FALL 2024 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN. CLICK HERE.
WELCOME TO POETS & PITCHERS
The Poets and Pitchers Ultimate club consists of two competitive high school Ultimate teams: the Poets from Walt Whitman High School and the Pitchers from Walter Johnson High School. We welcome all applicants, regardless of their experience. Both teams are mixed gender teams, and players at all skill level (including beginners) are welcome. Our games and practices are held in the fall and spring season with tournaments primarily organized by the Washington Area Frisbee Club (WAFC).
To request more information click on Contact Us in the menu bar.
FALL 2024 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN. CLICK HERE.
ABOUT ULTIMATE
Ultimate is a respectful team sport, above all else. It is played by passing a frisbee down field to the end zone to score. The game is played with two opposing seven-on-seven teams, & requires synergy & understanding among all players to score points. In-game, players use pre-planned formations and tactics to advance the disc up the field in hopes to throw it to a teammate in the end zone to score.
Each game is played to 15 points (and ahead by two points up to 20). Each half is 20 minutes of game time with a five minute half time break. Games usually take one hour to play.
The sport is a ‘gentleman’s game’ with no referees. While “officials” and coaches keep watch, it is up to the players to settle any disputes.
There is even a professional Ultimate league. The DC Breeze proudly represents the District of Columbia and the National Capital region. Go Breeze!
Registration & More
Registration: Poets & Pitchers play in fall and spring seasons. Check this website for updates.
FALL 2024 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN. CLICK HERE.
There are a couple of fees for Ultimate.
Registration Fees: P&P Club Dues are $175 for the fall 2024 season. This cost includes administration fees, field rentals, coach stipends, and registration fees for some tournaments. (Note: There may be additional fees for tournaments – see Tournament information further below).
Uniforms: The teams play as a home or an away team and wear a respective white or a black jersey depending on the schedule. Black team jerseys are purchased in the fall. Each P&P team has a different team jersey, one for Poets and one for Pitchers.
If you want to order a jersey be sure to mark the box on the registration form and the correct team. The price is $50 and includes a pair of shorts. You are not required to purchase a jersey. Wearing a white or black t-shirt is acceptable and also worn by team players.
This fall we are also offering a Poets & Pitchers hoodie (joint team logo). The hoodie is $35.
Poets & Pitchers welcome all players and encourage participation. Please contact us at poetspitchersultimate@gmail.com to discuss financial assistance.
Mark Your Calendars: The spring end-of-season banquet is currently scheduled for May 21, 2025 at Bannockburn Community Center. More information to come on this fun celebratory event!
Practices & Schedule
Practices/Fields: Fall P&P practices are held at various times and locations and take place two to three times a week. Unfortunately, during the Fall season we are unable to secure a dedicated field for practices so we piece together opportunities and locations.
We understand this is not the best case scenario and ask that players try their best to make as many practices as they can. If you are interested in carpooling email to poetspitchersultimate@gmail.com and we can help you connect with other parents.
Practices will begin on August 27 with the final practice scheduled for November 14.
Click HERE to see full schedule.
Our Coaches
Our Coaches are all seasoned Ultimate players and we are thrilled to have them coach the teams.
. AJ Merriman, Program Director and Head Coach, Whitman
Coach AJ serves as the program director for our program and head coach for the Whitman Poets. When AJ is not coaching, he is playing for the DC Breeze, our region’s local professional Ultimate team as well as the US National Ultimate Team. You can learn more about AJ by reading this feature in the Washington Post:
. Thomas Richards, Head Coach WJ
This is Coach Thomas’ second year coaching the Poets and Pitchers. He is from Silver Spring, Maryland and went to the University of South Carolina where he discovered the sport of ultimate. He has been playing ever since. Fun fact: Coach Thomas got to hike up Mt. Doom from Lord of the Rings.
. Spencer Heim, Assistant Coach
Coach Spencer has over 8 years of Ultimate experience, during which he was Captain of the Dartmouth College Men’s Team (D1) and a founding member of his High School team in Greenwich CT. His favorite spot on the field is as a D-line handler, especially during a fast break. Spencer lives in Bethesda with his wife Sarah and golden doodle Quincy (who would make a great frisbee cutter).
. Tayara Romero-Pena, Assistant Coach
All Poets & Pitchers coaches are mandated to go through a complete background check and complete required Safe Sport Training.
Tournaments
During the fall and spring seasons, Poets and Pitchers are invited to play in a few tournaments, including in Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Some of the costs are covered in the registration fee. However, there may be additional nominal fees to play in the tournaments as well as potential travel costs. It is not mandated for the players to participate in the tournaments.
Fall Tournaments currently being considered (watch this space for updates).
- Local Open Tournament, Sept. 7, Sligo Creek Elementary School, Silver Spring, MD
- Fall Fling (sponsored by WAFC), Oct 5-6. Reston, VA
- Coconut Classic Tournament, Nov 2-3, Freehold, NJ
GALLERY
Please click an image to view at full size.
CONTACT US
We invite anyone from Walt Whitman or Walter Johnson to join the team.
This is a co-ed league. There is no try-out, we accept any level of play.
Poets & Pitchers Ultimate
Please feel free to email to Poetspitchersultimate@gmail.com with any additional questions.
Board of Directors
Matthew D’Uva (WW), President
Jennifer Argabright (WJ) Vice President/Communications
Sam Le Blanc (WW), Treasurer
Melanie LeCount (WJ), Secretary
Debbie Brodsky (WJ), WJ Lead
Bill Wakefield (WW), WW Lead
Ellen Robinson (WJ), Fundraising Chair
Karyn Le Blanc (WW), Website Administrator
At-Large:
Marci Borenstein (WW)
Emily Kahan (WJ)
Sharon Lee (WW)
Brian Moore (WW)
Moira O’Kon (WW)
Susan Torres (WW)