C O L L EG E S E R I E S P R E V I E W • I N N OVAT I O N G R A N T W I N N E R S • CO O R D I N ATO R S O F T H E Y E A R
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THE ULTIMATE PL AYER ’S ASSOCIATION — SPRING 20 08
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Ultimate Players Association 4730 Table Mesa Dr., Suite J-200 Boulder, CO 80305
P: tish fagin
USA
ULTIMATE
Iowa’s PETER LYONS misses the d on carleton’s patrick baylis at missouri loves company.
Ultimate Players Association 4730 Table Mesa Dr. Suite J-200 Boulder, CO 80305 303.447.3472 www.upa.org info@upa.org President Mike Payne Executive Director Sandie Hammerly Board of Directors William Bartram Robin Davies Todd Demetriades Ricky Eikstadt Peri Kurshan David Lionetti Doug McLaughlin Mike Payne Joshua Seamon Henry Thorne Theresa Weber Kyle Weisbrod UPA Staff Matthew Bourland, Championship Series Manager Melanie Byrd, Membership & Outreach Director Will Deaver, Championships Director Sandie Hammerly, Executive Director Kelley Kneib, Communications Director Meredith Tosta, Youth Development Director
The Ultimate Players Association (UPA) serves as the national governing body for the sport of Ultimate in the U.S. The UPA is a player run, not-] for-profit organization based in Boulder, Colorado, USA. Founded in 1979, the UPA is the largest organization for the sport of Ultimate in the world.
USA Ultimate is the official publication of the Ultimate Players Association, published quarterly. All ideas expressed in USA Ultimate are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the UPA. USA Ultimate assumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Advertising Complete rates and specs are available online at www.upa.org/ sponsors Change of Address USA Ultimate is not forwarded by the post office. To update your address, visit www.upa. org/members For a complete list of UPA contacts, please visit www.upa.org
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ta b le
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contents VOLUME 28 .1
President's Column A Year of Change with the UPA
Hall of Fame Inductions
Best Perspective
The Economics of Self-Officiating
Innovation Grant Winners
Alumni Give Back at Winona State College College Open Preview
College Women's Preview
Elementary School Ultimate Begins to Sweep the Nation 2007 UPA Coordinators of the Year What's the Call?
A Q & A with UPA Standing Rules Committee
Injury Timeout Ankle Sprains
Mission Statement
To advance the sport of Ultimate in the United States by enhancing and promoting Character, Community, and Competition.
Cover Shot: Karl Doege on Arkansas’ Ludicrous Speed Comes down with the disc against claremont’s nick gerber AT PRESIDENT’s day in San diego. P: scott roeder
WWW.UPA.ORG
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P resident ’ s
C olu m n BY: Mike Payne President, UPA Board of Directors
A Year of Change at the UPA This year is a very exciting and challenging time to be a Board member at the UPA. After spending approximately 2 years working on the Strategic Plan as well as other projects, 2008 is seeing much of this intense work translate into real change. I’d like to highlight some of the most exciting changes going on right now at the UPA. “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” - Norman Vincent Peale The Peale quote is particularly relevant when it comes to the change I’m most excited about – a fundamentally new Mission Statement for the organization, for the first time in over 7 years. “Why such a big deal,” you might ask. “After all, a mission statement is just words on a page – what is the UPA going to do differently?” Well, a good mission statement - properly used - is as powerful as any action because it focuses the plans and actions of everyone associated with the organization. Examples of words driving change abound, but here are two I like: P erhaps the most famous mission statement of all time is John F. Kennedy’s from May 25, 1961: “…this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth.” B en and Jerry’s corporate mission statement helped make it the best-known ice cream brand in the US, and more importantly kick-started the corporate social responsibility movement in earnest: ”To make, distribute & sell the finest quality all natural ice cream & euphoric concoctions with a continued commitment to incorporating wholesome, natural ingredients and promoting business practices that respect the Earth and the Environment.” During my 5 years on the Board, I’ve discovered that the UPA, like Ben & Jerry’s, is truly a mission-driven organization. The Board, staff, and volunteers of the UPA are all made constantly aware of the Mission, and the big decisions that have been made in the past 7 years have been checked against the UPA’s Mission. You can anticipate the same mission-driven focus to be true when it comes to the new Mission Statement, developed based on member input, and adopted in February by the Board of Directors: “To advance the sport of Ultimate in the United States by enhancing and promoting Character, Community, and Competition.”
I can’t tell you how excited I am about this Mission Statement – I believe it represents a great combination of vision, values, and the tangible work that the UPA will do to advance the sport. I thought it would be helpful for me to break down the new Mission so our members understand why it’s such a powerful statement: Advance the sport of Ultimate: Research during the Ultimate Revolution suggested that our player-members wanted two things at the highest level. First, they wanted more and better opportunities to play Ultimate. Second, they wanted others in the US to develop deeper understanding and appreciation for our sport. We felt that “advance” was an appropriate term to use to capture these two concepts. I n the United States: Inserting this clause was a carefullyconsidered move. A huge majority of our members live in the US, and we are officially recognized as the governing body for Ultimate in the US. Additionally, in the research conducted during the Ultimate Revolution, very few stakeholders expressed a desire for the UPA to expand its efforts outside the US. Given these factors, and all of the other new areas of focus contained in the soon-to-be released Strategic Plan (e.g., new competition structure, increased focus on other parts of the Ultimate community like alumni and parents, etc.), we decided that a more explicit focus on US Ultimate was appropriate. Our goal here is to prioritize efforts that advance the sport for US-based Ultimate community members – this will include many programs that are exclusively focused on US members, but can also include programs that extend beyond the US… as long as those programs significantly advance Ultimate in the US. Enhancing and promoting…: As mentioned above, we have the dual goal of making the sport better and increasing awareness/ appreciation of the sport. Research during the Ultimate Revolution made it very clear that our members felt there were three aspects of Ultimate that make it so worthwhile. We’ve chosen to articulate these aspects as:
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Character: Members felt that the personality of the Ultimate community was an essential part of the future of the sport. An overwhelming majority associated this personality with ‘Spirit of the Game,’ and with this in mind we have instituted a Standing Committee of the Board of Directors whose job is acting as steward of SOTG within the UPA (reach out to Doug McLaughlin, the chair of the SOTG Committee, if you want to know more or have ideas!). Of course, many members felt that the personality of Ultimate encompassed, but included more than just SOTG. As such, we felt that the term “Character” would accurately represent members’ desire to keep the Ultimate community’s personality front and center as we advance the sport. Community: In my opinion, our focus on “Community” is the biggest change from the past UPA Mission Statement, which was almost exclusively focused on players. Our research clearly showed that the Ultimate community includes many groups beyond players that are passionate about the sport and the UPA, and can help us to advance the sport. This broader community includes former players, coaches, observers, parents/relatives, school administrators, corporations, other Ultimate-focused groups like camps and leagues, and more. The Board made the decision that in the next 5 years the UPA will focus significant effort on the expanded Ultimate community and thus it is a key part of our new Mission. Competition: At the end of the day, our sport would not be Ultimate without on-field play. For almost three decades the UPA has been at the forefront of creating opportunities for people to play Ultimate at a variety of levels. With the new mission this focus will not wane – we’ll seek to provide opportunities for new categories of players within the UPA Series, to re-structure our competition format to make the experience more fulfilling for current players, and to work with other groups like leagues to make Ultimate competition more rewarding for their constituents. I hope these thoughts help you appreciate the power of the UPA’s new Mission Statement, as I do. In the end of course (as Peale probably recognized), simple thoughts and words can’t change things on their own – now that we have our new Mission, we have to execute against it… a sentiment well-summarized by Richard Bach. ”Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you're alive, it isn’t.” - Richard Bach As I mentioned above, with the completion of the Strategic Plan and creation of a new Mission Statement, the UPA is renewing its focus on Ultimate in the United States. Furthermore, we continue to act (in our bylaws as well as in the eyes of the World Flying Disc Federation and the IRS) as …”the governing body for the sport of Ultimate in the United States.” As a shout-out to this renewed focus, we have chosen to change the name of this magazine from Ultimate News to USA Ultimate. We’ve also coincidentally adopted a new design look for the magazine which we hope is fresh and interesting to our readers.
Will the content of USA Ultimate change from previous versions of the magazine, by virtue of our focus on the US? Perhaps a bit. We’re committed to using the magazine to emphasize the “Community” part of our new mission so you may see more features about the extended family of Ultimate in the US. Changes to come – release of the UPA Strategic Plan, a new website and better online services.
To advance the sport of Ultimate in the United States by enhancing and promoting Character, Community and Competition.
There’s more good stuff on the horizon. I don’t want to get into too much detail since many of the upcoming changes are not yet in place, but here are a couple you can count on in the next 6-9 months: Release of the Strategic Plan: At the Board meeting in January the UPA Board discussed and approved ~50 initiatives that will be pursued during the next 5 years. The UPA staff is currently in the process of determining exactly how and when each of those initiatives will be implemented. When that work is finished we will release a public Strategic Plan communications document. And at that time, the UPA Board, staff, and volunteers will get down to the business of implementing the Plan! You can read about many of them in the ‘snapshot of key ideas’ from this effort at http://www. upa.org/upa/strategic-planning. New website and online services: As I mentioned in my Letter in Spring 2007 the Board has devoted significant resources (approximately one hundred fifty thousand dollars) towards creating a completely new IS infrastructure. This investment will keep dues lower over the long term since we will not need to pay humans to do work like transcription, roster-checking, and payment processing. Plus, it will allow our members to spend less time worrying about administrative steps (like paper waivers and rosters) and more time enjoying the sport. The ‘first release’ of the new UPA web resources are anticipated by the end of 2008, and the many improvements will likely include an integration of many existing online tools. A few new features include member profile pages, bulk registration and dues payments, more robust tournament and event databases, broader search capability, score reporting and the one I’m most excited about – online waivers! As always, please reach out to your UPA Board representative or the staff at UPA headquarters if you have any questions. Best, Mike
WWW.UPA.ORG
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Hall of Fame
inductions
The Ultimate Players Association (UPA) recently inducted four individuals
to the Ultimate Hall of Fame. The Ultimate Hall of Fame was established in 2004 to honor the men and women “who by their deeds as Ultimate players and/or contributors, and by the example of their lives, merit acknowledgement by all individuals involved in the sport of Ultimate.” The UPA recently got a chance to talk with these amazing players about some of their favorite memories of the sport and what being inducted into the Hall of Fame means to them. Player Category Christine “Teens” Dunlap (Watertown, MA) led Lady Godiva, the most successful women‘s team ever, to nine national Women‘s Club titles between 1988 and 2002. She is regarded as one of the best allaround players in the sport. Teams: UVM (‘86), NY Women‘s Ultimate (‘86-‘87, ‘90), Lady Godiva (‘88-‘89, ‘91-‘02) Dan Weiss‘s (New York, NY) intelligence, skills, and spirit were hallmarks over 3 decades of play with top teams on the East and West Coast; widely respected by peers, with one of the sweetest back hand hucks ever. Teams: Cornell (‘78-‘79), Flying Circus (‘79-‘85), Spot (‘86), NYNY (‘87-‘93)
Christine “Teens” Dunlap
Dan Weiss
Harvey Edwards (Selinsgrove, PA) could be one of the first major athletes to compete and lend legitimacy to Ultimate; his leaping ability and dedicated sportsmanship elevated his game among his peers. Teams: Bucknell (‘76-‘78), Flying Circus (‘79-‘83), Boozy Idiots (‘84-‘90), Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove (‘91-‘95)
Contributor Category Harvey Edwards
Brian Murphy
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Brian Murphy’s (Manitou Springs, CO) contributions as the second National Director of the UPA enabled the organization to grow into the incorporated, players’ organization it is today. As a practicing lawyer, he helped rewrite the 8th Edition Rules, established tax exempt status, and provided pro bono legal work to Ultimate and related disc organizations over 3 decades. For a more detailed bio on these players and past inductees, check the Hall of Fame area of the website at http:// www.upa.org/hof.
