds to help them play for the Tiggers. Eliza Burke-Polden, Michael Dunne and Steve Wright also received TUA grant fund to help them attend the 2008 National Junior Training camp.

At an international level, there have been Australian male and female under 19 teams at Ultimate World Championships in 2004 and 2006. Tasmania's Ashley Button has the honour of being the first Tasmanian Ultimate player to represent Australia in Ultimate at an international level, with his selection to the 2006 Australian U19 Open Team, Thunder which finished in 4th place. Ash provided a report on his experience at Worlds 2006.

One of Tasmania's most experienced junior players, Ashley Button, at Two-Hat IX.

Ashley Button also featured on an ABC TV Stateline story, before going to Boston for Worlds.

In 2008, Ashley Button was again selected to represent Australia on the 2008 Australian U19 Open team, along with Michael Dunne and Eliza Burke-Polden who was selected on the Australian U19 women's team. The U19 Open team finished 6th and the U19 women's team finished second and won the spirit prize. Talk to Ash, Michael or Eliza if you want to know what it is like playing for Australia.

Gala Day

In other Australian states, High School Gala Days featuring a mini-tournament with high school students have become a regular part of the ultimate calendar. The first Tasmanian Gala Day featuring High School students was held on Friday November 23, 2007 at Wentworth Park.

This Gala Day was organised by Tania King, with assistance from the TUA youth co-ordinator, Joe Boyer. If you want more information about the Gala Day, check out this flyer.

Unfortunately the Gala Day was unable to be held in 2008.

2007 Gala Day Results

Results for the Tasmanian Gala Day for Ultimate Frisbee - Friday 23rd November, 2007.

Girls

The winning team in the girl's division was Rosetta High School.

Boys

The winning team in the boy's division was Clarence High School.

Around 60 students from 5 different High Schools attended the Gala Day (includes the lone student who came from Taroona High School). Thanks to the following teachers for assistance with this Gala Day:
Leesa Pettit (Rosetta High); Colleen Walker (Geilston Bay High); Neil Winter and Phil Hortle (Clarence High); Jane Brooks and Anne Allanby (Ogilvie).

National Juniors Training Camp

There was be a National Juniors Training Camp held in Melbourne in early January 2008. This camp was open to anyone aged between 13 and 19, and developed players of all skill levels within this age range. It was also the beginning of the selection process for the Australian Youth Team, which will attend the 2008 World Ultimate Championships, although players who had no wish to represent Australia could still attend the camp, and were guaranteed to get something out of it.

The camp ran from Monday 7th January to Sunday 14th January, and was attended by Ashley Button, Michael Dunne, Eliza Burke-Polden, Stev Wright and Tim Stoneman.

In January 2009 a second National Juniors Training Camp was held in Ballarat, attended by Steve Wright and Tim Stoneman.

Youth Development Grant Recipients

The TUA has supported a number of promising Tasmanian youth players to attend interstate and international events. The following table summarises the recipient of TUA Youth Development Grants awarded to date.