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Frisbee tournment creates fun, friendships in San Carlos Park

By KEVIN JOHNSON (Contact)

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Recipe for creating friendships on an otherwise quiet Saturday in San Carlos Park:

Gather 80 people ages 9 to 50-something, most of whom are meeting each other for the first time, but will soon be sweating together in pursuit of a plastic disc.

Divide into eight teams.

Photo by KEVIN JOHNSON / Banner

Willie Duren of Naples defends against Adam Davie of Fort Myers during Saturday's tournament.

Make captains wear outlandish "bamboo, surfer hats," as described by one organizer.

Mix-in music, free food and a festive post-tournament celebration at Baldy's Pub.

And the most important ingredient to this friendship concoction: a Frisbee.

Last Saturday marked the second annual Ultimate Frisbee Hatters Tournament hosted by Alpha Omega Ultimate in Three Oaks Park. Players from throughout the state and as far as North Carolina participated in the event that focuses as much on friendship as competition.

By the end of the day, a Frisbee tossed by a stranger is caught by a friend.

"That's the fun of it. You're thrown in with people you don't know at all. There's sort of an instant camaraderie," said Rich Talbott, head of the Corkscrew Disc team that plays every Thursday night at Three Oaks Park.

"It's a lot of fun," added Joe Buccina of Tampa, who plays for the University of South Florida's Ultimate team. "They're a good bunch of people. You get used to each other quickly. Ultimate players are usually pretty friendly."

Often described as non-contact football with a Frisbee, Ultimate is constructed in a way that provides equal match-ups regardless of gender, age, or ability.

Photo by KEVIN JOHNSON / Banner

Eric Siegmund of St. Petersburg makes a catch during the Alpha Omega Ultimate Frisbee Group's Mad Hatters Tournament last Saturday at Three Oaks Community Park.

"Anybody can compete," said Alpha Omega Ultimate leader Chris Stephens. "You don't have to be in shape. You don't have to be an athlete or a jock. You can come out here and run around and have fun. That's what it's for. Everybody gets involved. Everybody can be a quarterback. Everybody can be a receiver."

Saturday's event grew by about 20 to 30 people compared to last year's debut. Stephens hoped for more, but was satisfied with the turnout.

"We were projecting 150 and we didn't get that," he said, "but I'm happy with the people that came out. There are real competitive games."

Hard work wasn't limited to action on the field. Off the field, Stephens, Matt Cull and other Alpha Omega Ultimate members garnered donations from dozens of area businesses for food, T-shirts and prizes. The event also served as a benefit for Our Mothers Home, a San Carlos Park facility that helps teenage mothers and their babies.

Stephens said Alpha Omega Ultimate, which practices at San Carlos Elementary School, is trying to get more local residents involved in the sport. The team has about 40 members, most of whom are in their 20s and 30s.

Corkscrew Disc, meanwhile, has fewer members than Alpha Omega, but more experience with Frisbees and age. Most of Corkscrew's members are 40 and above.

"It's kind of the Senior Tour of Ultimate," joked Talbott.

The teams work in tandem on events such as the Hatters Tournament.

In Ultimate, friendship easily spreads from team to team, player to player.

"I think that's reflective of the game of Ultimate in a lot of ways," said Talbott, who has played with Corkscrew Disc for 14 years. "It's laid back. There's a spirit of the game. There aren't any referees out here. It's competitive, but you live by the spirit of the rules. Give the benefit of the doubt when in doubt."

No doubt, that's a good way to make friends.