Editor: Nic
Thanks so much to you both for being here! Let's begin with introductions...
Ryan
I'm Ryan, one of the GBX U24 captains this cycle. Started playing at LLLeeds in 2014 whilst I was still at school. Moved to Reading University and quickly got involved with the team there. Started playing for Reading Ultimate in 2014, where I've stayed until now. I captained the university's mixed team in 2016, and the men's team in 2018. I got to captain the U24 side through showing interest with the coaches, and then being selected really with not a lot in the middle.
Jo
Hey I’m Jo Lewis, I’ve played ultimate since I was about 11 and progressed through the GB Junior teams. Currently playing for Bristol Women, and this is my third U24 cycle with the mixed team.
How would you describe the GB U24 Mixed squad?
Jo
It’s been a really fun team to be a part of! Enthusiasm to get involved, after two hours of lightening delays at Talampaya we’d had about 20 different songs rehearsed with 100% effort (probably really annoying for the other teams). And considering how miserable the weather at Talampaya was, how we were still smiling at the end of it is crazy.
Ryan
It's definitely a super dynamic team and the vibe is incredible! Everyone has gelled really well and I'm super excited to carry on from our Talampaya highs.
U24 GB Mixed
What is your training regime/schedule consist of?
Jo
We’re training groups of four, so a low key selfie at the gym or throwing is needed to share it with your team. We have a metaphor - we all put a brick in the wall with each session to build a winning team. The Andy Lewis, European Mixed Champion. Has been doing our gym programme, keeping things very ultimate focused.
Ryan
Callum Spiers and Alex Mazzon have devised our playing structures based on previous cycles successes, and looking to use our team assets. So weekend trainings have involved going through the playbook and refining our plays through drills and conditioned games too.
Jo
Followed by some hack!
Ryan
Hack is key. Without it I don't know how you can really bond.
Jo
Ability to play hack leads to the ability to win Worlds.
What skills and qualities are looked for when trialling for a GB team? Is a background playing Mixed important?
Jo
I wouldn’t say you need to have a tonne of mixed experience, more so you need to be trusting of every person on the team equally. Skills and qualities; from a very biased handler perspective, have your throwing down. Shapes and structures can be picked up more easily. Being nice always helps as well, look to form connections at trials.
Ryan
From a cutters perspective, be willing to change your habits and go to shapes that work best with the throwers that you get to play with. I'd say the top qualities are open-mindedness and enthusiasm.
What can players/teams/universities do to promote and grow mixed ultimate?
Ryan
I think playing club mixed together is an excellent way to bridge the gap. You get to be a smaller fish in a bigger pond and so there can be less pressure, which will transfer to your university mixed.
Jo
That’s a big question that I find most university teams face! Having female leadership, I think, helps. I coached Cardiff open when I was at university, having that input meant both the women and the men had similar structures. Meaning the team comes together more easily.
Do you think hiring or appointing a coach would help?
Ryan
I think an overall coach could work although, I'd say it's pretty situation dependent.
Jo
I do think having an impartial, external coach is useful as university can definitely get a little bias with input and selection etc.
How excited are you?
Jo
Super excited, can’t wait to see what this team can do when it’s the real thing! Can’t wait to see the plays get bigger, and watch the whole team step up even higher!
Ryan
Super excited! I have so much love for the team and cannot wait to go dominate with them.
Are there any teams or players you particularly want to square off against?
Ryan
The team culture is pretty much take anything that comes our way, and give them hell. In Talampaya we decided it would be team 1, game 1 etc., and not worrying about their reputation, or their roster. Every team is fallible so we're going after them.
Jo
Seconding what Ryan says, we’re not going into this with any specific rivals. We want to take each game as it comes and focus entirely on scoring more points than they do, who they are doesn’t change that focus.
What would you be a good result at Worlds?
Ryan
*Ideally, GOLD* With the way we've played and the team we have, we totally think that semis is achievable. But realistically, at the end of the day, if we can be proud of how we perform and that's short of a medal. Then that's sport. Sometimes other teams are good too, right?
Any names we should be looking out for on the team?
Ryan
This whole team has the capacity to make plays, expect some big bids and huge looks from everyone.
Jo
No joke, everyone on this team is capable of some crazy stuff. You’ll just have to keep an eye on the whole lot! We have a huge range of players, from those who have played a tonne of juniors for GB such as Dom Knight, Emma Klima and Erin 'calves' McGready. Then we’ve got players representing GB for their first time, like Immie Wong and Andrew Warnock - who are equally as talented!
The interpretation of Spirit of the Game can be different at higher levels of play versus the lower levels, do you ever find it hard to adjust the way you call Spirit when moving from one level of play to another?
Jo
Boring answer, but I don’t feel like there is much difference. So no adjustment needed! I think at a higher level, when the stakes are high perhaps that can mess with people’s judgement at times. So you have really just got to stay rooted to why we have Spirit and the importance of a fair game.
Ryan
Typically I don't find it that hard to adjust, normally you can get a pretty good feel for a team early on in a game re: how much contact they like, how picky they are about calls etc. I think at higher levels a lot more is let go by both sides (think that's the advantage in football etc), to preserve the fluidity of the game.
How do you think Spirit impacts the atmosphere of ultimate compared to other sports, such as Football, that don't have a comparable system?
Ryan
I think it's pretty difficult to compare, but Spirit is obviously important at the elite levels. We've all seen or been a part of scrappy games with lots of calls, and even the occasional Spirit time out, they aren't fun to watch or play. I think it's really down to all the players to keep the atmosphere up and well spirited, without letting quality or intensity suffer, and vice versa.
Quickfire questions...
The party animal of the team...
Ryan
Felix Martin had a pretty big sesh at Talampaya, after he'd just finished his university finals, so maybe him for party animal?
Old married couple...
Ryan
Jake Betson and Dom Burnham. Both Brighton boys, constantly bickering but we know they love each other.
Geek...
Ryan
Team geek, maybe Dom Knight. Just all round nerd, but in a good way.
Any final thoughts...
Ryan
Jo
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