About Our Fall Program

We are all very excited about the Ultimate program here at HIMS. It's been a great success! But we are being overwhelmed by its popularity. It's heartbreaking to exclude any kids, but we don't have enough practice field space to accommodate everyone. We've come to understand that a team with too many players creates a difficult and frustrating environment. Play time becomes very limited, in practices and especially in games, and it can be a very frustrating experience for players and coaches. Because of this we have instituted a program size cap in order to improve the experience of participating players.

Team Numbers Cap
  • We will have a target maximum of 32 players per team.
  • Each team will have a target maximum of 12 girls and 20 boys.
    • Fall ultimate is played with a required team gender ratio of 3 girls and 4 boys on the field at all times.
Game Rosters
Because of large turnout, and our desire to allow all 7th and 8th Graders to participate in our program, we have very large team rosters this season. We will be instituting Game Rosters across all our teams. Each game, we will have a maximum of 16 boys on the Game Roster.

To facilitate this, we will be asking each player to choose 1 or 2 (out of 6) regular season games to NOT play this season. During the first week of the season, an online poll will be sent to parents, allowing families an opportunity to select the game days they will not participate. This will be first come, first served. Coaches will fill in the blanks, and be the arbiters of any scheduling conflicts. Coaches have the final decision.

Players who are not on the Game Roster are still encouraged to attend the games: to support their teammates, to help coaches with substitutions, to help with game strategy, to cheer their team! But many families have a weekend or two where they have other plans, so this will be a good opportunity schedule that in.

Coaches will have final discretion on Game Rosters, substitutions, and play time. While we will absolutely do our best to see that all players get equal play time during the regular season (per our program policy), we are under no obligation to do so. Please understand this.

Acceptance Into Our Program
Ultimate prides itself on its focus on community and "Spirit of the Game". We will always put our greatest emphasis on sportsmanship, inclusion, community, and a commitment to learning the game and becoming a better player and teammate while adhering to these principles. We will accept players into the program based on their commitment to the sport and their teammates, their citizenship and contribution to the "Spirit of the Game". This season, game and disc skills will also be a contributing factor in acceptance into the program. We will rank players based on basic disc skills, quickness and speed, field awareness, experience, and knowledge of the game.

Below is our list of Acceptance Criteria. This list is in our primary order of preference, though for some players, one thing may be weighted more than for others. For example, a player who has previously been committed to the program at Hamilton for years, is a recognized leader, and has an understanding and commitment to the "Spirit of the Game" may rank higher than a player who is simply a strong and accomplished athlete.
  • Grade Level (older students have priority over younger students)
    • Our intention is to accept all 8th and 7th graders into our program (with the exception of rare but extreme issues, e.g. poor sportsmanship or risk to player safety)
    • We will have at least one team dedicated to only 6th Graders.
    • It is unlikely that every 6th grader will be selected into the program.
  • Commitment to "Spirit of the Game", our ultimate community, and being a good citizen and teammate.
  • Participation and Availability
    • All players are expected to participate in all practices and all games, though a very limited number of excused absences is acceptable.
    • If you think your child may need to miss practices because of other commitments, then please consider withdrawing your registration for the Fall and try again in the Spring, or explore some of the other options listed below.
    • We will attempt to accommodate players/family schedules regarding team placement, but not at the expense of other players who meet or exceed the above criteria. While we will ask parents for a preferred day to practice, we offer no guarantee that we can place your child on a team on your preferred day.
  • Skills and Knowledge of the Game. Players will be rated based on:
    • Willingness to learn and accept instruction.
    • Field awareness and player safety.
    • Disc skills.
    • Speed, quickness, and general athletic ability or aptitude.
    • Knowledge of the game, including rules, terms, and offensive and defensive strategy.
    • Experience with the game of ultimate or other field sports.
Options for Students who are not selected into the HIMS Fall Ultimate Program
While we invite all students to tryout for ultimate at HIMS, and we hope that ultimate will become a part of their life, playing on a Middle School team may not be your child's best introduction to the game. Middle School ultimate in Seattle has become a very competitive sport over the years. Because of increased interest at HIMS, and more students entering Middle School with a couple years of ultimate already under their belts, acceptance into our program is also very competitive. We encourage you to seriously consider whether HIMS Fall Ultimate is right for your child. For example, our club offers a slightly less competitive program in the Spring (meaning, we have fewer students who participate). And while Fall Ultimate has historically been able to accept students who are either new to the game, or are new to organized team sports, this season we will be more selective. To be clear: interest, enthusiasm, commitment and "Spirit of the Game" are very important to us. Paramount, in fact. We truly aren't looking only for the natural and gifted athletes. We want kids who want to play Ultimate! But we don't have room for students who are simply applying to acquire a PE waiver. We expect a lot from players in our program.