“A Conversation with Legends of Ultimate” When did you throw your first disc? Brian: I don’t remember when I first threw a disc, but I remember when I first tried to throw a forehand – my junior year in college around 1976. The newly-formed Ultimate team was made up of my buddies and I wanted to come out, so my roommate took me out to the backyard and taught me a forehand. Of course, some of your readers will insist that I still never mastered the throw. Harvey: While I had tossed a Frisbee™ once or twice before this, I remember being in Central Park, summer of ’75 watching a long-haired guy named Dave free-styling in the meadow. I stared in amazement as he caught it between his legs, behind his back, and then he did a nail delay, and I was hooked. I approached him and asked how he did that and he shared the early secret of silicone. I went back to Bucknell and appeared as a wizard, and the marginal free-style skills I demonstrated captivated enough people to form the nucleus of the Bucknell Mudsharks. Dan: After some very minimal play as a kid, I really threw my first one in about 1974, as a freshman at Cornell. Christine: I think I first threw a Frisbee™ at age eight or nine. I grew up on Long Island where life centered around the beach. I loved to throw on the beach, in all kinds of wind. Even then, I had the feeling that throwing the Frisbee™ was something special.
Did you ever think you would be inducted into the Hall of Fame? How does it feel? Brian: When I was doing my thing for the UPA, the idea that there would ever be anything like a Hall of Fame seemed pretty outlandish. It’s very gratifying. I can honestly say that I did what I did for the UPA and the sport without any thought of personal glory, but it’s awfully nice to get some recognition now.
Harvey: Because I was one of the early founders of a college Ultimate team that had remarkable success and because I played with some incredible people who have been and will be inducted, I had hoped this would happen. It is a tremendous feeling! This sport is about respect for other players more than any other sport that I’ve played. That is why this recognition is such a great honor. Dan: I never thought about the HOF, partly because it did not exist, but more because... well, it just never entered my mind. While I was playing, I was simply consumed with the passion of play. It is an incredible honor, and I still have a smile! Christine: I never really expected to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I always felt I was just a part of the team, just a cog. So, I am quite honored to be inducted, but I also feel it honors the accomplishments of my team, Lady Godiva.
Who do you think deserves to be in the HOF that is not currently? Harvey: Finlay Waugh, Henry Thorne, John Sinnenberg, Roger Sheppard and Peter Farricker are all deserving. Christine: I think Molly Goodwin deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Her winning percentage at the UPA National Championships speaks for itself. Molly competed at the Nationals (Women's division) from 19912002. In that time, she lost only 2 games and each of those games were lost by only 1 point. I have not done the math, but that makes her record at Nationals something like 80-2, and who knows what her record is in the Series (Sectionals, Regionals). Besides her record, which stands alone, she was a leader on every team she played for. She is a wonderful teacher and strategist, and amazing teammate.
Tell us about the first trophy or championship you won. Brian: Pennsylvania State Championships in ’78 with the Bucknell Mudsharks, followed about 1 year later by California State Championships with the Flying Circus. In my first three years of Ultimate, I think I lost a total of 3 or 4 games. Harvey: More so than any trophy, the greatest honor in college was being seeded number 1 at the Easter Regional tournament after only our first full season of play in 1976 and 1977. We had defeated all the top teams: Glassboro, Penn State, Rutgers, Princeton, et al. Unfortunately we did not seal the deal. However, as far as a trophy goes: Solstice 1982, Humboldt Harvest 1980, WUCC Masters ’91 (Toronto), ’93 (Madison), ’95 (Street, UK). Dan: As a rookie, I was fortunate to play with a veteran and talented Cornell squad and we won Easterns (the era of only 2 regions) against future national champs Glassboro, in a very windy game. We then went to Santa Barbara later in the summer to play the Condors for the national championship and 3 days before the game in a scrimmage I slipped and separated my shoulder and could not play in the big game. Huge disappointment! Christine: I won my first National Championship the first year I played on Godiva, in 1988. It was very exciting because it was my first trip to Nationals and I didn't know what to expect. That year we ended up playing the other Boston women's team, Smithereens, in the finals. That was an interesting way to end the season after having played them so many times that fall. The stadium where we played the finals was sunken into the ground, so to leave, you had to walk up the stadium steps. I got to carry the trophy out of the stadium, through the crowd when we left. I can't even describe how happy it made me to hoist that trophy above my head. I had no idea on that day that I would have many more chances to do so. I feel very lucky.
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Describe your favorite moment in your Ultimate career. What was going through your mind? Brian: Too many to count, but I’ll throw out two: standing on the podium and hearing the Star Spangled Banner in a huge soccer stadium in Sweden after winning the first World Ultimate Championships with the Rude Boys in ’83, and winning the first World Masters Championships in ’91 with the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove – my lifelong buddies. It was fantastic to achieve such a huge accomplishment with such a great group of friends. Harvey: My greatest moment would be the WUCC Championship in 1991. Our team came together to play with over twenty players from a dozen different states. Our first game, after a hiatus of more than 10 years, was against a German team; and we had no idea how we’d gel after such a long break from college or club play together. We spanked the Germans 19-3 and felt we could win it all. However, our one loss in the preliminary rounds was to the Third Coast (Texas team) and we faced them in the finals. I had nightmares of once again losing the big one; however we dominated them and that started our run of three straight crowns. Dan: One of my favorite moments in my career was just prior to the championship of the Summer Solstice tournament in Eugene,
Oregon in 1980 or 81, when the Flying Circus (my team) was about to play the Condors. They were routinely kicking our butts in those days, and I was a bit psyched out, so I had a little pre-game walk and talk with myself in which I tried to convince myself that I was unstoppable and I should not be intimidated by them. We went on to win a fantastic game that went to the cap, and I played one of my best games.
Do you have any mentors? What did they teach you? Brian: One of my greatest thrills is to go into the Hall of Fame alongside Harvey Edwards, who was my teammate with Bucknell and the Flying Circus, and later with the Seven Sages. He pretty much taught me the game. He has always personified for me what Ultimate was all about: great athletic skills coupled with great sportsmanship and a great attitude. An all-time great teammate. Harvey: I essentially was a pioneer and as I was exploring my way in the sport, I had no real mentor. Dan: My earliest mentors were 2 Cornell teammates JC (Jon Cohn) and Jim Herrick. Jon for his incredible throwing skills and Jim for his unparalleled intensity and enthusiasm for the game. Christine: I have had some amazing players as mentors. First, Heather Raker, who first taught me how to play. I met her when I was
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in college, and she taught me that to be a good thrower, I had to throw every day, and she used to get me out everyday. Another mentor of mine was Peg Hollinger. She taught me about the strategy of the game, how to move the Frisbee™, how to make adjustments, and how to win. Her uncanny ability to see the field and make adjustments was unsurpassed. I have to say that Molly Goodwin was also a mentor to me. She taught me that a game is never over until the last goal is scored.
What did you learn about life from playing Ultimate? Brian: What I have always loved about Ultimate, and what sets Ultimate apart from the other sports, is that it requires a level of personal responsibility from each player. In basketball, you’re taught that a “good foul” is one that you get away with, but there’s no such thing as a “good foul” in Ultimate. You must take responsibility for your own actions on the field. I’ve had countless people tell me over the years that the sport needs referees if it’s going to grow, but I’m glad we haven’t succumbed to that. Harvey: The most beautiful aspect of Ultimate is the humanity and Spirit of the Game that is pervasive in the sport. Without officials, referees or umpires the sport demands that the players deal with each other and work through disputes. I learned from Ultimate: Life is tremendous. What makes it such are the beautiful people who find their way to the dance with the disc! Dan: Hmm.....that good things come to those who really want them. That it takes lots of hard work too to achieve what you want. And that working together is essential to accomplish success. All pretty standard stuff, and certainly applicable to my Ultimate experience.
BY: Kyle Weisbrod
b est
perspective
The Economics of Self-Officiating For anybody who follows sports news, the past couple months have been full of rules controversy. Taking the limelight away from a terrific Super Bowl and an exciting basketball season, there have been two major incidents of rule breaking in professional sports. First, Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, has been accused of violating NFL rules by filming opposing team’s practices since 2000. In baseball, Roger Clemens has allegedly used steroids and Human Growth Hormone to improve his performance on the baseball field.
