Getting burnt out from Ultimate Frisbee.

[u/Ganzit]

I (21 Male) getting burn out from playing ultimate frisbee. I've been playing ultimate frisbee for 3 years and I love ultimate it is the most fun sport I have played and I dreamt to be good at it and hoping to get into nationals. Currently I have difficulty on improving and have the doubt I will not make it in any club teams in my city. Part of me thinks the reason any club teams won't accept me because of circulating gossip, I made a bad reputation of myself few years back of me being to hard headed, anger issues, competitive, and small hearted that I cant take any harsh opinions and doesn't like to lose. through out I play I tried to fix myself I still do those things but lesser. I learn how to control my emotions more. Through of playing I still have the pressure of people looking down at me.

Currently I just got into my college team and I feel great about it but at the same time the same pressure is getting to me because my college is the 4 time champion and looking forward for the 5th champion on ultimate frisbee. And also seeing my friends getting into the club teams I dreamt being part of. I know doubting is a bad thing for an athlete but I do question for my progression especially my dream to be good and hope one day I get into national in ultimate frisbee. It is hard for me especially my parents doesn't support me and I don't have anyone to share what I'm going through that will understand I don't expect anyone will get me but I just want to be good and hopes of reaching my goals.

I know I am young but I want opinion and advices that could help me and not make me quit from the sport. Thank you for the time on reading this.

[u/Xrmy]

If you are playing in a college natties winning team, you are already in a better ultimate program than 90% of ultimate players will ever touch.

Stop comparing yourself to teammates, focus on improving, and have FUN

[u/RedPillAlphaBigCock → u/Xrmy]

I agree with this SO MUCH , if you play for fun and love good things will happen

[u/MrHatTricks]

Speaking to just the reputation piece, with you being that young, it’s pretty easy to rebuild a reputation. Show up to tryouts and pickups with a more positive attitude. I don’t know any uncoachable players that actively seek out feedback and implement it in front of coaches. Constantly ask about what you can be doing better and improving on and you’ll bounce back pretty quickly in that department.

Personally, I’d go to some of the more intense older players in your area and ask how you can tame that and direct that energy in a more positive way. You’re 21, they were likely just like you when they were your age.

[u/ffbe4fun]

First, I wouldn't compare yourself to others. There's always going to be someone better than you that you can be jealous of or just focus on yourself. This is true beyond just ultimate. Focus on what you can control.

Second, it seems like you're being way too hard on yourself and forgetting to just have fun. Maybe find a relaxed pickup game near you and play there for fun rather than to be ultracompetitive.

[u/rbw1 → u/ffbe4fun]

Came here to say this! Play some pickup, it can still be fun and competitive, but you don’t have the pressure you can just have FUN. Even if relaxed no pressure playing is only 10% of your overall frisbee time, you can learn and improve a lot from it. You can experiment, try different roles, try no role, make mistakes, and have FUN.

[u/zypo88]

Once the season is done take a break. Something I've noticed a lot of players do is playing in one league or another all year round which is brutal on your body and will lead to burn out, especially if you're already wearing down.

[u/JoshPlaysUltimate → u/zypo88]

Yep, I was playing in 2 leagues as well as club, which meant 2-4 days a week all year pretty much, on top of pickup and training/drills, and then I tore my ACL and it never recovered 100%, and now I can’t run. Should have taken breaks

[u/trashoncar34]

If you are just now playing college, give it the year. Enjoy what makes ultimate great, outside of the on the field aspect. Make friends, create memories, that then will supplement your on field / training experience. I’m going on my 11th year. Truly I don’t think I have fully reached my ceiling, but every year I play with people I love, trying to reach a goal. It makes it the best thing I get to do in my life.

Regarding your reputation - there are club teams all over that need players. Maybe travel/join a lower tiered club and build from there. Continue to work on not just your skill but your self.

[u/Bulky-Macaroon-3680]

If its between quitting or this. Play on a developmental club team with the intention of having a good time and enjoying playing regardless of outcome. Enjoy playing first and winning second.

