Downpour

Saturday was what I expect all winter Ultimate games to be like, but I'm pleasantly surprised they're not. We had a double-header with our ample supply of energetic players. The first 2 hours went by well, it was absolutely the windiest weather I've played in all year, but at least it was dry.

Unfortunately, that sentiment jinxed the second game. What began the game as a light rain turned into a fierce torrential downpour by half that just continued throughout the afternoon. With our ample subs only playing on one team this time, I was playing roughly every third point. And with all the rain and wind, there were still some really long points, resulting in a bunch of folks just standing on the sidelines, getting drenched, and waiting to go in.


My mind has this wondrous ability to think two conflicting thoughts at a time without (a) having to reconcile them or (b) realizing that they're conflicting. Most times, this ability is an inconvenience, like when I agree to go to 2 parties without realizing they're on the same night on opposite sides of town. But for situations like this, it's actually quite nice.


One thought completely agrees with what everyone is saying. It's cold. It's windy. It's rainy. I'm drenched through. This is miserable. There are too many people. I'm just standing here getting wetter, getting colder, getting more miserable.

The other is completely focused. This poor weather will make the disc slippery, make it hard to catch, hard to throw, hard to play good ultimate. They'll want to quit because it's cold, wet, and windy. This weather is our advantage in this game. Who can I yell at on the field to help communicate, to help motivate, to make sure this weather wears down our opponent more than it wears down my teammates?

Of course, this second thought isn't as fully focused as I've described it. It's really just me looking at my team, yelling at them, cheering for them, moving up and down the sideline with them. I like doing it in any weather, but I'm especially inspired in terrible weather because I really think it helps the team. It also has the advantage of keeping me moving on the sideline, so I don't get freezing cold and miserable.

But when I'm asked, I'll still agree that it's cold. That it's wet. That I'm soaked through. I'll share the same desire to not want to be there any more than I have to.

Until the disc is in play again, and all I care about is telling my teammates when the thrower is looking to get the disc to the person they're trying to defend.


Needless to say, I had a great time despite the weather. And once there was no more game to watch or play in, I had an overwhelming urge to get the fuck out of there and get into a nice, hot shower.