Bethel University’s club frisbee team hones its skills, runs through plays and scrimmages during practice ahead of its four tournaments of the fall semester. | Photo by Aaron Heckmann

From practice to tournament

Bethel University’s club frisbee teams gears up for fall season

By Aaron Heckmann, sports reporter

Team captain Josh Anderson walked to a whiteboard during a water break at practice on Sept. 26 ahead of Bethel University’s club frisbee team’s first tournament of the season. That whiteboard, full of lines and plays, is poised to be an important asset for the team this fall.

Anderson weaved through different plays and tactics as the team intently watched him utilize the whiteboard as a vessel to communicate how the team should run a certain play. Anderson used phrases like “hard cut,” “clear out of here somewhere” and “it’s the general principle.”

Bethel University’s club frisbee team runs through plays and tactics on a whiteboard during practice ahead of the season. | Photo by Aaron Heckmann

With leaves scattered all over the field and the fall colors beaming on the brisk day, the team focused on plays throughout practice in hopes of it translating to their tournament a few weeks later. Of course there was a 6-on-6 scrimmage sprinkled in there, too.

First to five points. Cones for out of bounce and end zones. Live turnovers.

That’s the name of the game.

The Frisbee flew in every direction throughout the scrimmage with plenty of catches and misses — sometimes even a leap in the air to avoid a touch with the grass. A precise dart from the middle of the field found its way into the hands of a wide open player in the end zone. A block didn’t happen in this case like it did in others.

“You dropped it,” encapsulated the practice with laughing and sarcasm but also seriousness with continued direction and pointers by Anderson, such as “be within 10 feet but still a good space away.”

At their first tournament, everything they’ve been practicing for, the team placed fifth out of six teams, going 2–5, at the unsanctioned tournament hosted by Luther College on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1–2, in Decorah, Iowa.

“Overall there was a mix of skill levels, but every single person did really well, and everyone scored at least 2 points and assisted in many great plays,” team captain Abby Rau said.

The team’s attention moves to their next tournament on Saturday, Oct. 29, at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.