What is a Llama |
The Llamas are a herd of independent ultimate frisbee players who have been known to gallop across ultimate fields throughout Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties in pursuit of their favorite food - flying plastic. These student athletes are culled from the intramural ultimate frisbee playing members of NHS in a self-selection process run by and led by the players. Llamas are motivated to take Ultimate past the intramural level and seek out games against other roving bands of frisbee playing high schoolers. The herd of Llamas have varied in size over the years but their ferocity for chasing plastic has never waned. They have seen soaring levels of achievment like winning the first annual Philadelphia Jrs. Championship, as well as high finishes in many other tournaments. In other years, the Llamas have decided that playing within the herd was more appropraite to their migratory patterns. Perhaps the best thing about the Llamas is that they are completely student-owned and operated. There are no coaches or even referees. The team is organized by player captains who follow the legacy of outstanding leadership started by Whit Llama in 1999. Each llama takes it upon him or herself to play at their highest possible level of competitiveness and intensity while at the same time ensuring proper respect for the safety of their opponent. Players are also charged with making their own calls on fouls and line calls in a fair and honest matter. All of these attributes stem from what is called the Spirit of the Game and is the basic tenet of the Ultimate Players Association (UPA.org). Locally, the Philadelphia Area Disc Alliance (PADA.org) had taken on the task of helping to organize and run tournaments for high school clubs through its Philadelphia Ultimate Education League (PHUEL). |