The challenge that these incidents present is how to ensure that rules that are on the book are followed. The obvious answer is to provide greater enforcement of rules through increased oversight and policing. The NFL could hire investigators to uncover rules violations like the videotaping by the Patriots coaching staff. Major League Baseball could invest in regular drug testing for all of their players. At all levels of every sport, there is always room to invest more resources in policing the sport to ensure that the playing field is fair. However, more policing always comes at a cost. Policing takes personnel and financial resources in order to work. Additional resources that are spent on more personnel are resources that cannot be spent on the athletes that play the sport, the promotion of the sport, or the outreach to increase the number of participants. Plus, there is always a limit to policing. Players
P: Scott Roeder
Sports and competition are made possible by set rules that allow two or more teams or individuals to test themselves against each other to determine which one is the best. When one competitor chooses to not play by the rules of the game, the outcome is no longer an accurate reflection of the competitors’ skills or abilities. This leads to asterisks, names erased from record books, and the general feeling the there are no true champions.
Observer Greg Connelly steps in to de-escalate a contentious call in the Wisconsin vS. Carleton game at Trouble in Vegas.
and coaches cannot be watched all of the time for both financial and privacy reasons. The more complicated solution is a moral appeal to competitors to follow the rules, even rules that are not being actively monitored and enforced. This concept, based on the principle that sport is most enjoyable and worthwhile when competitors are bound by the same set of rules, is what we call “Spirit of the Game.™” In fact, this concept is not the sole province of Ultimate. In one football related blog, in a discussion about the Patriots rule breaking, several commentators appealed to Spirit of the Game including one who wrote, “Everything Billy B.
did was against the rules, and it defeats the purpose and Spirit of the Game.1” On the other side of the sports spectrum is Golf. Golf, like Ultimate, has a Spirit of the Game clause in their rule book that reads: “Golf is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players and to abide by the Rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the game of golf.2” continued on pg 31
1
http://fannation.com/blogs/post/154104
2
http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/pdf/2008ROG.pdf
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innovation
grant
winners
On an annual basis the UPA awards financial grants to local Ultimate organizers seeking to create new and innovative approaches to promote the growth of Ultimate and which will serve as models for other to implement similar approaches in their communities. Noted below are the projects chosen by the Innovation Grants Committee for support in 2008. The UPA also wishes to thank VC Ultimate for its sponsorship of this year’s program and their generosity in providing a $100 VC gift certificate to each grant recipient in addition to the grant awarded by the UPA. For more information on the 2008 Innovation Grant projects, visit the UPA web site at http://www.upa.org/grants/winners.
Revision of Sports Medicine Section in UPA Coaching Manual $50 / Jamie Nuwer, Fremont, CA As formal UPA coaching training will be required over the next few years, the training offered in sports medicine should serve as a useful and relevant resource. Through this grant the sports medicine section of the UPA Coach’s Manual will be revised. The revision would expand the section and cover management and prevention of common injuries encountered in Ultimate. Timely management of the five most common medical problems by coaches could certainly decrease suffering of their players and reduce playing time lost. Coaches will better understand the implications of various injuries for training and return to play. Ankle sprains, muscle strains, acute knee injuries, acute shoulder injuries, and shin splints, topics already covered in USA Ultimate articles, will be included. Other potential topics include: first aid kits, concussions, heel pain, asthma attack, sports nutrition, and finger sprains and dislocations.
Ultimate for PE Credit
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$250 / Jonathan Hillis, Austin, TX In Texas, there is a fast growing Ultimate community. Unfortunately, with the popularity of sports like football and basketball, Ultimate is eclipsed at the high school level by sports offering physical education credit for participation. Efforts will made to establish an Ultimate class for PE credit in the Austin Independent School District (AISD) in order to create more interest in Ultimate and expand the Ultimate community. At the Liberal Arts and Science Academy, there is a diverse population of students drawn from all over Austin. The goal is to establish a model there for other schools around Texas to have similar classes that will count towards high school graduation PE requirements.
ULTIMATE « SPRING 2008
Digitizing UPA Championship Statistics for Release to the Public $250 / Alex Peters, Doylestown, PA Although the UPA has recorded statistics from the semis and finals of UPA championship events for many years, data has only been released to the public in the form of stats from the Championship finals in the USA Ultimate magazine. Historically, the stats have been compiled on paper and stored by the UPA. Through this grant, these paper documents will be sorted and digitized in a manner that can be more easily available, accessible, and searchable by the public, as well as for the UPA's own records. The project will incorporate data for all divisions for which the UPA has statistics.
First Season’s Stats $250 / Patrick Peterson, Waynesville, NC Through the First Season's Statistics Project (1SS) a new system of Ultimate stat-keeping will be tested by tracking an amateur spring league team for ten weeks of play in unprecedented detail. Using the new system, the 1SS Project team will interact with players and captains to determine how such quantitative investigations can help assess game by game performance and potentially change the way we look at Ultimate.
Tucson Ultimate Resource Library $300 / Lisa Shipek, Tucson, AZ The proposed project would create a public collection of books and DVDs on Ultimate. The collection would include a number of instructional books on how to play Ultimate and the history of the sport, along with a series of DVDs on college and club Ultimate, and Ultimate fitness. The collection would be housed by the Tucson Public Library system, and therefore, anyone in the community would be able to check out the resources and see what is available online. In this way, the resource would be free to the Tucson public, and could be used by high school teams, college teams, club teams, and other interested parties. Once the collection is started, it would be periodically updated with more recent DVDs and books.
Operation Scoresheets $600 / Bob Krier, Boulder, CO In order to create a starting point for standardized stat keeping system, efforts will be undertaken to create a single repository of stats for more than one team with a variety of styles and types of scorekeeping. Because a variety of types of scoresheets will be captured in the new system, it is proposed that such a database will guide an evolution in scoresheets and Ultimate’s ability to capture and market data on individual players.
Pioneer Scholars Ultimate $665 / Lauren Gardner, Durham, NC The Pioneer Scholars Ultimate project is a partnership between the Emily Krzyzewski Center, a nonprofit organization, and Duke University Men's Ultimate to introduce low-income youth from the Durham community to the game of Ultimate. The objectives for the youth served are to instill a love of the game, a commitment to character and SOTG,™ and a desire to attend college. The objectives for the volunteer coaches are to reinforce fundamental Ultimate skills through teaching, gain experience as a coach, and instill the benefits of giving back to the youth Ultimate community. This will be a multi-year partnership and hopefully serve as a model for other college/community partnerships.
Soweto Development Clinic $850 / Ankur Udani, Johannesburg, South Africa The Soweto Ultimate Development Clinic seeks to promote Ultimate in the township community in South Africa. We will use Ultimate as a vehicle to get children (between the ages of 5 and 12) playing sport outdoors and absorb the values it represents. Thus far the children have displayed limitless energy and enthusiasm; this project will go toward propagating that into the future and encouraging similar exercises across the country.
Co-ed Turkish Ultimate $910 / Sean Cox, Istanbul, Turkey Experienced ex-patriot and Turkish Ultimate players will teach the game to new players and train existing players in technical and leadership skills as well as gender equality values at clinics across Turkey. Two two-day sessions will aim to jump start the growth of co-ed Ultimate in Istanbul and Adana’s tiny Ultimate communities. Hosted on college campuses, the clinics will target university age
players. Training will include discussion of the rules, team organization strategies, gender issues involved in co-ed Ultimate and instruction in leading a team as well as practical work on the fundamental skills and strategies of the game.
Camp SOTG
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$1500 / Andrew Norman and Sam Bellin, Pittsburgh, PA Camp Spirit of the Game™ is a Pittsburgh-based initiative bringing the game and ethics of Ultimate to children ages 8-13. The idea is to make the enjoyment of Ultimate the centerpiece of a camp experience devoted to systematically teaching sportsmanship and conflict resolution skills. A unique set of “Spirit Drills” designed to teach the fundamentals of respectful engagement, dispute management, and
self-control will be employed. Among summer sports camps, Camp Spirit will be unique for its innovative approach to conflict resolution skills. Campers will learn the “Spirit of the Game” ethic that Ultimate has successfully instilled in tens of thousands, but beyond this, special drills and role-playing activities will help kids learn how to de-escalate and resolve heated conflicts as well as to learn and play organized Ultimate.
To Apply for 2009 Innovation Grants, visit http://www.upa.org/grants
WWW.UPA.ORG
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Alumni Give Back At Winona State University BY: Eric Enge
P: Eric Enge
After the 2003 Winona State University Ultimate Alumni Reunion, Eric Enge ‘89, captain of 2007 UPA Club Masters finalist Surly, was inspired to create a scholarship fund to help fund WSU Ultimate players’ college education. But it wasn’t until last year that he picked up the phone, was connected with the WSU Foundation office, and found out how easy it would be to make it happen.
Winona State gathers for a group photo at their 20th Year Reunion.
“Surprisingly, this was super easy and my scholarship administrator, Cathy Sieracki knew exactly how to tailor this,” stated Enge. “Let’s face it. Universities need money and they will bend over backwards to help you figure out a smart way to make it happen.” Part current needs, part endowment, the Suzanne M Enge WSU Ultimate Club Scholarship Fund was “created in my mom’s memory who supported me in sports all of my life,” according to Enge. Initially, one student will be awarded $500 per academic year, with the hope that the award will increase with time. So far several contributors have committed to giving $43,000 over the first ten years. The goal is to grow the endowment to $100,000, allowing an annual award of $6000. According to Enge, there is considerable value (above the financial ones) to having the scholarship run through the University, including enhanced status provided to the WSU Ultimate teams. When former WSU Ultimate players are solicited as Alumni to give to the school, they can direct their contribution to something they really care about – the Ultimate team – something that was not possible before.
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In addition, having the fund has helped to legitimize Ultimate’s presence within the university community. The fact that alumni of WSU Ultimate have established the scholarship is exactly the kind of action
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that Alumni Association’s seek, and provides opportunities for inclusion on the University’s web site, catalogs and publications. From Enge’s experience, once contact was made with the University the process to set up the fund was pretty straightforward. The first step in the process involved developing a draft document outlining the fund’s terms, including its purpose, selection process, eligibility requirements, timing and amount.