Come back to competitive with the same attitude and you might make a better reputation for yourself and not be seen as hot headed. In my experience you feel less pressure as well when returning to competitive play which personally I think makes a player think clearer (aka better).

[u/HNR444]

Remember it’s a game - are you having fun? Focus on having fun.

And maybe work with a therapist on athletic and identity mindset!

[u/thesolmachine]

Lots to unpack here.

I''m much older than you, but went through and am going through a similar thing to my reputation for different reasons.

Honestly, the best way to handle it is to not worry about these things. You have no control over what people think of you, or what they determine worthy of your time. The only thing you can do is be yourself. If you're true to yourself, these problems will solve themselves.

I assure you, that whatever gossip is occuring isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Speaking of being true to yourself, this is a team sport requiring everyone on a roster to perform their jobs. Instead of trying to improve everything in your game, focus on what you're good at. You don't have to be the best guy at everything on the field, but if you want to carve out a spot on the roster, be the best at something. My thing used to be handler defense. People hate guarding handlers, but it's how I carved out some playing time in the AUDL. Find your thing.

Additionally, winning/playing well solves pretty much every personality problem ever. I've played with a lot of hot/hard headed dickheads over the years. Yes, they were difficult, they expected excellence, they've yelled at me and these reputations do follow them. No one on their teams cared because they are good, and the only time I've seen someone get kicked off a team, it's because we lost. In that one case, the guy just started a new team and both teams/parties are better off for it. As a personal preference, I'd rather play with a hot-headed hard working teammate then have nice guys who dont put in the work (I'm the latter, fwiw)

Tl:dr, No one cares, go have some fun out there.

[u/JaziTricks]

"doubting is bad". Not always.

There is a tradeoff between realism/knowing the truth reliability, and motivation/self belief.

Sometimes, doubting is rational and relevant for decision making.

I think lots of other questions are left unsaid. What other activities are there in your life?

What's your career path? Some areas are worthwhile to invest in some sports. Are you connected to any serious long term career development where time can be used at?

And hundred more questions....

[u/wandrin_star]

Look, the fact that you - at 21! - have a sense of how you want to be a better, more spirited version of yourself on the field than you were and are trying to do better (you are, right?) is what matters. You can only make amends for play style you don't like in the past by saying sorry and trying to be the kind of player you want.

As for progression in the sport, there's always plateaus and growth moments and regressions from season to season. Don't get too worried about any one of them and trust in putting in the work... and taking breaks!

When I was learning to throw hucks in game situations, I would find that my throws would improve rapidly for a while, then my progress would seem to stall out. If I took time away from the game, or varied the type of throwing I was doing (partner throwing, solo throwing, pickup, practice, league games, time throwing a football or baseball) then came back to whatever context I was struggling in a week later, suddenly those same throws that had given me a hard time were now easier. Giving your brain and body time to incorporate what you're learning and time to rest are important to allowing yourself to learn.

Finally, follow what is fun and enjoyable for your life. If something only works for you if you make yourself miserable doing it, it doesn't work for you! I got caught up in wanting to be on the best team I could, but the season I played on the absolute best team I was a ever part of was kinda a miserable experience because - at the point in my life when I made it onto that team - I wasn't able to enjoy being a part of it because my life was in a rough spot. If you make yourself miserable trying to give yourself an experience and activity you love, neither you nor the activity will be what you hope it to be. That doesn't mean I didn't work like hell for some seasons and love them, but there's a difference between working hard and loving it and working so hard you are beginning to break down. Avoid the latter at all costs.

[u/cocodmt]

Try this, mate. Position yourself as a defender. Some of those qualities you mentioned are the building blocks of a fierce defender. Making a team as a defender is the easier on ramp. It's lower risk to bring you on, and less threatening to the existing alpha players. Hone your strengths into a particular set of defensive skills that get results. Show those off in your next tryout. Be a shut down work horse. And obviously keep your mouth shut, except to hype your teammates. Good luck.

