Sports
The Ultimate Catch: Frisbee in New City
Rockland's Ultimate Frisbee club meets at Clarkstown North High School gaining in popularity.
"It's all fun and games until someone gets a bloody lip," said one member of the Rockland Ultimate Frisbee Meetup.
On a sweltering August evening, no lips were bloodied or even fattened. It was indeed all fun and games for this ultimate Frisbee club.
In April 2009, Joy Haidle moved to Rockland from Oregon and started an ultimate frisbee club. At the first club meeting only four people showed up. Just over a year later, the club has games twice a week at Clarkstown North High School in New City and expects 20 to 30 members at each game.
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If 20 players show up on a given afternoon, the group will play a game of 7 on 7 with substitutes. If they have 25 they will start a second game on the adjacent field.
"We try to accommodate everyone, so depending on how many people show up, that is how many games we will set up," said Haidle.
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The game itself is a great workout, very tiring and therefore very fluid. Players raise their hands when tired and substitutes hustle on to take their place. Soon after, the subs are raising their own hands.
On this particular Wednesday evening there were multiple new faces to the group. From accountants living right here in New City to students from Tarrytown, this group truly makes its newcomers feel welcome. David Nauheim makes the trek from Nassau County, L.I., because of his devotion to the sport.
"I care that much," he said with a smile.
Nine out of the 21 players on the field Wednesday were female and that the group is open to letting anybody participate as long as they're willing to give their best effort.
The club also has an advanced group. If potential is shown at the pick up nights (every Wednesday at 6 and every Sunday at 5) a player may be invited to join the advanced team.
"(The advanced group) takes higher degree of skill and results in a higher caliber game, including plays and strategies," said club organizer Kevin Stohlberg.
If you're looking for exercise, fun, competition, all with a laugh, the Rockland Ultimate Frisbee Meetup will certainly meet expectations.
More information is available on their website.
