Poll: How Were You First Introduced to Freestyle Frisbee

First Time Seeing Freestyle Frisbee

The feeling of seeing Freestyle Frisbee for the First Time, unless you’re a 10 year old version of Jake.

I remember the first time I saw Freestyle Frisbee. I was 10. It was school assembly day. No class, yes! Why are we outside? Oh, so these guys can show us some frisbee tricks. What are those things on their nails? I’ll never be caught dead with those on.

Though I didn’t instantly connect with it, from then on I knew what Freestyle Frisbee was. The next time I saw it, nearly 10 years later, I had context for what was going on, which made it seem approachable.

It’s impossible to become a Freestyle Frisbee player without being introduced to it in some way. So, let’s find out what has been the most effective method of introduction so far.

How were you first introduced to Freestyle Frisbee?

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Please share your stories in the comments below.

Hoop Factory

Lisa HoopJamming is the art of spontaneous play with the disc and with friends. It connects people with a common purpose while bringing them fully into the moment. It seems like a place where rules should not exist. Yet some of my favorite jams, jams where I learned the most have had limits artificially set on them.

One such jam, I like to call Hoop Factory. It was beach weekend and there were at least 10 of us on the sand. As we walked to our spot on the beach we could feel that the wind was perfect. It was going to be a good day. Someone grabbed a disc and a few of us began to warm up. A little speed flow, a few hoops, lights Zzzs. Then someone said, “let’s make a rule that we can’t catch it until it’s been hooped at least three times.” “Sure, that sounds fun,” was my reply.

It started innocently. Hoop the throw, hoop a set, hoop to a catch. Nothing complicated. It was almost like running in sand, everything was labored. As people joined the jam, they were informed of the rules. Wait, do leg overs count? SURE!

Lori HoopSoon the whole crew was on one disc and things were beginning to flow. It no longer felt forced. Instead everyone was moving and finding hoops we didn’t know were possible. 3 people would hoop one pass. People would hoop other people’s self sets. People got closer together. Sets where higher and longer. All 10+ of us on one disc, and it never felt slow.

At one point there was a high roll across set coming to me. As I targeted the disc a 5 person hoop tunnel formed. I could see the disc clearly through the tunnel, still not yet entering. I lined up for a phlaud and watched the disc float through the tunnel, into my hand.

Jake Leg OverEventually the game dissipated, the jam split into a few groups and the day went on. But wow, what a game. My hooping skills went up multiple levels that day. I now see hoop opportunities constantly. I highly encourage you to implement Hoop Factory in one of your jams.

Of course, Hoop Factory is just one idea. There certainly can be many more. Maybe only use one spin. Maybe ban the nail delay. A one touch rule? A small disc? A big disc? 2 discs anyone? I’ve tried all these and more and every time I learn something new and have fun in the process.

Any one else have any jam rules you’ve implemented? I’d love to hear about it.

Watch Frisbeer Cup 2017 Live

Frisbeer Cup 2017

The Frisbeer Cup Team, Ryan Young, and Heinsville are teaming up to bring you Frisbeer Cup 2017 Live. Frisbeer Cup has been running for over a decade and attracts the best talent in Freestyle Frisbee. Fans are sure to be delighted by the level of hein this event will bring. There are also some notable features of this particular live stream.

MystiqFirst, I am not able to attend the event. Mystiq has has stepped up to produce the stream. At past events he has volunteered to learn from and fill in for me. Now he has built a formidable kit that will produce the pro level quality you are accustomed to watching. This is great news for Freestyle Frisbee; more producers means more quality live streamed events.

Ryan's TabletSecond, Ryan Young is bringing his tablet based electronic judging system. This promises to speed time between teams and rounds, and is integrated with the live stream. Team names will be automatically added into the stream, taking the burden off Mystiq. The most exciting part is that scores will be shown on the stream as they happen. Preliminary results will be available almost immediately.

Jake writes codeThird, all this has freed me up to do something I’ve wanted to try for a long time. That is for Heinsville to take over the live stream distribution. That means no more uStream or Youtube. The advantage here is that anyone who wants to stream their event can use the service, streams can be syndicated (sent to other channels like the olympic sports web site), and can be further produced offsite. For example commentators do not have to be physically at the event to speak into the stream.