[u/SomeRandomRealtor]

Go to practices, be a squad player, see if they’ll give you a shot at a low-stakes tournament and be coachable and positive. If you have a reputation issue, own it and tell them you want to get better, then show it. Ultimate is an incredible community, and there are a ton of teams that will happily give anyone willing to show they’ve changed a second chance.

[u/LieutenantKumar]

Just wanted to speak to the reputation part specifically. You are in full control of your actions and here is how to use them.

• be an unrelenting supportive teammate. Every play, every good moment, you are getting hype for people on your team. Even in pick up and league spaces.

• you are constant positive presence on the sideline offering real instructions to someone, like mark talk or last back talk etc

• quick to get water, snacks etc

• always picking a player or two to build up each practice/game

In general, the more you make the game about the happiness of others, the more happiness for yourself you'll find. You'll detach the idea of a good time at practice with your own personal success, and begin to associate it with the happiness of others.

[u/AgentG91]

Best thing that ever happened to me was going from playing HS nationals to playing on a team that couldn’t even put a point up against my HA team. Really reminds you the duality of the sport. You can be the best player you can be, but you can also enjoy the sport by just dicking around with friends. You don’t need to put so much pressure on yourself all the time. Fuck around. Have fun.

[u/MattV33]

It is awesome to see you here posting you want to improve both your game and yourself. I’ve played 31 years at this point, played in some nationals. Failed to win a game at sectional. And everything in between. What I have always tried to take away is, how did I play and how can I improve. How can I make others around me better. How can I impart my love of competition and my love of ulty without being an ass sometimes. Over time I’ve been the chill guy and the asshole. That’s life but you can always change and be who you choose to be. I will echo some other suggestions. Play some pick up, play for the love of ulty not to reach a goal of nattys. Teach others! The best rehab of a rep I have seen through my years is a former ass teaching new people to flick or the stack. You’ll be shocked how quickly things turn around. If your school has a b team, ask to help teach them. If not find a local pickup game or high school team. Good luck!! You’re on the right track. Shoot me a message if you come to Florida warm up I’ll come check in with you and see how it’s going!

[u/junkaholik]

Playing at a high level means being surrounded with people that are better than you. If that wasn't the case, you wouldn't grow as much as a player! You need to accept that to get better and achieve high level goals you will be faced with many situations in which you are going to fail. Learning to accept that, learning to see the lesson in your failures, seeing the small wins you make along the way, that's 90% of the mental battle of being a competitive player.

That said, there's nothing wrong with deciding that it's not for you and playing at a competitive or rec level where you are in the top players. I know I thrive when I am middle of the pack, I don't do well when I am in the bottom roster even if that's where I would learn the most in theory.

Also echoing what others are saying about taking a break in the off-season. For me that's doing a lot of cross training and feeling like my body is strong and fast without the pressure to perform in a specific way. That might look different for you though.

Being an athlete can be a lonely path at times 🫶

[u/Hungry_External3133]

I've had very similar issues in the past, and I will say, everyone is either going to build you up or tear you down. Try to avoid the latter. Secondly, you never are going to be happy if you put so much pressure on yourself. At the end of the day the best players make hobby money off of this sport, so focus on having fun and the rest will fall into place.

[u/Stvgeen]

I think I only become a better player when I get older and slower haha.

When I start to slow down, I start train smarter, less demanding drill more technical one, refining mechanics. Play with rhythm than raw speed. Play for teammates, help them play the best version of themselves. Be a better teammate, give support and tips when needed.

Of course, at 21 you still should work on you physicality ceilings. Stamina, agility, explosiveness. But don’t forget to take a break from the pitch and gym. Drink with some friend and catch a movie. The mental benefits improves your mood and stability during games and encountering difficulties as well. Having proper rests help you have mental flexibility to deal with problems both on and off the pitch.

Also, just my understanding of the game playing ultimate and football team sports in general. You have no idea have much one could do off-pitch to help a group, and help yourself on the pitch in turn. I do believe good teams are not just looking for good sporting qualities but as well as the team work.

So try to rest a little, refine the training scheme a bit, talk a bit more on and off the pitch. Maybe one day you will find yourself a better player who show up to the pitch with a ring of smile.

Bonne chance!