Now.. that said.. WE NEED MORE GIRLS!
Our program is co-ed, and we have a set amount of open slots for both boys and girls. And we have never filled the maximum amount of girls on any of our teams. Because of this, we will likely be able to accept all female registrants into our program (so long as the student meets our Acceptance Criteria). Please forward this website link to any girls who you think might enjoy joining our program!


Opportunities to Learn Ultimate, and Work On Your Chops!
Here are a few options for students who aren't accepted into, or who choose not to play HIMS Fall ultimate, but still want to play the game.
  • Sign up for Hamilton Ultimate in the Spring
    • Our Ultimate Club hosts teams from HIMS during the Spring season. Fewer students sign up for Spring ultimate, so we can typically accept all students who sign up. Note: There is a fee for this program.
  • Go To Camp!


More Information about the Ultimate Program

Academic Eligibility
  • From the HIMS website: Player eligibility will be based on a 2.0 average for all classes with no more than one core subject (math, reading, writing, social studies, or science) having a sub-2.0 grade at any time.
  • Teams are required to submit a player eligibility sheet (grade sheet) to the school athletic director each week. Students who are not academically eligible cannot play in games that week, but can still participate in practice. Hamilton school staff will work with those students to set up an academic plan to get back on track.
  • Students are required to get each teacher to sign a Grade Sheet. Grade sheets are required to be turned in to Christy Smith's office by the end of day each Wednesday.

PE Waivers

Students who do not enroll in a PE class at HIMS are required to complete at least 60 hours of organized athletic activity during the school year. Students are required to submit a PE Waiver to the HIMS Office, stating their plan for organized athletic activity.

  • More info about the PE Waiver at HIMS
  • PE Waivers can be obtained from the HIMS Office
  • 46 Hours - Total estimate of hours for the PE Waiver for Fall Ultimate
    • 8 week season, 23 events (including tryouts, practices, and games), 2 hours per event.

Transportation

HOST Activity Bus
  • Players can take advantage of the HOST after-school Activity Bus to get home after practice.
  • Students are required to complete and submit the Non-HOST Bus Permission Form.
  • The HOST bus doesn't run on Friday. If we have Friday practice, students who have completed a Non-HOST Bus Permission Form will be provided a Metro bus voucher to get home.
Game Days
  • Players must have their own transportation to games.
  • If we can, we will enlist a parent to organize a game-day carpool system.
  • If you would like to be our Carpool Coordinator, please email us at hamiltonhawksultimate@gmail.com.

Tournaments

Fall Drizzle
  • The Middle School division for Fall Drizzle will be held on Sunday, October 18 at Skagit River Park in Burlington.
  • This is not a Seattle Public Schools sanctioned event.
  • We hope to take at least 2-3 teams.
  • More info as we get it.

Equipment / Jerseys
  • Footwear: Soccer or football cleats are highly recommended.
  • Clothing: Shorts or athletic pants, a synthetic athletic shirt, and warm/rain layers.
  • Jerseys: Players will be provided a Hamilton Ultimate jersey. These are the property of HIMS and must be returned at the end of the season.
    •  Players who own a Hamilton Ultimate jersey from a previous season may use that jersey.


If you have any questions, please email us at hamiltonhawksultimate@gmail.com