The Unintended Receiver

We bring to you a podcast and vidcast that's packed with 32 years of coaching experience in Ultimate!

Coaching is a wonderful thing. Coaches get to truly influence the lives of athletes in ways that affect their regular life. This is more so true in Ultimate because of the self-officiation and the 'Spirit of the Game' aspects. Hence, we wanted to dive deeper into the intersectionality of gender and Ultimate coaches.

So, we called upon coaching experts from India and the USA. Jaidip Patel, co-Host, first got together with guest hosts Sumedha Kandpal and Nandan Ravi Latha to set up a line-of-questioning. Sumedha and Nandan are familiar faces in the Indian Ultimate sphere as they've coached various teams at national, regional, and grassroots levels. With their depth of knowledge, work, and curiosity it was a tough task to finalize 'what would we speak about'.

After a bunch of trimming down, Jaidip, Sumedha, and Nandan chatted with one of Bay Area's most respected coaches - Manisha 'Slap' Daryani. Slap has been playing Ultimate for 17 years and coaching Ultimate for 10. If this wasn't enough, she has won a bunch of World Championship medals and titles.

Watch the four coaches talk about gender and coaching, mixed-gender at a pro-league level, competition structures, Olympics and Ultimate, and more. A BIG SHOUT OUT to Munis Thahir, captain of San Jose Spiders, for connecting us to Manisha and providing constant support.   

We guarantee you will fall in love with Ultimate a little bit more.  Hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed producing it. For any ideas, thoughts, feedback message us on IG/FB @91Ultimate  

Timestamps:
00:00 Start
00:20 Episode introduction
00:35 Sumedha's intro
01:33 Nandan's intro
02:54 Manisha's intro
07:01 Pioneering the Western Ultimate League (WUL)
09:41 You cannot be what you cannot see
11:54 The beauty of coaching
13:12 How do you address 'we are past these issues'?
17:50 Differences in spirit across divisions?
25:50 Mixed at a pro level?
28:40 We create the narrative for our sport
30:07 Competition structures that work to grow Ultimate?
36:09 Youth Ultimate, BUYA & BADA
41:43 Olympics & Ultimate
47:20 Money changing sports
49:59 Fan questions! Munis asks long term plans
55:07 Fan questions! Srikanth asks about safe spaces for minorities
59:29 Rapid fire questions!
01:02:30 Outro  

Podcast available on:
Spotify
Gaana
Apple podcasts
Google podcasts
91 Ultimate website
Amazon Music
Overcast

'Mixed-gender sport' is among the top three reasons Ultimate Frisbee is loved and enjoyed. 
But, what does it mean? What practical steps does it take for a sport to be inclusive of all genders? With our collective growth in understanding of the gender identity spectrum, the binary genders, 'Men' & 'Women', or 'Male' & 'Female', that we broadly classify in Ultimate as Mixed-gender excludes all genders outside the binary. Then, shouldn't we say Ultimate is a 'Gender-binary sport'? 
In line with the 'Pride Month', and the onset of the Global Pride Day, 'The Unintended Receiver' podcast hosts set out in search of voices that can -

Demystify gender identities and gender equity,
Share lived experiences of being outside the binary, and 
Pinpoint discriminatory practices and corrective action steps. 

The 'Gender Series' is a multi-part discussion with people who work to advance gender equity and gender justice. The first in this series is a chat with Adwitiya Dawn and Rasika Gopalakrishnan of People's Ultimate League (PUL). 
Dawn (she/her) and Rasika (she/her) are alumni of the Ashoka University, where they met and played Ultimate together. In 2020, they received a grant from the 'Onside Fund', which is operated by the non-profit Women Win. This grant funds the operations of the People's Ultimate League, which will work towards coaching the LGBTQ+ communities in the sport of Ultimate Frisbee and hosting a league. 
They break down gender and what it means in the context of Ultimate. They also share details on the People's Ultimate League and what Joes/Josephines like us can do in our club practices or tournaments to be an ally. Plus, Rasika also shares the experience of playing Ultimate as a non-binary person. 
Hope you learn and unlearn through the episode. Share feedback, thoughts, or any ideas with us at [email protected].
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome and COVID-19 related update
01:33 Why are we doing the 'Gender Series'?
07:30 Guest introduction
11:20 Breaking down what 'Gender' means
13:30 How language can be used as a tool for being gender-neutral
20:39 Hormones, testosterone and gender on the world athletics stage - the conundrum
24:25 About the People's Ultimate League(PUL)
32:20 Rasika's experience as a non-binary person in the Ultimate Frisbee world
35:29 Three gender inclusive practices that we can continue, discontinue and start
41:24 Summary and close out