Let's face it. Universities need money and they will bend over backwards to help you figure out a smart way to make it happen. In Winona State’s case, the purpose is: To encourage and support students participating in the Ultimate Club while attending Winona State University. Eligibility requirements include the enrollment as a full-time undergraduate student, a major declared, status as a sophomore, junior or senior, and an overall GPA of 2.5 or better. Recipients must also submit a two page essay describing their
involvement with the Ultimate Club. Final selection of the award is made by the Ultimate Club’s faculty advisor, Todd Paddock, an assistant professor in the Sociology Department. The WSU Ultimate Club Board of Directors (Alumni Board) also has the ability to review the candidate applications. Enge feels the selection process will be competitive and embodies the spirit Ultimate Team members are known for. Another goal is to help students maintain a balance between extracurricular activities and academics. Steps two through four: Make a contribution to the fund to make it official; sign the final agreement with the University; start planning events and spread the word. The entire process took about a month, and involved a few emails and phone calls. Making the first contribution was easy, and Enge hoped that through his actions other WSU Ultimate alumni will be inspired to contribute to the fund. The first to jump on board was former women’s team member, Michelle (McLaughlin) Fries. Fortunately, Winona State Ultimate already has an active Alumni Board composed of friends who played in the 1980s (Enge, Fries, Angie Ogren and Greg Glaser). Starting with the ten year reunion of the Club’s founding at WSU, the group has held reunions every five years, with activities ranging from a social event on Friday evening, vote for Hall of Fame candidates and a reunion game on Saturday. The WSU Open team was founded in 1978, the women’s team in 1988. The Ultimate Club even has a trophy case in the field house that the Alumni Board manages. Scheduled for September 12-14, the 2008 30 Year Reunion event will have a special presentation: announcement and presentation of the first scholarship to a deserving WSU players before WSU Ultimate players and alumni, University and local community leaders. After four years of Ultimate at WSU, two years in London playing in a number of European Ultimate tournaments, a year competing with Windy City Ultimate, 5 years with Buddha Boys, 3 years with Sub Zero, and now four years with Surly, Eric Enge hopes to inspire fellow WSU alumni to contribute to the fund, and hopefully encourage other college Ultimate alumni to establish similar programs at their alma mater. “Now is the time to give back,” says Enge who also coaches the Eden Prairie High School Ultimate team. For more information on how to get started with similar alumni programs or a scholarship fund in support of the Ultimate Club at your college or university, or to participate in the 2008 WSU Ultimate alumni activities, please contact Eric Enge at eenge@comcast.net or cell (612)860-0188.
NEW for 2008…
College Team Start Up Kit! If you are starting a new college team then we have just the thing you need. The College Team Start Up Kit contains: • Cones • Discs • Rulebooks • Posters • Ultimate 101 Instructional DVD • Ultimate Fitness DVD • 2004-2005 College Championship DVD • Instructional Manual …and more! Special rebate offers apply to teams that qualify.
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Go to http://www.upa.org/outreach/college/ starter kit for details. P: Matt Lane (top) P: Jason Mechler (bottom)
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BY:Chris Spittal
prev1ew I know, I know. We’ve seen this before, right? With the winners of the past two UPA College Championships establishing themselves as the odds-on favorites to once again take home the trophy, this season seems to be playing out like a predictable movie we’ve all seen before (think making a second “Tommy Boy” and calling it “Black Sheep”). The thing about movies, though, is just when it seems you have it all figured out, you’re blindsided with a twist that nobody saw coming, and you walk away pleasantly surprised. So while you may expect one of these “favorites” to win the 2008 College Championship, there are a handful of teams hoping to write their own twist into this college season and walk out of Boulder with their heads held high like Kevin Spacey at the end of “The Usual Suspects”.
Wisconsin (CN)
If you need a safe pick for a team to make a deep run at the College Championships, go with the Hodags. Sure, the defending champs lost Callahan Winner Dan Heijmen, but their veteran roster includes Brandon Malecek, Will Lokke, Matt Rebholz, Shane Hohenstein, Drew Mahowald... should I keep going? The Hodags have undoubtedly established themselves as a composed, aggressive defensive team with 100% player commitment to win every game they play. Wisconsin started their spring thaw early by winning Mardi Gras, Trouble in Vegas and the Stanford Invite, which might just set the stage for a second straight run to the championship.
Florida (AC)
Though a Quarterfinal loss to North Carolina at Classic City Classic robbed Florida of an early season slugfest with Wisconsin, it’s safe to say they are playing about as well as the Hodags this year. Their athleticism is amazing and by cycling their top players in and out of handler/ cutter positions keep defenders on their toes all over the field. Kurt Gibson is good. So is his supporting cast, as teammates like Cyle Van Auken and Brodie Smith (2007 Freshman of the Year) give Florida a great mix of smooth, efficient offense, tough D and a sick deep game. Georgia will be a tough Regional match-up, but Florida should be making a run alongside Wisconsin in Boulder.
Carleton College (CN)
Carleton took Florida to the brink in the Quarters at last year’s Championships, but fell just short in the end. With a younger roster, some would expect this to be another rebuilding year. CUT begs to differ. An insanely talented young core took down Wisconsin at Missouri Loves Company with some quick disc movement, but that was in November. They also beat California - Santa Barbara and Colorado in Vegas but had a lackluster 15th place finish at the Stanford Invite after a few unfortunate losses. How quickly CUT grows will determine how deep CUT goes.
Georgia (AC)
Let’s be honest — Losing Mr. Everything Dylan Tunnel hurts. But Jojah isn’t losing any sleep over the split. Georgia’s becoming more well-rounded (see: less reliance on the deep game), and it’s paying off. Coming off a 15-13 loss to Florida in the Final of A Florida Affair, and a 15-14 loss to North Carolina in the Semis at Queen City, Georgia is close, but definitely has room to improve. Just getting to Boulder will be tough, however, as Georgia will compete with the likes of Florida, UNC and North Carolina State at a stacked Atlantic Coast Regionals.
Claremont and Arkansas battle for the disc at President’s Day in San Diego.
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OPEN prev1ew Colorado (SW)
Last year’s runner-up at the College Championship lost some key pieces that allowed them to make a run in Columbus. They also posted an uninspiring performance at Trouble in Vegas. So why is Mamabird in this conversation? They’re Colorado. The Jolian Dahl and Mac Taylor show is tough to stop but it’s no surprise this team consistently churns out a lot of huge athletic studs – namely freshman Hylke Snieder and senior Kevin Schipper. Though they’ve been the Southwest Region’s dominant team in recent years, Mamabird will have a hard time making it out of its region sans Beau Kittredge, let alone contending for a title if they can’t keep their fundamentals in check.
California - Santa Barbara (SW)
Black Tide has caught some unlucky breaks in recent years, but seems poised to make a big return to the College Championships. Santa Barbara returns a solid core of players that nearly clipped Colorado last
year for the Southwest Region’s only spot at the Championships. The Tide has shown it can hang with the top teams at Trouble in Vegas, but their spotty record and their X squad results from President’s Day make their success difficult to predict. They will have to show they can beat the big contenders before they make reservations for Boulder.
Oregon (NW)
Nobody’s going to be surprised to see Ego at the Championships again, but Oregon will have to play a high level of Ultimate more consistently to make some noise in Boulder. Ego has posted wins over Colorado and Carleton in Vegas, but came up short against Wisconsin, the team that knocked them out of the Championships a year ago. At the Stanford Invite, two close pool games with Colorado and Las Positas bumped Oregon into the consolation rounds, but they eventually finished a respectable 13th. With Dusty Becker and Eli Friedman leading the experienced group, Ego could end up spoiling someone’s season.
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P: andrew davis
Stanford bloodthirsty's chris mccarty gets a block on a huge backhand from Wesley Stratton of California UGMO.
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P: Tish Fagin arleton’s Adam Fagin on the run against Harvard’s C Dave Lipson in the 3rd place game at Trouble in Vegas.
Texas (SO)
TUFF has appeared in the Quarters of the College Championships three years in a row, but that’s as far as they’ve gone. Texas has played well at times this year, beating Regional foe Arkansas and a talented Arizona team on its way to winning President’s Day with only 9 guys, made it to the Semis at Mardi Gras as well as the Stanford Invite. Texas looks like they’re having fun and should be in Boulder come May, but TUFF needs to build momentum and improve throughout the series if they want to make it into the final rounds.
Illinois (GL)
Illinois has been stuck in Champaign in May recently, but this year could be different. Not only do they appear to be the early season favorite to make it out of the Great Lakes Region, but they’ve built an impressive resume by beating Texas, Colorado and Oregon. Their upperclassmen have been playing together for several years now and are ready for their hard work to pay off. Illinois feeds off their leader, Joel Koehneman, on both sides of the disc, but will have to minimize mistakes and learn to close out games to pull out big wins at the College Championships. Stanford was one of the teams that looked like it would challenge Wisconsin at last year’s Championships before it all fell apart in the Semis. Bloodthirsty might have lost a few players from last year’s squad, but Stanford has a nice mix of youth and experience — plus having one of the best players in the country in Mark Sherwood definitely helps. Though Stanford had a disappointing early showing at Santa Barbara, they bounced back at their home tourney, earning a second place finish behind Wisconsin. Expect Bloodthirsty to be ready to make yet another run in May.
P: Liz Moul
Stanford (NW)
Rusty Ingold Smith on UNCW throws a quick backhand at President’s Day in Wilmington, NC.
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P: andrew davis
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california-Santa Cruz’s tj smith LAYS OUT at the Santa Barbara Invite.
On the Cusp: Arizona (SW) Arizona has been burning up opponents all North Carolina State (AC) year, but they really burst on the national scene at Trouble in Vegas where they took out Florida and lost in the final to Wisconsin by just one point. Not many saw Arizona coming, but many are wondering if they can keep it up or just end up a shooting star. With their intense, all-out style of play, Arizona should have the chance to snag a bid in the Southwest Region.
The Wolfpack burst back onto the national stage in a big way by winning Queen City Tune Up, where it scored big wins against Ohio State and Pittsburgh, as well as two impressive wins against North Carolina. This team didn’t lose many players after their rostering debacle of 2007 and will be out for blood in their late season tournaments, Terminus, Centex and Easterns. It will be interesting to see if NC State can continue its success in a tough Atlantic Coast Region.
Michigan (GL) Though Michigan fell just short of qualify-
Pittsburgh (ME)
With a number of returners from last year’s team, Pitt looks like the favorite to qualify from the Metro East, though they will be challenged by Delaware, Maryland and Cornell. Say what you want about these teams, but it wouldn’t be wise to sleep on teams from the Metro East at the Championships. (Just ask Florida).
