Main Line Athletic Camps’ first Coach of the Week this year is Michael Baer, who will be coaching multiple Ultimate Frisbee summer sessions.
Coach Mike turns 26 years old this month and has spent nearly his whole life in and around Lansdale, Pa. He got his start playing ultimate in 2003 while attending North Penn High School, and is still on the field to this day as a defensive handler for the Philadelphia Spinners.
“Everything about the sport of ultimate is awesome,” Mike says. “I love playing, coaching, watching, and anything else having to do with the sport.” Most of all, Mike points to the familial, community aspect of ultimate: “I love the family feeling that has come with every team that I’ve played on. Every step of my career, I made life-long friendships on each team.”
Mike has been coaching ultimate at Radnor High School for the past year, leading the JV Boys team to victory in the Philadelphia High School Division III Championship, while putting some time in with the girls’ team in his spare time. In the past, he’s headed numerous ultimate clinics put on by the Philadelphia Spinners, PADA, and other organizations.
Mike is thrilled to be bringing his talents to the Main Line this year, noting that “I love being a small part in the future of ultimate and sharing my experiences. The future of ultimate, especially in Philadelphia, is looking really bright.”
Having grown up outside Philly, Mike is also a die-hard Flyers fan. When he’s not cheering on his Spinners teammates, he can often be found cheering on the boys in orange and black: “Recently, my brother, Dave, and I had season tickets just to get as close to the action as possible all season long.” The pair has even attended two Winter Classics to show the team their support!
Mike has always placed special value on the role that teamwork plays in sports. When asked to cite any particular athletes who’ve informed his attitudes towards gameplay, Mike noted that Cal Ripken, Jr.’s “work ethic, love, and compassion for baseball” were always an inspiration.
Meet Coach Mike for yourself this summer by signing up for a Main Line Athletic Camps ultimate session! Visit https://mainlineathleticcamps.wordpress.com/ultimate/ for more information.
Tune in next week to hear from another one of our coaches.