DC SHADOW - FEBRUARY 12TH, 2024
DC Shadow Begins to Build 2024 Roster
Tryouts wrapped up last weekend and now DC Shadow’s coaches begin to put the pieces together for the 2024 team. “We have many difficult decisions to make given the incredible talent on display at tryouts, but it's a good problem to have” said Head Coach, John Agan.
DC Shadow was honored to host over 75 players over the past two weekends at the fields at RFK for tryouts. Players traveled from across the country to attend tryouts, including players from Missouri, Ohio, and across the mid-Atlantic. Coaches John Agan, Duke Boylan-Kolchin, Sara Handy, and Dylan Lederle-Ensign were joined by a group of evaluators from the broader DMV to determine the 2024 Shadow roster. For the second weekend, the invite list brought the number of players to about 40 for additional review. The full DC Shadow 2024 roster is expected to be announced in late February.
The tryouts provided players with different opportunities to demonstrate their skills. Variations on mini allowed players to highlight their ability to give and go, create separation in small spaces with a quick first step, and build chemistry on a small field. Some of the tryouts featured a 3 v 4 drill to create pressure similar to the front of a zone or a junk set, allowing the defense to use an extra player to deny critical spaces and for the offense to move efficiently in tight windows. Another drill used a full length, half width field for 4 v 4 to emphasize longer throws or ability to dominate the deep space. For 7s, the coaches introduced an end zone set to evaluate players ability to learn a system and take cues accordingly. Of course, no tryout would be complete without full-field 7s for players to have the chance to prove themselves and their abilities.
We want to thank all the players who attended tryouts for their time and effort. We were also fortunate to have representatives from UltiPhotos on site to provide coverage of the event, see full January 27 coverage here.
Three New Faces Join Shadow’s 2024 Coaching Staff
DC Shadow welcomed back John Agan and Dylan Ederle-Ensign to the 2024 coaching staff and added three new assistant coaches, Kath Ratcliff, Duke Boylan-Kolchin and Sara Handy. Kath Ratcliff is a familiar face to DC Shadow fans since she has been a top player on the team the past 3 seasons. Take a moment to get to know our newcomers to the DC Shadow family.
Q&A:
What made you excited to accept the coaching role with Shadow?
Sara: Since Shadow's inception I have avidly watched their progress and I have commented to countless people that I would have loved to try out for this team if it had existed when I was younger. To be able to be a part of it on the coaching side is a dream come true. I was honored to be asked and I joyfully accepted. John Agan is also a wonderful person and a great coach, and I look forward to working with him and the rest of the coaching staff this year. How could I say no?
Duke: I was talking to Coach Agan last year about some strategy items, and when we connected again about it this year I found more and more things I wanted to discuss and suggest. I have played frisbee for a long time, most of it before the time when coaches were common. I’m looking forward to supporting the players, providing guidance where I can, and learning from them and the experience whenever possible.
How do your life experiences, both in ultimate and beyond, contribute to your coaching philosophy?
Sara: When I think about who I am as a leader, both in life and ultimate, my focus is always on helping build something collectively where the sum is greater than the parts. To do that isn't just about athleticism or individual plays, it's how a team connects as well as how we as a team can practice resilience. I look forward to taking a holistic approach to this goal.
Duke: One specific experience has the most direct connection to one of my coaching philosophies: I played poker professionally for several years. What does this have to do with coaching frisbee? When you do essentially the same thing with minor variations for several hundred thousand times, one result is an appreciation that using the right process wins out in the long run (but also a recognition that anything can happen in the short run). In frisbee, I try to be analytical and process-oriented. It’s difficult to say that the outcome doesn’t matter, but in the end if you do the right things over and over, the right result tends to show up.
The PUL has new divisions this year, which means the team will get to face off against a slightly different set of opponents. What are your thoughts on the schedule for 2024?
Sara: I think the change in divisions will make this year exciting for both the players and fans. Some of these matchups will be completely new and that will make for a fun season.
Duke: As someone who grew up in Delaware (which is essentially a suburb of Philadelphia) and lived in New York for a decade, I find it jarring to suddenly be in the South. Despite this, I am excited to play teams from Texas to Maine and look forward to beating all of them.
Shadow, as part of the PUL, is a leader in the DMV and beyond for women's and non-binary ultimate. How do you think the team can be a positive force in the area for aspiring players?
Sara: When I was a young ultimate player, leagues like this didn't exist, I think if it had, I would have been greatly impacted. It brings visibility, legitimacy, energy and excitement to young women and non-binary players by simply existing. I hope that our open tryout helped foster a feeling of community and inclusion and that we can build on that feeling throughout the season. The phrase "you cannot be what you cannot see" is something I think about often. By showcasing incredible talent from our women and non-binary players, we can help show aspiring players what is possible- what already exists for them and what can be built.
Duke: I think we’re already seeing the positive effects of the Shadow and the PUL in the DMV. Every game hundreds of fans come out and tons of kids have an opportunity to watch women and non-binary athletes showcase their skills. The sheer number of people that tried out this year and showcased really impressive abilities is a testament to the impact that the Shadow and PUL is having.
2024 DC Shadow Schedule Released, Tickets On Sale Now
Now part of the new South Division, DC Shadow will face three teams for the first time in 2024: Atlanta Soul, Austin Torch and Nashville Nightshade. The season kicks off on-the-road against Raleigh Radiance on April 6, a rematch of last season’s league championship semi-finals. That’s followed by an April 13 home opener against Nashville Nightshade. Remaining home games include against Raleigh on May 4 and Austin Torch on June 1. Season and single-game tickets for all home games are on sale now.
