Interesting Comparisons

Its interesting to try to compare Ultimate to other sports, although its often not easy or even fruitful. Its not easy or fruitful because its an apples and oranges type of comparison etc, so I generally don't really do those conversations (US Ultimate sites seem to be filled with comparisons to professional mainstreams sports, but I disgress).

But I picked up an interesting set of figures today that I thought worth sharing. They don't really say much, but I still found them interesting.

The Queensland Department of Sport and Recreation has a program called GAQAP - the Get Active Queensland Accrediation Program.

The Get Active Queensland Accreditation Program (GAQAP) provides teachers, teacher aides, school sport volunteers, tertiary and senior secondary school students, and community sports members throughout Queensland with FREE training that can ultimately lead to accreditation in coaching, officiating, and sports first aid.

The program, formerly known as the Teacher-Coach Accreditation Program, has attracted more than 9500 participants since its inception in 2002. The program is a key component of the Queensland Government's commitment to getting more Queenslanders involved in sport and active recreation.

The courses get run all over Queensland, and they've recently started offering Ultimate Coaching. People need to register to do the course etc.

Anyway, enough explanation, here's the numbers of people who have currently booked for December courses in Brisbane:

Brisbane North - December 4

AFL Coaching 9
Athletics Coaching 28
Basketball Coaching 18
Cricket Coaching 13
Football Coaching 14
Golf Coaching 11
Hockey Coaching Cancelled
Level 1 Sports Trainer 16
Netball Coaching 13
Rugby League Coaching 21
Softball Coaching 2
Sports First Aid 36
Sports Strapping 11
Swimming Coaching 26
Touch Officiating 9
Ultimate Disc Coaching 13
Volleyball Officiating 17

Brisbane East - December 9

Athletics Advanced Coaching 25
Athletics Officiating 4
Football Officiating 3
Futsal Coaching 13
Gymnastics Coaching 8
Modern Jive Dance 9
Netball Officiating 8
Royal Life Saving 12
Rugby Union Coaching 16
Sports First Aid 32
Sports Power Coaching 8
Sports Strapping 26
Tennis Coaching 13
Touch Coaching 27
Triathlon Coaching 9
Volleyball Coaching 20
Water Polo Coaching 10

Ultimate almost looks mainstream.

Weekend Action II

For the second weekend in a row there's something cool on that people can get down to, have a throw, and show some people what Ultimate is all about (and of course - good timing with new leagues kicking off soon).

I suspect a few spotters from some BPL Clubs will be wanting to head down to sign up some new talent (before they all become Buggers, anyway).

Saturday 25 May 9.00am Mansfield State High (corner Ham and Broaderwater Roads)
Inter-school Open grudge match between Mikey's Marauders (aka Kelvin Grove State High School) vs Spinner's Stranglers (aka Mansfield State High)

Queenslanders (and Byronites) Make Aussie Juniors Squad

Congratulations to Brisbaners Brock Cunliffe and William Larkin, and Byron Bay dudes Issac Stone and Abraham Stone, for their selection on the Australian Open Juniors Squad leading up to the World Championships in Vancouver in August.

Nearly 50 under-19 fellas (plus a horde of supporters) have been down in Melbourne for the last five days participating in the biggest Ultimate youth camp ever. (Tip of the hat to Piers Truter and John McNaughton for getting down there too.)

The Squad will now be training their asses off, before meeting again (in Sydney I think) in March, where the final team for Vancouver will be selected.