Allison Boyd

Handler, deep cutter and middle cutter. Ironically, I have moved from downfield cutter to handler and back to primarily downfield cutter. I play in the cup in defensive zone.

I would consider a major accomplishment to be the many friends I have made over the years from my ultimate teammates. Another one is having the honor of being a captain of DV8, Rare Air and Jackwagon for 19 years, and a defensive strategist on Rare Air for two years. I grew so much as a player and person by doing so. I have been nominated for the Club Nationals Spirit Award two times. Certainly a major highlight of my ultimate career was receiving the Kathy Pufahl Spirit Award at the 2008 National Championship in Sarasota. I was the tournament director of a very large event, the St. Louis Classic, for two years (1990, 1991), and I coordinated the women’s division of the Boulder 4th of July tournament and of the Colorado Cup for eight years, beginning with the tournament’s inception in 2003. I have had a wonderful time leading women’s ultimate clinics through Grass Roots Ultimate in Boulder, Colo. In 2009, at Club Nationals, I was the oldest woman playing at the tournament and still the first one downfield on the pull on my team.

I’m probably best known for downfield cutting, my ability to get open and “shut down” defense, including layout blocks. My teammates have described me as a relentless cutter and a challenge to guard, that I always give 110% on the field, and that I play with passion, focus, intensity and determination. I pride myself on being a very tough defensive player. I took defense very personally and often matched up against the best offensive players on the other team. I will forever be a student of the game and love analyzing ultimate. I’m also best known for leadership on the field and within the teams I’ve played on – indicated by being voted a captain for so many years. I’m also renowned for being a leader off the field in support of my teammates, fun and antics. I think I won the hearts of most of my teammates by showing support and being their biggest fan.

Rare Air was the best team I played on – I was a handler for many years and then moved back to a downfield cutter in later years due to my cutting strength. I was relied upon to get open and I possessed the disc well. In 2008, I was the only player on the team with zero drops for the entire year. I also played the role of defensive leader on the field and often matched up against the toughest offensive players. I was a leader on the team both as a captain with strategy, practice planning, sub calling, etc., as well as psychologically with teammate support, written materials, articles and Michael Jordan quotes. I did my best to set the example on the field.

One of my personal factors which I believe contributes significantly to me being nominated for this honor is the duration of years in which I have been a highly contributing player on my team. I receive many comments regarding this. I’m not sure I could pinpoint a peak year – I feel I continue to learn from playing and expanding my knowledge of the game every year. I try to improve some aspect of my ability. I stopped playing on the most competitive women’s ultimate team in 2010, when the team changed to Molly Brown. However, I continued playing competitively on Jackwagon in the women’s open division through 2015, and I am still playing competitively in the women’s masters division, currently with Molly Grey.

Captaining and leading a top level women’s team for many years was very time consuming, and thus, I felt additional volunteer time for the UPA would be more than I could do. However, I ran some women’s skills clinics for a few years many years ago in Boulder, Colo. I remember consulting on changes to the rules with Eric Simon in about 1990 – that was along time ago. I have also served as an observer at Club Nationals in Sarasota. See below for other contributions.

I have volunteered at the local level for many years by running the women’s divisions of tournaments, including Colorado Cup for eight years, and running women’s ultimate clinics. I was the tournament director for the St. Louis Classic for two years. I helped start a new women’s team in 2010, Jackwagon. I believe I have supported many young players to the game over the years and fostered their love of the sport.

I love ultimate, I’m good at it and I’ve been playing it competitively for 33 years. I have been a leader on my team for most of those years. My teammates have respected me over the years for my playing ability, commitment, dedication and support as a teammate. I’ve matched up against the best women in ultimate. I have been looked to on the line to cover the best offensive player, and I’ve been relied upon to get open when the going gets tough. I’m a fierce player and competitor, but not with a “win-at-all-costs” mentality. I am proud of and greatly support Spirit of the Game. I believe I’m highly respected by my peers on other teams. I’ve enjoyed years of camaraderie with the some of best women players in ultimate. We can be intense during the game and drink beers together afterwards. I would be incredibly honored and humbled to receive this recognition.