Watching game tape

I'm sure a ton of different people can tell you a ton of different reasons why watching game tape is important. There are the "learn your opponents" reasons, the "learn what our team is doing poorly and improve" reasons, the "look for something someone does and try to emulate" reasons, and even the "just for fun" reasons. However, the reason I watch game tape, and a good reason for many others to watch, is to look at a game of elite ultimate players and say, "I can do that."

There are numerous other benefits to film, and I love watching players and trying to throw like them, or seeing how I can get my defender out of position before beating him up the line. But if you can watch a game and not be intimidated, instead thinking of what you can do in each situation, with confidence, you are ready. You may not have the physical skills yet, but you're mentally ready.

There are plenty of resources for those who want to watch game tape, but here are a few (most of which are readily available) that I like best (in no order):

Florida vs. CUT 2010 College Championship - Yes this game is a call fest, and most people agree that the game itself sucks. But watch for Florida's efficiency, because if it weren't for that, they wouldn't make it to quarterfinals, much less win it all.

Chain Lightning vs. Ironside 2011 Club Semifinals - One of the most up and down games I've seen, with a huge number of highlights. Watch for the plays and ask yourself, "Could I have known to do that there then? Would my throw/cut/D have been better, worse, or the same?"

Ironside vs. Sockeye 2013 Club Semifinals - Another instant classic. Only 3 turns by Ironside's O-line, all in the first half. 6 turns by Sockeye's O-line, but they got 4 of them back (2 bad throwaways, a point block, and a nice D on a hammer). Watch for Ironside O's efficiency in the 2nd half and Sockeye's O's defense (lots of D-looks for an O-line). Also watch for Ironside's inability to contain Sockeye's handlers, making everything else easy for Sockeye.

Sockeye vs. Jam 2004 Club Finals (you need Disc 1 for this one) - This game is a reprieve from so many years of boring ultimate. DoG was efficient and therefore boring. Revolver is dominant and therefore boring. Between 2000 and 2007, there were only 3 different champions (Condors, Furious, Sockeye), each playing their own exciting style, and this is the most easily attainable game to watch of that era (Edit: OK, 2nd most easily attainable, but I'd argue that the wind from 2007 finals makes it not as great). Watch for the admiration of the stones they had to do everything they did on universe point. Plus bonus: you get to watch a young Danny Clark dominate the skies while on Pike if you have disc 1.

Chain Lighting vs. Revolver 2009 Club Finals - This was the first great game I watched online, and I was blown away. Revolver's talent was great, but it was just Chain's year. They had the huckers, they had the in-cuts, they had the patience, and their D was phenomenal. Watch for Chain (other than the first couple points) to take what was given, whether that was hucks or incuts and dump swings. Watch for Rob White's vertical. Watch for the look on a bunch of Chain guys' faces when they win the title after hardly being in contention in years previous.

Honorable mentions:
Ironside vs. Doublewide 2011 Power Pools for mental toughness, Revolver vs. Chain 2011 Labor Day Finals for how a good team can just have a few bad breaks and seemingly get blown out, and Pittsburgh vs. Colorado 2011 College Quarterfinals for having ice in one's veins.