What is it actually like to play on stream 🥏 ❤️ 📺?
Getting to play on stream as a player never gets normal.
Playing on stream is no small thing. There are many advantages to playing on stream: showcasing the sport to the world, to your friends and family; teams can analyze their own matches; teams can scout other teams; you get inspired by watching matches, and so on.
But for the player during the match, there is quite a bit to consider.
To begin with, the first time on stream. It's exciting. Suddenly, people can watch your game, it feels like someone is secretly watching you. Additionally, everything can be replayed. This created a strange kind of tension, at least for me, during my very first match on stream.
As you play on stream more often, this feeling diminishes, but it never completely goes away. When you start the warm-up, it crosses your mind again: who will be watching and what if I make the layout of my life or do something really stupid? During the game, this feeling fades, but after a great play in the team, you still hear the words: ‘It's on stream’. It creates a special atmosphere.
Even after ten years as an Ultimate player, a stream is something special. My entire development as a player can practically be seen on stream. My first final as a twelve-year-old girl can be found if you type in the words: U17 Final EYUC Lecco. And ten years later, my last final of Windmill 2024 can also be found on YouTube. My entire frisbee career is recorded, and that is something very special. And this is true for many European teammates.
Next to the facts that whole Ultimate careers are on tape, there are also extremely special moments that will never be forgotten because of the stream. For example the universe win from Chevron over Clapham will be forever there.
And despite ten years on stream, it always adds an extra tension to a match. As our wise Maartje Keulen (player at GRUT and the Dutch national team) always says: tension creates a special positive focus. And that tension is brought out in me by the stream again and again.
Through the work of ULTI.TV and other broadcasters, the sport becomes a step more ‘serious’ in so many countries and for so many players. This seriousness can translate into sponsor deals and partnerships which leads to growth. But coming back to the feels, the tension that players learn to deal with, the tactical lessons derived from the matches, and the growth of this special sport are all encompassed in the work of ULTI.TV.
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And hey, the season is not over yet, don’t miss the Junior Euros this coming week by EUF, where ULTI.TV produces the last 2 days, and the closer of the EUF Club Series (actually live now) with the Summer Tour and EUCF.
And you may or not have seen the announcements, but WBUCC will be streamed Free to Watch all week by us, in October!