But my favorite part is that this enables Frisbeer to be commercial free. That’s right, no more commercials cutting in during a routine.

Note that stream distribution does cost Heinsville money. Fortunately I have driven out as much of the cost as possible by writing my own software. If Frisbeer is successful I will be working out exactly how to make it financially viable. If you would be willing to donate and/or pay to watch commercial free, professional quality Freestyle Frisbee live streams, please let me know. Also, if you’re planning to stream an event, contact me for details on using the service.

Click here to watch the stream.

Episode 2 – It all Went Terribly Wrong

Ryan Young

  • Hear how things went awry with Ryan Young’s first international trip.
  • Learn what NOT to wear when traveling to Prague in the middle of winter.
  • Find out about the valuable orange skystyler that was almost lost.
  • Does Frisbeer sound fun? It is! Its happening again this year.

Poll: Audience size at Competitions

Average Live Stream viewers: 67

Freestyle Frisbee competitions rarely have a large audience and they usually consist of friends and family. Responses to our podcast interview with the Beast have left me wondering how people feel about that. This Poll asks a simple question: Are you satisfied with the number of audience members at Freestyle Frisbee Competitions?

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Voting is anonymous. If you’d like to share why you voted the way you did, please leave a note in the comments.

Lori Explains How to Catch a Bad Attitude

Lori Daniels explains how to catch a bad attitude. It’s unique body position requires a level of flexibility and strength that keep many players from trying it. When executed well, it can be quite beautiful and graceful or explosive.

To perform a Bad Attitude, think of doing a quad stretch. Bend your knee so your foot comes towards your bottom. Then grab your ankle. The difference for the bad attitude is that you grab the inside of your ankle. Well, you don’t grab it at all, you reach around it to catch the frisbee. To open the window for the catch, bend at the hip on your planted foot, and squeeze your side, glute, and quad muscles on the elevated leg side. This will help you lift your hand as high as possible. The higher your hand, the bigger the window and the prettier the catch looks.

Episode 1 – The Beast Shares His Wisdom

The BeastJake & Randy shoot the Frizbreeze with Steve Hays, AKA, the Beast.

  • The Beast shares his thoughts on making Freestyle more audience friendly.
  • He also adds a historical perspective on the topic; after all, he has been playing since 1977.
  • What parallels can be made to other sports that might move this discussion forward?
  • Also, find out some fun facts that surprise them all.
  • Click to learn out how to do a “Bad Attitude” discussed during the podcast.

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How to Catch a Triple Fake

In this brief video I demonstrate how to catch a triple fake. It’s a nice alternative to under the leg or behind the back for a disc that is in the waist zone. As a blind catch, it can be more difficult than it looks. But with practice, it looks quite graceful.

To execute, do a self set or have someone throw to you. Watch the disc. Reach across your stomach and around towards your back. As you reach, spin your body around to propel your hand towards the disc. Keep you eye on it as long as possible. As you begin to lose sight snap your body around faster and make the grab.

Bonus points for if you can throw left and catch right, the throw right and catch left.

Anyone know why this catch is called a triple fake?

The Self Set Throw – How to Practice Catching

Ryan Young teaches how to throw to yourself so you have the perfect set for practicing a trick catch. By using this throw, you will put the disc into the air with the perfect nose and enough spin to keep it stable. Thus you can practice any catch and spins as well.

As always, start by facing the wind. Grip the disc with a backhand grip at 3 o’clock (or 9 for counter). Now lift your arm and pivot your hand towards 6 o’clock. As your hand pivots, let the disc roll in your fingers so that it moves away from your palm. This is what generates the spin. As your hand gets to 6, release the disc into the air. The goal is to have about a 45 degree angle. The disc should float gently up and then back down and slide slightly towards you as it falls. Now you can make a trick catch.

I like to call this throw a luff, in reference to a sailing ship being steered into the wind so that the sails just begin to flap. Since the goal of this throw is to be a perfect set, you want perfect wind position and only enough spin to keep the disc stable, but no more. This throw is a necessity for catch mastery and can be used as a close up speed flow pass to a friend.