Post 11

A discourse community I am currently involved in is the OU Ultimate Frisbee team. At the beginning of the school year we set several goals for the year including winning Sectionals, never losing to another team in our Region, and making Nationals. Everyone on the team is part of a listserv, so we can communicate outside of practice and notify everyone of upcoming events. If there is a sudden change of plans and it is too late for everyone to check their emails one of the captains will mass text everyone. When playing we use reserved words and have called plays so we can communicate to each other and other teams don’t immediately realize what we are doing. For example, on defense when we are going to run a zone defense we call a force before the point starts and if we want to switch to man defense someone calls "Athens" and everybody forces which ever way we called on the line. Participation is expected from everyone at practice and at tournaments. Even when you are not playing you are expected to talk to your teammates from the sideline.  The team is constantly adapting as the years pass. Three years ago there were only enough players to have one team, but now we have an A team and a B team. Every year some of our best players graduate and leave the team. At the beginning of every year we have tryouts to see who makes the A team, nobody is guaranteed a spot, even players who were on the A team last year. Anyone who doesn’t make the A team is on the B team. Members on the B team focus more on developing fundamental skills and learning the system of the A team. So if they make the A team they are ready to go.