The Road to London
In September of 2014, 216 players from around the country tried out for the U23 ultimate Frisbee team representing Team Canada at worlds in London 2015. In November the 76 best players were chosen, and started preparing to represent their country on the world stage.
The head coach of the open team, Patrick Mooney, gave an interview about what the journey has been like for the coaches and the team. “The journey towards gold in London began around a year ago with the selection of the head coaches. This was followed by the Ultimate Canada U23 ID camps that took place in Ottawa and Vancouver, after which the assistant coaches were selected.”
“Tryouts occurred in the late fall in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. After the initial player selection process was completed the group was brought to Las Vegas as One TC for the final team selections. Since that time each team has gone their separate ways but has remained dedicated to the One TC concept. This involved training together throughout the winter and spring, group fundraisers and supporting each other during our separate journeys” said Mooney.
As each team continued training, they were split into fitness pods based on the cities they lived in. The pods created a way to keep the open, women’s and mixed teams together, and focused on One TC. Coaches also gave positive and constructive feedback after training camps and tournaments, which allowed the players to create goals and train specifically for what the team needed most.
For players like Jaret Meron and Helen Thompson, both at their third world championships with Team Canada, winning gold in London would mean a lot, but the friendships they have made will last a lifetime.
“For me, winning a gold medal would be the ultimate accomplishment as a team and an incredible reward for all the hard work and dedication that we have put in as a team and as individuals over the last 10 months dating back to tryouts. At the end of the day, the colour of a medal hanging around my neck will not define my experience with my TC family. The friendships and camaraderie that we have developed as members of Team Canada mean more to me than any medal ever could, but I couldn’t think of a better way to end this chapter of TC2015 than with gold” Meron said, when asked what winning gold at worlds this summer would mean to him.
Thompson exclaimed “Everything!” then continued to say, “Especially with the team I am on right now. Our team has really become a family – it’s one of the closest teams I’ve ever been on. Whether or not we win, whatever we accomplish together as a team will be incredible.”
Mooney believes that Canada will face struggles at worlds if they hope to win the gold medal on July 18th, “I believe there are two major hurdles we must overcome at worlds if we hope to win gold. One is that we need to realize that other teams from across the world are elevating their games, and therefore the road to gold will not be easy.”
“No longer is worlds just a tournament with a few strong contenders. Almost every team at worlds has the capacity to play elite ultimate and therefore winning gold in 2015 is going to take a higher level of effort and focus than ever before. Secondly, I think we need to stop being content just to be competitive and we need to truly believe in our selves, our teammates and all the hard work we put in preparing for this event if we truly want to win gold instead of settling for silver or bronze.”
Team Canada has worked tirelessly over the last 10 months, and in doing so have put themselves in the best possible position to come home with a gold medal at the end of the world championships in London next week.
With the support given by the coaches, and the camaraderie built up between teammates, Canada stands strong and ready to face the best teams from around the world.
The head coach of the open team, Patrick Mooney, gave an interview about what the journey has been like for the coaches and the team. “The journey towards gold in London began around a year ago with the selection of the head coaches. This was followed by the Ultimate Canada U23 ID camps that took place in Ottawa and Vancouver, after which the assistant coaches were selected.”
“Tryouts occurred in the late fall in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. After the initial player selection process was completed the group was brought to Las Vegas as One TC for the final team selections. Since that time each team has gone their separate ways but has remained dedicated to the One TC concept. This involved training together throughout the winter and spring, group fundraisers and supporting each other during our separate journeys” said Mooney.
As each team continued training, they were split into fitness pods based on the cities they lived in. The pods created a way to keep the open, women’s and mixed teams together, and focused on One TC. Coaches also gave positive and constructive feedback after training camps and tournaments, which allowed the players to create goals and train specifically for what the team needed most.
For players like Jaret Meron and Helen Thompson, both at their third world championships with Team Canada, winning gold in London would mean a lot, but the friendships they have made will last a lifetime.
“For me, winning a gold medal would be the ultimate accomplishment as a team and an incredible reward for all the hard work and dedication that we have put in as a team and as individuals over the last 10 months dating back to tryouts. At the end of the day, the colour of a medal hanging around my neck will not define my experience with my TC family. The friendships and camaraderie that we have developed as members of Team Canada mean more to me than any medal ever could, but I couldn’t think of a better way to end this chapter of TC2015 than with gold” Meron said, when asked what winning gold at worlds this summer would mean to him.
Thompson exclaimed “Everything!” then continued to say, “Especially with the team I am on right now. Our team has really become a family – it’s one of the closest teams I’ve ever been on. Whether or not we win, whatever we accomplish together as a team will be incredible.”
Mooney believes that Canada will face struggles at worlds if they hope to win the gold medal on July 18th, “I believe there are two major hurdles we must overcome at worlds if we hope to win gold. One is that we need to realize that other teams from across the world are elevating their games, and therefore the road to gold will not be easy.”
“No longer is worlds just a tournament with a few strong contenders. Almost every team at worlds has the capacity to play elite ultimate and therefore winning gold in 2015 is going to take a higher level of effort and focus than ever before. Secondly, I think we need to stop being content just to be competitive and we need to truly believe in our selves, our teammates and all the hard work we put in preparing for this event if we truly want to win gold instead of settling for silver or bronze.”
Team Canada has worked tirelessly over the last 10 months, and in doing so have put themselves in the best possible position to come home with a gold medal at the end of the world championships in London next week.
With the support given by the coaches, and the camaraderie built up between teammates, Canada stands strong and ready to face the best teams from around the world.