Harvard (NE) Though they stayed home last year, Red
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Line has a good chance to return to the College Championships this Spring. They appear to be the early favorite in a wide-open New England Region thanks to a solid performance in Vegas, but will have to fend off teams like Brown, Williams, Tufts and Dartmouth for the top bid.
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California’s Ben Ewing FIGHTs for the inside position against Stanford’s Jacob Speidl at the Santa Barbara invite. P: Andrew Davis
ing for the Championships last year, they got a huge boost with the transfer of Will Neff and return of Ryan Purcell, arguably the best handler in the region. Michigan is definitely looking strong after winning Mudbowl and going toe-to-toe against top club teams at Club Terminus. Perhaps not as deep as other teams, MagnUM will have to fight off Illinois and a tough Ohio State team who isn’t quite ready to give up their spot at the Championships.
Starting SevenNow that we’ve got a glimpse D usty Becker, Oregon
Becker serves as the field general for Ego, as the offense is dictated through his quick cuts and ability to throw the disc from anywhere. Whether he’s sporting his braided hair from last year’s College Championships, or the slightly overgrown beard from the 2007 Club Championships, Becker will be hard to miss.
of the top teams vying for the Championships, who are some of their standout players?
Kurt Gibson, Florida
Joseph Kershner
Gibson does it all for Florida. A front-runner for the Callahan Award, Gibson can control his team’s flow with an array of throws, run long and sky his defender off a huck or shut down an offense with his D.
Joseph Kershner, Arizona
Will Lokke, Wisconsin
While Wisconsin has a team of game changers who can make big plays, Lokke may be the most fun to watch. One of the best deep threats in the country, no disc is too high or too far for Lokke. And while he shines on O, he’s also no slouch on D.
P: Scott Roeder
The surprising play of Arizona has been a great story in college Ultimate this year, and Kershner has been at the center of it all. While he may appear to be more scruff than star, the bearded one is a well-rounded player who has been torching teams all year with huge throws, sick grabs and willingness to sacrifice his body for a huge bid.
Mark Sherwood, Stanford
Mark Sherwood is another name everyone should have on their short list of Callahan nominees. He can do it all for Stanford, and make it look easy, as Sherwood will grab the reins and control any game on any stage, big or small.
David Vuckovich, Ohio State
While he may be a little stubborn on the field and can rub people the wrong way at times, when Vuckovich lets his playing do the talking, he ends the conversation. His ability to come down with the disc in a crowd, put it deep at the drop of a hat or get a D from anywhere on the field leaves men frustrated, but leaves the ladies wanting more.
P: Alex Peters
The South Region’s 2005 freshman of the year is all grown up and has become the leader of TUFF’s offense. With a wide variety of throws and overall athleticism, Pressley has been raising eyebrows for years.
Will Lokke
Stephen Pressley, Texas
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UCLA’s Angie Sanan snatches the disc out of Jenny Founds’ grasp on stanford at the Santa Barbara Invite.
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P: Andrew Davis
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Jordan McPhee on UBC at tempts a high flying l ayout D against Ben Feldman of Wisconsin at THE Stanford Invite.
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women’s
BY:Jessica Sipperley
prev1ew In the world of college Ultimate, the fall is used as a teaching period, to bring team members together through teaching the game and refreshing skills and strategy. Fall tournaments show brief glimpses of brilliance, but are often characterized as stepping stones to a more aggressive spring season. By this time, after weeks of hardcore training, the serious contenders have distinguished themselves from the rest of the pack. They are traveling to the premier tournaments across the country in preparation for the UPA College Series, which culminates with the National Championship Tournament on May 16-18 in Boulder, Co. As the weather and competition start to heat up, teams start to eye high finishes in the series. Here’s a look at some of the top contenders for the 16 Championship bids.
Stanford (NW) Experience is usually a telltale sign of a championship contender, and Stanford Superfly illustrates this notion perfectly. Coming out of the highly competitive Northwest region, Superfly has locked down the national championship for the past three years. The team most recently knocked off the Burning Skirts of CaliforniaSanta Barbara in 2007 to claim the title. Led by captains Elizabeth Cassel, Krystal Barghelame and Kara Johnson, Superfly wasted no time establishing itself as one of the high caliber teams in the country with a championship win at the Santa Barbara Invitational in January. Stanford showed some early signs of success in pool play at their home tournament, the Stanford Invite, but lost to a fired up Washington the last round of the day. On Sunday, they narrowly defeated USC in pre quarters and fell to another regional rival, UBC, in quarterfinals. Are the reigning champs losing their winning touch or were these losses just a mid-season hiccup? Last year, Superfly similarly had some pre-series losses at Centex and the Stanford Invite but managed to come out on top when it really mattered. While many other teams will be gunning for Superfly, in the end their depth and extensive championship experience might put them just out of reach.
British Columbia (NW) The University of British Columbia will have a strong spring season and will leave many opponents in the dust at the top-caliber spring tournaments: that's basically a guarantee. Whether UBC will be able to emerge with a bid to nationals from the stunningly talented Northwest region remains to be seen, but odds seem to be in their
favor. Loaded with immense skill and depth (a 26-woman squad?!), UBC will use the competition of the next few months to heat up for the nationals race. Led by handler Kira Frew and supported by several Canadian Junior Worlds players, UBC laid the foundation for a successful season this year at Trouble in Vegas in February. The Thunderbirds pulled out a win from regional rival Washington, 12-8, clinched a tight game against Texas, 8-6, and eked out a win over UCSB, 13-12. The team’s only roadblock seemed to be UCLA from the Southwest; during two match-ups, UBC fell twice, 9-10 and 8-12. These two teams met yet again at the Stanford Invite in finals. UBC did not have enough momentum on their side to come up with a win and lost 9-13. Despite this being their 3rd loss to UCLA, UBC has a great chance to become a national qualifier and will emerge victorious when it really counts.
Washington (NW) From the region that has produced the National Champion since 2001, the Washington women know the exhaustive battle to qualify for the Championships. They also know it's totally worth it. Relatively new to the Nationals scene, EleMEnt qualified for nationals for the first time in the team's history in 2005. At their first major spring tournament, Trouble in Vegas 2008, EleMEnt wasted no time, with victories over South region powerhouse Texas, California-Santa Barbara and Carleton College. With only two losses over the three-day tournament, the Washington squad has proven it can hang with top teams in the country, but what about their own region? EleMEnt is boosted with the talented Claire Suver
Kathryn Pohran goes up against Colorado StatE AT Trouble in Vegas while her teammate Sara Banks backs her up. Ottawa went on to win the tournament against UCLA 14-10.
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women’s prev1ew and Shannon O'Malley, who also play for the 2007 Club Championships semifinalist, Riot. At the Stanford Invite, Washington blazed through pool play and early qualifying rounds but came up short during semis in a nail biter against UCLA 12-13. At Centex, with most of the premier teams in the country in attendance, EleMEnt will be ready for tight competition that will preface the regional race to nationals.
UCLA (SW) From a region that has already been given one strength wildcard, BLU (Bruin Ladies Ultimate) knows what it will take to pull a bid to Nationals out of this tight region. The West Coast is known for dominating the women’s Ultimate scene, and BLU seems to be right on track with this mentality. At the Santa Barbara Invitational in January, the team earned second place after a loss in the finals to Stanford, but BLU also beat Stanford Superfly in a pool play game earlier in the weekend. At Trouble in Vegas, BLU ran up a victory tally of eight straight games before falling to Ottawa 14-10 in their only loss of the weekend. The team had key wins over Texas, California and Colorado State over the course of the tournament. BLU finally captured a first-place title at President's Day over the following weekend, going undefeated during the entire tournament and beating Northeastern 15-11 in the finals. UCLA also won the Stanford Invite, but it seems all the top teams are now nipping at their heels, as is evident with the onepoint victories they had over Carleton (quarters) and Washington (semis). Taking away their big threats in thrower Angie Sanan and
P: Andrew Davis
Katie Berezan on UBC goes up to make a solid grab at the Stanford Invite.
receiver Cheryl Prideaux could be the key to shutting down their long game. With such an impressive resume and a clear knack for pulling out close wins, UCLA will certainly make a splash in regional competition and could earn an elusive nationals bid.
California Santa Barbara (SW) After coming this close to clinching the honor as the best team in the country in 2007, UCSB will definitely be out for redemption if they qualify for the tournament in Boulder. And with their performance so far this spring, it looks like they could be headed in that direction. The Burning Skirts finished in fourth place at the Santa Barbara Invitational, but their first two losses, against Stanford and UCLA, came at only one- and two-point deficits, respectively. UCSB also pulled out one-point victories over California-Santa Cruz and California, showing their ability to finish out tough contests. At Trouble in Vegas, the Burning Skirts made another splash, emerging with wins over Oregon and Cornell. The team also pulled out two wins over Colorado, with scores of 11-9 and 9-7. UCSB has had a lot of tight competition so far in the spring, and experience in downto-the-wire games will only help them as the start of the series approaches. With their nicely spaced H stack and sick long throws, Katie Barry and Andrea Romano lit up the field for the Skirts at the Stanford Invite. They upset Wisconsin in pool play and defeated Oregon by 1 in quarters but came up short in semis with a double game point loss against UBC. The Burning Skirts are racking up the experience against the top teams in the nation so look for them to come out of the unbelievably competitive Southwest Division with a high finish at Regionals and a likely bid to Nationals in tow.
The University of Michigan (GL) The ladies of Flywheel from the Ann Arbor area exploded in the fall, taking the titles of two premier tournaments, Elite Eights and Classic City Classic. The road to Nationals seems bright if their domination of regional competition continues. Solid handling and backfield speed characterizes this team, and decisive victories over Indiana, Michigan State and Northwestern paved the way to first place at their home turf indoor tournament in January.
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In spring competition, Flywheel impressively dominated pool play as the top seed at Queen City Tune-Up in North Carolina, never allowing a team to come within five points. However, title hopes were dashed as U-M fell to a home state team from North Carolina University, 10-3, in the semi-finals. Michigan is lacking experience against the Top-10 teams, but they didn’t lose to Wisconsin by much at the Texas Throwdown, The team plans on making a final trip to Terminus in Atlanta in preparation for the Series. Let’s hope it will enhance Flywheel’s skill and flow even more, taking them on to Nationals qualification after a strong regional performance.
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P: Andrew Davis Stanford’s Rebecca Schwartz lays out for a disc that got tipped by the defense but finds it too far out of reach.
