So you are going to your first college tournament? Here are some things that will help you survive the weekend and earn you some extra PT.

1. Learn what to pack. Don’t be the kid who has to ask for everything because they are a n00b.

2. Figure out who you are riding with, when you are leaving, and where you are sleeping before Friday at 5pm. Your captains have enough to deal with without having to corral 15 freshmen.

3. Ride with your fellow rookies. There isn’t a better opportunity than riding 3 deep in the back seat for 4 hours to get to know your new teammates.

4. If you have one of those unlimited cafeteria meal plans, go get a togo box and fill it with pizza, sandwiches, and cookies prior to getting in the car. This is especially important if you are in a car with older guys. We used to make the freshmen do this any time we had a van carrying the team.

5. Go over the rule book before the weekend. I’m guessing 95% of you new guys have never cracked it open.

6. Know how to get to the fields, and which field you are playing on first. Captains aren’t baby sitters.

So you are at the fields and getting ready to play. Your goal should be to not do anything stupid that makes your captain think twice about calling you on.

1. Always know what the force is. If you forget it for just a few seconds, your whole team is out of position. If you are off the field, know the force. If you are taking a midgame poop, know the force. Always know the force.

2. Play physical defense, don’t just chase your man around the field. This means putting your body on him and not being scared to initiate contact. Good defense means you get more playing time.

3. Don’t drop the disc if it is an easy catch. Catching is all mental, so focus on the easiest aspect of the game- catching. This means running through the disc as it comes to you, watching it all the way in, and then worrying about throwing. You can’t throw if you don’t have the disc.

4. Make smart decisions with the disc. A smart decision doesn’t always lead to a good throw, but the older guys can see what you intended to do. Your flick isn’t that good? Don’t try a 40 yard huck then. Fake the throw, and find your dump. Dumps make captains happy.

5. Be involved- bring guys on the field water during timeouts, celebrate after scores, help your teammates on the field, and ask questions off of it. This whole weekend is a learning experience, so ask about anything that happens you don’t understand.