91 Ultimate signs a deal with the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL) to produce and distribute official merchandise for the AUDL in India.
This is in tandem with the AUDL's media rights deal with Eurosport India. This deal will ensure that Indian fans get to watch the AUDL Game of the Week—the top weekly AUDL production that features 17 of the best matches during the 2021 season.
Hear Steve Hall, CEO, AUDL, chat about these two deals and plans in India with hosts of ‘The Unintended Receiver’ podcast.
Also, tune into the journey of Munis Thahir, an AUDL athlete, whose family hails from Kozhikode, Kerela. He is the current captain of the San Jose Spiders.
Munis aims to share learnings and collaborate with any athlete in India who aspires to play pro-Ulitmate. Say hi, discuss his journey, ask for tips and tricks, or chat with him about anything Ultimate via his IG account https://www.instagram.com/munisthahir/
This podcast episode first appeared as a vid-cast on the 91 Ultimate YouTube channel! Check it here.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction & merchandise partnership announcement
04:35 Steve Hall Interview (CEO of the AUDL)
05:35 About Steve Hall
08:02 About the AUDL and its history
13:26 Why India?
15:42 AUDL plans in India
19:32 Video game for Ultimate
22:42 Why players choose the AUDL?
26:54 Other partnerships in India
29:40 Interview with San Jose Spiders captain Munis Thahir
31:56 Munis's journery to the AUDL
34:22 Highlight of AUDL tryout
35:55 SJ Spiders cheer!
36:50 India players in the AUDL
40:19: Munis and India Ultimate
45:16 Rapid fire questions from fans!

The National Championship Series (NCS) 2021-22 was slated to begin this month with the Sectionals tournaments. But, it will remain a distant reality for sometime. Speculations are that Sectionals will kick-off in August-September.
While caught in this limbo, athletes can continue to work on physical and mental fitness. And, coaches and captains can focus on strategies.
'The Unintended Receiver' podcast co-Hosts - Jaidip Patel and Richa Patel - analyse the BIG CHANGES in the points system and rostering rules for the NCS 2021-22. They also share news from the grapevine about player movements and new coach hires.(Please note that a version of the podcast episode was uploaded on May 8. This is an updated episode with some rectified information.)
Do listen to the podcast for their analysis of the NCS rules and all the juicy goss.
Please share your thoughts on the rules with us at [email protected].
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:38 Player movement (gossip)
07:35 Team coaching updates
11:20 AUDL media broadcast announcement
14:13 NCS Rules Big Changes
15:36 NCS Sectionals & Regionals play anywhere!
21:35 Beach Mixed Nationals added to calendar
22:42 Case study - Airbenders play sectionals or not??
25:12 Case study - Jumbish skip sectionals or not??
25:46 Case Study - SDIS play sectionals or not??
28:36 Beach/Grass/Gender format and phases
29:53 Rostering rule changes - college dual rostering
33:08 Rostering rule changes - female captaincy
35:35 New world games experiment - gender pulls
38:38 Guest player rules
42:25 WUCC and AOUGCC Qualifications
43:30 Rules staying the same
45:23 Ultimate resuming internationally

07:35 Team coaching updates

11:08 AUDL media broadcast announcement

13:10 NCS Rules Big Changes

14:24 NCS Sectionals play anywhere

27:37 Should Airbenders play in West sectionals??

33:00 Rostering rule changes - college dual rostering

36:16 Rostering rule changes - female captaincy

38:37 New world games experiment - gender pulls

41:38 Opens/Womens tournaments

43:50 Beach mixed nationals added to calendar

47:25 Rules staying the same

49:20 Ultimate resuming internationally

Earlier this month, the Ultimate Players Association of India and The Unintended Receiver podcast team collaborated to host a live breakout session during the 4th UPAI National Conference.
We had the privilege to host a chill session with reps from ATC, BITS Goa, Gnash, Hawabaaz, NoFlyZone, and Slipdiisc.
A vidcast version is up on the 91Ultimate YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/CZX3y4avkeE
On the podcast, you can listen to:

Key highlights from the player conference
Know some favorite Ultimate memories, teammates, and what the podcast participants missed about Ultimate in 2020. We encourage you to know the favorites of your friends and teammates. Start with memories, teammates, and move to more 'risque' categories. Don't cross boundaries or be insensitive ofc.
College players take on and crush club team members in a game of jeopardy. You can play with the 91Ultimate jeopardy board or build your own for free. Link in the podcast description
Winning entries in the 'Meme' contest. If you haven't already, check out the meme entries on the 91Ultimate blog page

Jeopardy game: https://jeopardylabs.com/play/the-unintended-receiver-podcast-india
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction to the breakout session
Guests answer 3 questions:

Favourite Ultimate memory
What do miss most about Ultimate last year?
Who's your favourite team mate and why?