Wisconsin (CN)
This team from Madison is no stranger to national competition, as they've been a qualifier for many recent years. Led by captains Georgia Bosscher and Courtney Kiesow, Bella Donna got down to business at Mardi Gras XXI during their spring season opener. The team racked up seven wins over the weekend, five of them in a dominating manner: these teams never got within 10 points of the eventual victors. Continuing their prowess at Trouble in Vegas, Wisconsin earned key victories over Oregon and Illinois, and pulled out a win in a solid game against California, 9-8. Artfully balanced with a mix of rookie and veteran players, Wisconsin has done an excellent job of integrating the team into the same focus and flow. Bella Donna won the Texas Throwdown 15-10 over Michigan but struggled to find it’s groove at the Stanford Invite. Without at least 4 of their starters, they suffered close losses to UCSB, Carleton and Texas. Will they still be a national contender come April? Perhaps Centex will tell us more.
Carleton
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Ottawa (ME) The Metro East Region might not get as much hype as the western side of the country, but Ottawa will be clamoring for a bid to Nationals and the chance to hang with some of those talented West Coast squads… again. Ottawa ran through Trouble in Vegas right to the championship, with nine victories and no losses over the three-day tournament. Over the first two days of Trouble in Vegas, Ottawa’s closest game was a 9-5 win over North County; in the remaining five games, no opponent tallied more than three points on the Lady Gee-Gees. The last day proved to be the most challenging, but Ottawa took it in stride, beating Northwest region contender Washington, 10-6, and edging out the Central Region’s Wisconsin Bella Donna 13-11. A 14-10 victory over powerhouse UCLA BLU put first place in Ottawa’s pocket. These three wins presented national-caliber teams with the unfamiliar situation of being on the losing side. However, not attending any more US tournaments could be detrimental to Ottawa, as they won’t have seen any of the top women’s teams until late April.
Out of nine games over a draining three-day tournament, Carleton only stumbled twice. The team lost to Oregon and Washington, by identical 9-13 counts. However, the team defeated national contenders the University of Western Washington and UCSB, both from western regions, by 13-10 and 13-7, respectively. Syzygy tacked on another win over Western Washington to close out the weekend. This team typically peaks late and steadily improves as the season wears on as is evident by their up and down performance at the Stanford Invite. Carleton has proven it can stick with national caliber competition at this point, and this dedication is likely to stay with the team until the series begins.
P: Andrew Davis
Familiarity does not breed contempt in the Ultimate world, especially in the case of the Carleton squad. Syzygy has qualified for the biggest tournament of the year for 18 of the last 19 years. From Northfield, Minn., the Carleton women began to prep for broader competition with a trip out west to Trouble in Vegas in February. The Minnesota winter weather doesn’t quite agree with Ultimate Frisbee, and Syzygy knew just meeting the competition in their part of the country wouldn’t cut it.
Teresa Feng for UC Davis Pleiades at the Santa Barbara Invite prepares to make a catch.
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women’s prev1ew Texas (SO) With the dates for Nationals already
Wisconsin’s Jenny Gaynor runs down a pass, leaving washington players in the Dust at Trouble in Vegas.
In Memoriam
EleMEnt, the University of Washington women’s ultimate frisbee team, has been mourning the loss of our captain, Sarah Plants. Sarah passed away in early February after battling brain cancer. With her vibrant spirit and fun-loving attitude, Sarah and Ultimate were a perfect match. She showed us how to act selflessly in the name of friends and teammates, and could bring out the best in all of us. Sarah’s exuberance is everywhere in the fabric of UW EleMEnt, and will never
P: andrew davis
P: Anna Nazarov
blocked out on the team calendar, Texas Melee has a purpose for scheduling their highly competitive season so far ahead, and it goes back to the fall of 2007. Texas lost out on their regional bid last year to Truman State, and started to work for it right away. Melee beat Colorado at Elite Eights in November, but was handed close losses by Truman State, 10-11, and Wisconsin twice over, 11-13 and 7-11. Revenge was sweet at Classic City Classic, with an 11-7 win over Wisconsin and a 7-1 overall record for the weekend.
Melee hopped back on the winning train as the spring season picked up, claiming the Florida Winter Classic championship in January. The team had key wins over Emory and North Carolina over this weekend. At Trouble in Vegas, Melee had several strong victories, but couldn’t get past UCLA, 4-5, or UBC, 6-8; both close games, but it wasn’t quite enough. At Stanford, Texas was definitely holding its own with wins over Cal, Brown and Wisconsin but failed to convert in the quarters against Washington and got worked 4-15. As for national aspirations, a strong regional performance is needed in a region without any wildcards, but Melee looks poised to give such a show.
Milena jovanovich on uscb goes for a trailing edge catch at THE stanford invite.
be forgotten. With sick grabs and bids on the field and her contagious love of life; she embodied all that we stood for. Sarah is our captain and our season will be dedicated to her. Every catch, every throw, every cheer, every victory and every defeat; she’ll be in our hearts. - Heather Ann Brauer and Lisa Niemann, UW EleMEnt
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Sarah with husband Doug Sumi
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P: tish fagin Beth Mynar of Carleton throws past Alyssa Weatherford’s mark on Western Washington.
On the Cusp: So they're not in our top 10, but that doesn't mean they can't snag a bid to the biggest tournament of the season. Here's who else to watch out for as the regional competition stiffens.
California (NW) This Berkeley-based team tends to get lost in the fray with all that talk about Stanford and UBC, but some scrappy games going in their favor could make the difference… and a back-door bid to nationals. The Pie Queens finished in third place at the Santa Barbara Invitational, with a win over UCSB in the third-place game, but the team was tripped up in Vegas by the likes of Wisconsin and UCLA. Some game-changing moves – helped by lucky bounces – could move the momentum for Nationals in favor of California.
Washington (NW)
This team is another strong contender from the Northwest, and their spring line-up shows they aren’t messing around. The team earned bids to the Stanford Invite and Centex for the first time in the team’s history. Western did struggle at the Stanford Invite but the dynamic duo of Alyssa Weatherford and Hannah Kreilkamp could still keep Chaos in the mix and sneak in underneath a regional rival who is considered a shoo-in.
Tufts (NE) Tufts finished in 11th place at the 2007 Championship tournament, impressively breaking their 15th-place seeding, and the ’08 series will likely see another stand-out performance from this team. After some decisive wins at Trouble in Vegas in February, Ewo will go to Terminus in March to match up against some teams that will likely go on to Nationals. With solid team flow and key disc skills, Ewo could be going with them.
Pittsburgh (ME) As their name implies, this team can spell Danger for others, with their speedy downfielders and talented handlers. Danger made it to the quarterfinals of the Queen City Tune-up, with wins over Emory and North Carolina, before falling to Georgia, 9-11. At Huck of The Irish, though expected to win it, Danger lost in semis to NYU, the eventual champions. At Centex, Pittsburgh will meet more competition from across the country and see what it will take to get to Nationals in May.
Illinois (GL)
The ladies of Menace had six wins at Trouble in Vegas, but disappointingly went on a 5 game losing streak at Texas Throwdown in February. The team hung close with Wisconsin during one of their matches that ended in a loss, and also barely fell to UCLA, 10-12, in Vegas. Hanging tight with national experience could put this team right into the tournament, especially if the Great Lakes region receives a size wildcard bid.
Colorado (SW)
Colorado has been a solid team so far this season, with many of their losses coming by this much: 6-8 to Truman State, 8-10 to Wisconsin, 9-11 and 7-9 to UCSB. Coming together as one combined squad at Stanford will help the team to solidify and settle into their roles among their leaders Heather Waugh, Julie Fast and Amy Smith – a recent transfer from Emory. A few breaks here and there, and Colorado will have wins over some very talented – and Boulder-worthy – teams.
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Starting SevenWe’ve Emily Baecher, Michigan
Michigan Flywheel has been building a solid program for the past few years with her as handler. Baecher leads the team with solid disc skills and speed...and watch out for her threatening IO forehands and high release backhands to shift the tempo of the offensive attack.
all dreamed of our fantasy starting line-up, but now we've got access to all the women in the country. Who's going to be on that first line?
P: Anna Nazarov
With Junior Worlds player distinction, a Freshman of the Year honor and a nomination to an All-Region team, this junior is looking to add a Championship to her impressive list of accolades with her accurate throws and solid leadership.
Kira Frew, UBC
Kira is one of the quickest, most talented handlers in the college game today. The UBC offense relies on her amazing low break throws and is integral to their success. Not only is she at the top of her O game with an unstoppable arsenal of throws but she serves as a top defender too.
Anne Mercier, Ottawa
Megan Molteni, Carleton
This hard-to-cover handler is squirrelly, always involved with lots of quick give and goes. Megan is especially good at guarding handlers, shutting down easy dump passes and putting a lot of pressure on big throwers.
P: Anna Nazarov
Anne has great throws, plays sick man defense, and is just an all-around great athlete. Drawing from her experience on the Capitals, she is a huge young leader for that team and will be contributing to the Lady Gee Gees’ success for the next 3 years.
Angie Sanan, UCLA
This senior has stepped up huge as UCLA’s go-to handler this year. Angie has an amazing variety of aggressive throws and is all over the field contributing to her team’s winning 31-5 record.
Claire Suver, Washington
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Claire has a ton of experience at the highest levels of youth, college, and club competitions which clearly brings a great intensity and skill set to EleMEnt. She is Washington's main thrower and generally runs the show with Shannon O’Malley and Lisa Niemann downfield. Claire breaks the mark pretty much at will and has some of the best hucks in college Ultimate.
ULTIMATE « SPRING 2008
Georgia Bosscher
Angie Sanan
Georgia Bosscher, Wisconsin
Elementary School Ultimate Begins to Sweep the Nation How You Can Get Involved BY: Cliff Towne and Andy Rosenberg
Pound for pound, the hottest Ultimate being played in the L.A. Area, may not be on Fusion, Monster or Smaug – but rather 232nd Street Elementary. That's the team that won this year's L.A. Unified Elementary Ultimate tournament, which featured over 400 flicking, cutting, hammer-throwing 3rd-5th graders.
