New Beginnings

David Barram – After many years of playing competitive ultimate frisbee, I’ve sustained multiple concussions that have limited my ability to participate fully (mentally and physically) and that have shaped my disc sports career towards a new beginning. Ultimate frisbee has been a huge part of my life since early high school when I found a team there. For those that don’t know, ultimate frisbee is a seven vs. seven sport that flows like soccer and is played on a field roughly the size of an American football field. Moving up into the collegiate and club levels of play in the state of Oregon, I knew I had bought into an amazingly rewarding sport. The people I begun to surround myself with were super supportive in my growth as a player and as a human being. Knowing that I must step away from the sport as a player hurts immensely. Making decisions like this is never easy, nor should anyone pretend that it is. Pursuing what is best for us in the long run is what makes us who we are.

Once I was introduced into the sport of disc golf during the beginning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, I immediately fell in love with the culture and community that surrounds it. Ultimate frisbee, along with countless other team sports, were denied the ability to compete at a high level during this time-period. While much more individually led than ultimate frisbee, the comradery and spirit that I felt from others in disc golf was so welcoming and encouraging that I fully envision myself playing for the remainder of my athletic career. By pursuing the sport with the same work ethic and motivation that I push for in ultimate frisbee, I have been able to practice more and more every day and finish in the top three of all the tournaments that I’ve competed in thus far.

I cannot stray from ultimate frisbee too far though; I plan to come back to coach the University of Oregon’s college team that has given me so much during my time at the school and as part of the team. After this 2022 spring season concludes for ultimate however, the athlete in me will be full-time in the disc golf world. A big piece of this is tied to social media. I must create my own brand on different social media platforms and pursue ways in which I can grow my image and get my name out into the world. Performing well at tournaments is one thing but achieving a large presence on social media allows for people to know who I am, what I do, and what I represent as I move up the ranks in the sport. This is where I create an image for myself as well as build connections with other disc golfers and brands so that I can have my foot in the door with others whether it be for building friendships or creating opportunities for sponsorships. I have already won a NADGT Exclusive Event and received an invite to the NADGT Championships in the Fall! Growing as a person and a player will go hand-in-hand as I continue on this amazing journey we call life.