07:10 Vibanshu introduces himself
10:06 Vigneshwaran introduces himself
12:38 Alex introduces himself
16:00 Shrilaxmi introduces herself
18:16 Ultimate Jeopardy - College vs Club teams!
35:33 Meme contest winners announced
38:47 UPAI Announcements

In this episode of ‘The Unintended Receiver’, co-Hosts, Mehr Pasricha, Jaidip Patel and Richa Patel explore the evolution of different communities of Ultimate Frisbee across India. They have dug deep for interesting trivia and stories that make up the 10,000+ people Indian Ultimate community today.
Timestamps
00:00 Domestic & International event updates
07:56 All about evolution of Indian Ultimate
17:35 Udaipur Ultimate origins
18:55 West India Ultimate origins
21:53 Goa Ultimate origins
24:25 Delhi Ultimate beginnings
25:13 Kerala Ultimate
28:00 Pune Ultimate beginnings
29:00 College Ultimate starting out and status now
33:45 Start of Assam Ultimate's 5000 players
37:00 Surat & Goa Ultimate high-level players
42:15 About Lucknow Ultimate community
43:52 The People Ultimate League by UPAI
46:12 Corporate Ultimate possibilities?
49:43 Shout out to Nandan Ravi Latha, Rishivanjas Raghavan and Saahil Bijliwala for episode suggestions

Mehr Pasricha and Jaidip Patel, co-Hosts of pt. 2 in this theme, cover 'Yoga and Ultimate' with the well-being entrepreneur and yoga teacher Aastha Gupta. Very succinctly put, Aastha Gupta explains, "Yoga is a practice or school of thought that helps you get complete control of your body and mind." Aastha talks about specific benefits one can translate from Yoga to the Ultimate field. She also shares a practical cool-down and breathing routine for Ultimate athletes to do post practice or on an off-day. We hope this episode encourages people to continue planning and working through individual fitness journeys strategically.

00:30 Intro Aastha and her work
01:23 Her Ultimate journey
02:08 About Aasthagupta.in
03:10 What is Yoga in Aastha's eyes?
04:50 Ultimate & Yoga
08:50 Yoga for recovery
12:02 Aastha and Yoga's impact on self
15:55 Philosophy, SOTG, Yoga and Ultimate
18:15 Rapid Fire
21:05 15 mins Yoga and Pranayama routine for Ultimate players

Co-hosts Richa Patel and Mehr Pasricha speak with Arun Pandiyan ('AP') who has dedicated the last 8 years of his life as a full-time fitness coach/trainer. Richa and Mehr dive deeper into the ‘return to Ultimate fitness plan’ prepared by AP as part of the ‘return to play’ guidelines by UPAI. AP's golden tips and tricks can help our community to chart a path ahead as all of us prepare for the National Championship Series 2021. Listen in for some valuable means to design your own back to fitness plan and take note of the ways to overcome the challenges that come with that journey! 
02:20 Fitness and return to play
03:14 Key considerations for fitness and return to Ultimate 
07:55 Beneficial cross training to consider 
10:40 Thinking about improving wrist mobility and strength 
14:08 Overcoming the out-of-breath phenomenon 
17:24 AP's pro-tip for Ultimate players 20:00 Warmup/cooldown 
22:45 AP’s nutrition regime 
27:40 AP's favourite pump up tracks!

The legendary Amberish Jaipuria, with his wealth of experience and knowledge of Ultimate across the globe, speaks to co-hosts Jaidip Patel and Richa Patel about the evolution of Ultimate in India. Tune in to hear stories of how the competitions format came to be, the history of the WFDF spirit and scoring, the genesis of UPAI, and more, straight from the horse's mouth. 
Have fun and thanks for listening!

Timestamps!
0:30 - Introducing the legendary Amberish Jaipuria 
3:55 - The format of competitions in India and its history 
9:47 - Background to WFDF spirit, the spirit scoring matrix, and its implementation within the community 
17:00 - The difference between USAU and WFDF rules 
21:50 - Envisioning possibilities for self officiating at pro-Ultimate leagues 
29:50 - The demolition of the Flying Disc Federation of India (FDFI) and the birth of the Ultimate Players' Association of India (UPAI) 
36:00 - The evolution of Indian Ultimate and its challenges 
40:15 - On funding models for national teams 
45:00 - Rapid Fire!!!