Isn’t 8 Too Young To Be Throwing Blades? Clearly not. 9 -12 yr olds take to the game like cleats to grass. “Those of us who play know the game is great, says Cliff, “That’ll never become more clear than if you show it to 4th and 5th graders. When we leave the playground, they always ask, ‘Are you coming back tomorrow?’” The kids get good, too. Cliff dares any adult to try and guard 10 yr old Diego Jimenez of Ivanhoe Elementary (2nd place at last year’s tourney).
An Elementary School Near You A new alliance has formed to support players like you to bring Ultimate to Elementary school kids in your community. We’ve found that the best approach includes working through local Rec Centers or established After-School Programs. The formula that has worked in L.A. consists of an eight week season followed by a culminating tournament. Many after-school providers operate in several schools within a community and are eager for new activities. The Spirit of the Game character/sportsmanship component is a great selling point for administrators, and the fun of Ultimate immediately hooks the kids. While club and college level Ultimate thrives in many communities, youth programs are still fledgling movement. The Rhythms of Life Foundation, in alliance with the UPA and Wham-O is now supporting any College, HS or club level players who want to bring Ultimate to kids in their community. We can help you to: » Earn $20 an hour coaching, training or supporting local afterschool programs. » Be equipped with Elementary School Teaching Kits which include an instructional video, the UPA approved Disc Skills Curriculum from Rhythms of Life and 8 UPA approved Youth Ultimate discs from Wham-O. » Become part of an open data base/network of players, coaches and organizations who are excited and devoted to bringing disc sports to kids.
Elementary Nationals and Documentary Film To promote the sport at this level, a national tournament is being planned, which will bring together young Ultimate players from around the country. A number of cities have already expressed interest in fielding teams, including LA, Seattle, Austin, Atlanta, Burlington, and Amherst. To our knowledge this is the first time there has been any national tournament for this level of Ultimate. A documentary film will follow different players/ teams as they prepare for and then compete in the tournament. The inner city makeup of LA’s program ensures that the tournament will include a diverse mix of backgrounds, which will only enrich the emerging youth disc culture.
Contact Us
P: Daily Breeze
For the past ten years, Cliff Towne has been bringing a love of plastic to the playgrounds of over 50 inner-city elementary schools in L.A. Now the time is ripe for this incredible success to spread to elementary schools across the country.
If you would like to be part of our youth disc movement by joining our database, getting involved coaching or sponsoring youth Ultimate in your community, or learning about the national tournament please email us: Cliff ctowne@pdga.com or Rosey rosey@rolusa.org. Also visit the youth section of the UPA website at www.upa.org. The UPA endorsed Rhythms of Life Disc Skills Curriculum for elementary and middle school students is available for free, at www.rolusa.org/frisbee, where you can also see a short video clip of Cliff’s kids in LA.
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C oordinators
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Ever wonder who it is that makes the UPA Series happen each year? It’s someone just like you in many ways — someone who loves to play Ultimate whenever they can and who also juggles school, a job and/or family obligations — but who also takes on the extra challenge of helping to ensure the organized operation of the UPA Series in your section or region. Last year, close to 200 people took on the role of UPA Sectional or Regional Coordinator. These dedicated volunteers worked hard to serve as the primary link between you and the UPA, providing information on how to participate in UPA events as well as making sure that these events provide a fun, quality experience.
UPA COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : OPEN DIVISION Regional Coordinator of the Year
Michael Degnan – Southwest
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“Degs did an outstanding job heading up the Southwest Region. His level of independence and knowledge not only provided assurPlease take time to review the list of 2007 College and Club Coor- ance that everything would be handled smoothly, but he also dinators. The next time you see them, the UPA encourages you to took a proactive approach to recognizing potential issues and join with us in showing our appreciation by saying “thank you” for dealing with them before they became problems. It was natuthe time and energy these individuals put in to ensure everyone’s ral for him to communicate with teams and organize Regionals, and we look forward to more of the same for the 2008 season.” enjoyment of the sport. Jeff Kula – National College Director Of this great group of people, a few UPA coordinators stood out this Honorable Mention: Nick McDuffee – Great Lakes past year for their exceptional efforts.
The UPA recognizes these individuals for their extraordinary contribution over the past year in serving the Championship Series, the organization, and the greater Ultimate community. UPA COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : OPEN DIVISION Sectional Coordinator of the Year
Cole Richter – Central Plains
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“The number of teams in the Central Plains was way up from years past – there was not even an established format for the number of teams in 2007. Cole worked very well with the new teams to ensure they knew exactly how to join the UPA and what to do for Sectionals. He communicated early and often with all teams, which allowed for Sectionals to run smoothly. Every team knew what was going on before the tournament, which meant they were in the right place at the right time during the event.” Nick McDuffee – Great Lakes
UPA COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : WOMEN’S DIVISION Sectional Coordinator of the Year
Farrell Sullivan, Jr. – Colonial
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“For yet another year, Farrell did an awesome job with the Colonial Section. He is consistent and reliable in his organization of the section and his communication with teams, and it is comforting to all of the players to know that his Sectionals will be a well-run event. Above all, he promotes spirited Ultimate – which extends throughout the section.” Kristen Love – Metro East Regional Coordinator Honorable Mention: Johanna Watson – Central Plains
Honorable Mention: Michael McNeil - Bama
THE 2007
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UPA COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : WOMEN’S DIVISION REGIONal Coordinator of the Year
Kendra Frederick – New England
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“2007 saw many Sectional events postponed or canceled due to weather. However, due to Kendra’s diligence and preparation, order was maintained in the New England Region. Her ability to adapt to whatever circumstances were presented and arrive at efficient and practical solutions transformed a situation that could have turned disastrous into a well-run College Series for all the teams. We all appreciate her efforts, and I personally look forward to working with her again in 2008.” Jeff Kula – National College Director
UPA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : MIXED DIVISION REGIONal Coordinator of the Year
Jon Ladd – Northwest
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“Jon did an excellent job as Northwest Mixed Regional Coordinator in 2007. He is very quick to communicate and is involved in providing support for his Sectional Coordinators. All his events were booked well in advance of the deadlines and he showed initiative in managing the seeding and formats of his events. I am glad to report that Jon will be returning for 2008, so the Northwest can look forward to another year of good service.” George Cooke – National Mixed Director
Honorable Mention: Jessica Huynh – Southwest, Shannon Bunn – Great Lakes
Honorable Mention: Dan Furfari – Mid-Atlantic, Shiellah Quintos – Northeast
UPA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : MASTERS DIVISION Regional Coordinator of the Year
UPA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : OPEN DIVISION Sectional Coordinator of the Year
Stan Marshall – Mid-Atlantic
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Danny Karlinsky – Northern California
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“Working with Stan was a pleasure for me as the National Masters “Danny not only ran a classy Sectional tournament, he also found Director and, more importantly, for the players of the Mid-Atlantic time to help with the Northwest Regional field fiasco and was Region. Stan epitomized efficiency and professionalism in his work instrumental in helping to fill out the field of teams at the tournaand his communication. His knowledge and implementation of the ment. Danny came on late in the process, stepping up when the spot policies and procedures of the UPA Championship Series were exem- vacated suddenly and did an excellent job.” Ben Wiggins – Northplary. Stan and Honorable Mentionee J.R. Reynolds have both decided west Regional Coordinator to end their tenures as Masters Regional Coordinators. They will be Honorable Mention: Shane Rubenfeld – Oregon missed.” David Raflo - National Masters Director Honorable Mention: J.R. Reynolds - South
UPA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : OPEN DIVISION REGIOnal Coordinator of the Year
UPA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : MIXED DIVISION Sectional Coordinator of the Year
Geoff Doerre – Northeast
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“Geoff Doerre has been an excellent Regional Coordinator in the Northeast for many, many years. But, this isn’t a lifetime award. Holly Wright – Rocky Mountain photo 6 Geoff excelled in all areas of being a Regional Coordinator this year “Holly volunteered early in the year in order to schedule the tourna- organization, management, communication. You name it. He did it ment early and have a smoothly run tournament; she succeeded well.” Adam Goff – National Open Director on both counts and I heard positive feedback from the tournament participants.” Jill Van Wie – Southwest Region Mixed Regional Coor- Honorable Mention: Ben Wiggins – Northwest dinator Honorable Mention: Mark Aagenes – Big Sky, Dawn Dunleavey – East Northeast
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UPA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : WOMEN’S DIVISION Sectional Coordinator of the Year
Rachel Derscheid – West Plains
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“2007 was Rachel's rookie year as the Sectional Coordinator for the Women's Division in the West Plains. Coming in to develop a section that generally has only a few teams that compete at Sectionals, Rachel used an advantageous Regionals location to build a sectional tournament that was doubled in size. Her on-the-field enthusiasm translated well into the drive to see growth in one of the smallest sections in the Central Region. The women’s division is lucky to have her on board.” DeAnna Ball – National Women’s Director Honorable Mention: Kellie Diehl - Florida UPA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : WOMEN’S DIVISION REGIONal Coordinator of the Year
Beth Nakamura – Northeast
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“The Club Series has benefited by having last year’s College Women’s Sectional Coordinator of the Year working as Regional Coordinator for the Women’s Division. Beth has stepped up her game and it shows in the hard work and effort she puts forth for the Northeast Region. Beth’s abilities translate into efficiency and confidence– qualities necessary when coordinating the regional tournament with the largest number of teams in 2007. Her success shows in the ever-present smile that she brings to any Ultimate-related event!” DeAnna Ball – National Women’s Director Honorable Mention: Katherine Wooten – South
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Interested in becoming a Coordinator? The UPA is always looking for dedicated and hardworking volunteers to fill Sectional and Regional Coordinator positions. If you possess organizational skills and a passion for Ultimate, please contact Matthew Bourland, UPA Championships Manager at
