Ultimate Warm

Friday January 23, 2009
12PM Pick-up game
Mitre Fields, Burlington, MA
Weather: 36 F, Sunny
Field: deep snow
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

Warmest day of the year!

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 147
Total Hours Played: 172

Ultimate Deep

Wednesday January 21, 2009
12PM Pick-up game
Mitre Fields, Burlington, MA
Weather: 25 F, Sunny
Field: deep snow
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

After the back to back snow storms over the weekend, the fields at Mitre had over a foot of soft fresh snow. Great layout conditions but also makes for a good high knees and quad workout!

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 146
Total Hours Played: 171

Ultimate Game

Friday January 16, 2009
12PM Pick-up game
TRW Field, Burlington, MA
Weather: 8 F, Sunny
Field: powdery snow
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

Surprisingly it didn't feel too cold out there today. With basically no wind, bright sun, and soft powdery snow, we had a great 5v5 game.

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 145
Total Hours Played: 170

Ultimate Cold

Wednesday January 14, 2009
12PM Pick-up game
Mitre Fields, Burlington, MA
Weather: 15 F, Sunny, Windy
Field: powdery snow
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

Today's game featured sub zero degree wind chills, twelve total players, and tons of fun. I did land a little funny on my wrist on one layout attempt, though. It feels ok but I'm hoping it doesn't stiffen up (since it is my throwing hand!). I wouldn't want to miss Friday's Arctic Adventure with even colder temperatures forecast!

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 144
Total Hours Played: 169

Ultimate Year

Monday January 12, 2009
12PM Pick-up game
Mitre Fields, Burlington, MA
Weather: 23 F, Sunny
Field: powdery snow
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

For those who have been keeping track, this is my third, and longest running attempt at maintaining a blog. Today marks one year since starting this blog last January! Even though some of my posts tend to be repetitive, I hope you've enjoyed it so far. As you can see from the stats below, I've been averaging about one game of ultimate every two and half days or so.

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 143
Total Hours Played: 168

Did You Know?

So I was watching the NFL playoff game between the Eagles and the Giants earlier today. At one point in the game, Donovan Mcnabb was called for intentional grounding in his own endzone, which translates of course, to a safety and two points for the Giants. On the ensuing play, the Eagles lined up at the 20 yard line for a "free kick" punt to the Giants. One thing I always wondered, though, was why teams always punted after a safety? I was almost certain that "free kick" meant that teams had the option to line up and kick a normal kickoff from the 20 yard line, just like after scoring a touchdown or field goal.

Out of curiosity I did a little research to find out. It turns out that I was right. Teams do have the option to kickoff, punt, or drop-kick after a safety. However, they are not allowed to use a tee, like for a regular kickoff, and must have a player hold it like for a field goal. Also, the rationale for almost always choosing a punt appears to be a combination of typical kickoff vs. punt distance in comparison to typical kickoff return vs. punt return yardage. Even though a typical kickoff would be slightly longer than a punt, because a punt travels so high, it's much easier to cover, which amounts to much shorter returns. This makes the punt the preferred option, coverage of a punt is easier and more reliable.

What I found most interesting out of my little research effort, though, was not the specifics of the kickoff after a safety rule, but was another obscure rule that I stumbled across called a fair catch kick. A fair catch kick is a rarely used option that teams have after signalling for, and receiving a fair catch after a punt or a kickoff. From Wikipedia:

Fair catch kicks can only occur when a member of the receiving team signals for, and successfully makes, a fair catch (or is awarded a fair catch after a kick-catch interference penalty.) That team then has the option of restarting play either by snap or fair catch kick. If the team elects the fair catch kick option, the kicking team lines up at the spot where the fair catch was made, and the opposing team must line up at least ten yards downfield. The kicker then may either place kick the ball from a teammate's hold (a kickoff tee may be used in high school) or drop kick the ball. Three points are awarded for kicking the ball through the uprights.

It's something that would only happen in rare situations when a fair catch is made in field goal range within the final seconds of the half or game. Apparently the last successful fair catch kick for a field goal was made in 1968, but quite a few have been attempted since then, including one a few weeks ago on the last game of the season between the Packers and the Lions! I had never heard of this rule, and never seen it in action, have you?

Ultimate Ice

Friday January 9, 2009
12PM Pick-up game
TRW Field, Burlington, MA
Weather: 25 F, Partly Sunny
Field: icy snow
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

Friday was about as close to unplayable conditions as you could get. The field was covered in a crusty layer of ice that only sometimes broke through when you ran on it. Of course, we still played.

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 142
Total Hours Played: 167