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Special Thanks to Your 2007 Volunteers College Regional Coordinators Brian Abend Gwen Ambler Shannon Bunn Bobby Burtley Sheena Connell Brendan Curran Michael Degnan Kendra Frederick Lindsay Hack Michael Houston Jessica Huynh Kristen Love Nick McDuffe Tim Meyers Mike Nash Matt West College Sectional Coordinators Daniel Albert Kate Arnold Tully Beatty Geoffrey Beek Crissy Bobbitt BethAnn Borsz Dan Brager Carl Brasz Martin Cochran Alex Crew Richard Dana Thomas Dow Julia Echterhoff Rachel Erickson Celinda Gourd Abbey Green Russell Hall Vanessa Hayes David Janinis Rachel Joffe Kerry Karter Sam Kindick Tyler Kinley Keith Larsen Johnathan Loeffler Michael Lun Michael McNeil Claire Meneely Natalie Meyer Krista Miller Jerilyn Monts Craig Myers Peter Palacios Justin Peake Andrew Raines Cole Richter Meghan Robins Eric Rotondi
James Rubal Scott Sawinski Maren Schultz Claire Storck Farrell Sullivan Jr Julie Sussman Katie Talbert Krissy Thatcher Sam Tobin-Hochstadt Adrienne Vanderlinde Amanda Virbitsky Johanna Watson Laura Western Michelle Whitlock Club Regional Coordinators Jacqueline Bourgeois Brian Calle Liz Cavert Alexander Dee Geoff Doerre Stu Downs Dan Furfari Kim Kreitner Jon Ladd Stan Marshall Haley McNabb Beth Nakamura Mike O'Dowd Mary Ann Polityka Eric Prange Shiellah Quintos J.R Reynolds Randy Ricks Jerry Rosenberg Michael Strange Jill Van Wie Ben Wiggins Greg Williams Katherine Wooten Club Sectional Coordinators Markie Aagenes Brevin Balfrey-Boyd Loriana Berman Kyle Christoph Raymond Chun Cara Crouch Jeff Cuellar Jonathan Cummings Hugh Daschbach Rachel Derscheid Kellie Diehl Steve Dugan Dawn Dunleavey Garrett Dyer Joy Endicott
Josie Ferrel Jim Froeschner Steven Goerlich Nick Gorevic Mike Greathouse John Gregoire Christie Hall Daniel Heacox Jenny Hong Ariel Jackson Rodney Jacobson Danny Karlinsky Esther Kim Jen Lau Becky LeDonne Thomas Lento Paul Linhardt Dana Linnane Matthew Mackey Will Maddix Jeff Martin Jim Martinez Darin Monroe Katie Mooers Jim Mott Sam O'Brien Mary Oppold Molly Roy Shane Rubenfeld Joseph Seastrom Matthew Sibert Adam Sigelman Dusty Smith Lora Stagl Laurie Starr Tim Streit Kevin Stuart Shar Stuht Lisa Taw Laura Taylor Liz Thompson Christine Tsou Kirsten Unfried Thomas Walker Hall Walker Katie Wilson Amanda Wing Tracy Woo Holly Wright Adam Zwickl
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The Economics of Self-Officiating
Of course in Ultimate, by and large, we have been very suc- The principles of Spirit of the Game should further be carried off of cessful in instilling a Spirit of the Game. Hundreds of thousands of the field to the general Ultimate community to help sport growth. Ultimate players participate in games every year, including inter- Recently there was a thread on rec.sport.disc regarding stolen discs scholastically at the high school and college level, and at the com- at the Trouble in Vegas tournament.4 One poster, “Baer,” wrote petitive club level. The vast majority of games are played without “[w]e should increase tournament fees to pay for security.” While stolen any kind of officials. While some resources are spent on observers at discs have nothing to do with the rules of Ultimate, the principles of the highest levels of college and club play, the commitment to Spirit Spirit of the Game – including responsibility, respect and trust – still of the Game™ at those levels, minimizes the number of observers apply. Whether or not “Baer” is posting satirically, this one line clearly needed to two. Without Spirit of the Game, four observers, or more articulates that we will have to pay to enforce the rules that we as fully empowered referees, would be necessary to call an adequate a community are unable to follow on principle. Other threads on the number of the violations that take place on the field. (And even then, same newsgroup have bemoaned the trash left on Ultimate fields by as anyone who has conversed with Adam Tarr on the topic knows, players when the tournament ends. Once again, if Ultimate players the observer system surely tops a refereed system with regard to the are unable to follow standards on principle we will end up having number of correct calls).3 to pay to uphold these standards out of our own pockets. When we teach the sport and Spirit of the Game it is important to teach how Every game in which there are no officials saves players at least those principles extend off the field into other parts of the community $100 ($25 x 4 referees). This money can go into the players’ pockets and how that can help our sport and our community. or make the sport better in other ways. One reffed game or 20 discs for a new middle school program? Four reffed games or year-long Instilling and adhering to Spirit of the Game is good – both on and UPA memberships for an economically disadvantaged youth team? off the field. This is not due to some subjective or abstract reason, but Investing in a Spirit of the Game has allowed tremendous growth due to objective economic reasons; Communities and cultures that in Ultimate, particularly at the youth levels, to occur over past eight are rule-abiding, with less investment in policing, are able to grow years. There is simply no way that this growth could have happened and succeed. if the UPA and its players had to spend a large percentage of its resources on referees. Spirit of the Game helps the growth of Ultimate 3 http://groups.google.com/group/rec.sport.disc/msg/edec95c176eac288?dmode=source 4 http://groups.google.com/group/rec.sport.disc/browse_frm/thread/e3f18bfeeaec9225/447 because fewer resources are allocated to policing the sport. b336dcb4130ed#447b336dcb4130ed
HOST A UPA CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES EVENT! Running a championship tournament with the UPA can be an exciting, challenging, and ultimately very rewarding experience. Benefits include: exposing the Ultimate community to your little part of the world, exposing your little part of the world to some amazing Ultimate, financial opportunities for your club and your city, forming partnerships with the local convention and visitors bureau or sports commission, and the intangible rewards that come with teamwork and the smiles on the faces of Ultimate players as they chase their dreams on the fields that you set up.
2010 Events
• High School Easterns and High School Westerns (mid-late May). Bid deadline 12/31/08 • College Championships (Memorial Day Weekend). Bid deadline 12/31/08 • Youth Club Championships (mid-August). Bid deadline 12/31/08
Go to www.upa.org/host, or send an email to headquarters to get bid outlines for these events. If you have questions regarding the bid outline, bid proposal or bid process, please contact UPA headquarters. Look forward to hearing from you about bringing championship Ultimate to your town! For questions and/or to submit a bid, contact: Will Deaver, Championship Director at (303) 447-3472 or will@hq.upa.org. WWW.UPA.ORG
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w h a t ‘ S
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BY: Peri Kurshan, chair of UPA Standing Rules Committee STANDING RULES COMMITTEE
As players of a self-officiated sport, it is our responsibility to know the rules. This column features answers to your rules questions, and will hopefully clarify some common misconceptions about the rules.
When someone catches the disc and there's a question as to whether they’re in or out, I often hear people yelling, “check feet!” and then other people telling the receiver “it's your call!” In the rules, I can't find anything about a “check feet” call, or about it being the receiver's decision about whether they’re in or out. Where is that?
A
The reason you can’t find the “check feet” call in the rules is because… it’s not there! Although “check feet” is often heard on the Ultimate field, it should be considered merely as a suggestion, and does not stop play. A disagreement on the field about whether the receiver was in or out of bounds does stop play (according to XIX.D), however, in order for there to be a disagreement, there need to be conflicting calls of “in” and “out” made by players on the field. Since “check feet” isn’t a call (in fact it’s not even a statement of opinion!), it should never affect ongoing play. In/out (of bounds, or of the endzone), as well as up/down calls should be made by the player with “best perspective.” Best perspective is defined as: “The most complete view available by a player that includes the relative positions of the disc, ground, players, and line markers involved in a play. On an unlined field, this may require sighting from one field marker to another.” So in reality, the player with best perspective is sometimes neither the receiver nor the defender, but perhaps another player more removed from the play that can see all the cones. Also note that “player” is defined as “Any of the up to fourteen persons participating in the game at any one time,” which means that it’s definitely not the call of people on the sideline. It is often unclear who actually had best perspective. If two players who both claim to have best perspective disagree over what the outcome of the play should be, this situation should be treated like any other contested situation, with the disc going back to the thrower and the count resuming at the count reached plus one, or 6 if over 5.
P: Mike Payne
Q
Kurt Gibson of Boston Ultimate demonstrates his need for disc space against Rhino’s David Janinis at the 2007 UPA Club Championships.
Q
I thought that when a marking violation is called, you’re supposed to drop your count by 2, but a lot of people seem to only drop it by 1… what’s the right way? Also, is the stall count after a contested stall different now than it used to be?
A
You’re right that after a marking violation (e.g. “fast count”, “double team”, “disc space”) is called, the marker is supposed to drop their count by 2 seconds. But what this means in practice, is that if the marker has already said “5”, they need simply say “4” (instead of “6”) on their next count, since by the time they reach “5” again, 2 seconds will have elapsed! This is assuming they’re not still fast counting. The stall count after a contested stall has indeed been changed: in the 11th Edition, the stall should come in at “stalling 8”. The reason for the change is that previously there was a requirement for people to give a 1 second pause between the word “stalling” and the first number of their stall count, every time they re-initiated a count. Under this old rule, if it were applied correctly, a thrower would have 2 seconds to throw the disc after a contested stall (“stalling…9…10”). In the 11th Edition, there is no longer a requirement to pause after the word “stalling”, so another second had to be re-introduced after a contested stall in order to preserve the 2 seconds the thrower is supposed to get (“stalling8…9…10”).
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I N J U R Y
T I M E O U T BY: Dr. Jamie Nuwer Illustrated by Sierra Simmons
Ankle Sprains According to the Ultimate Injuries Study reported by Dr. Yen in the last issue of USA Ultimate, ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in Ultimate. Thus we decided to reprint an updated version of this article originally printed in 2006. This article reviews the management and rehabilitation of ankle sprains. This column is not meant to replace medical evaluation for your health problems. Always seek medical help for worrisome or persistent symptoms. Ankle sprains are very common in Ultimate. When an ankle injury first happens, you should rest immediately and call for a trainer, if available. The goal of early treatment is to prevent swelling. Once swelling occurs, it’s hard to get rid of and can lead to a prolonged injury. Elevation and compression are the most important initial therapies. Elevate the injured limb at least above your waist. Compress the ankle using the following method: take your sock off, twist it, then turn it into a horseshoe shape. Place the horseshoe around the ankle bone on the outside with the open side facing up towards your knee. Then wrap an ace bandage or long sleeve shirt around the horseshoe and ankle. The horseshoe helps prevent joint swelling. If you have ice, place it over the ace wrap for 20 minutes on then 20 minutes off. Repeat until the pain gets better. You can take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), but it’s easier to monitor your pain level without it. You can take up to 600-800mg, three times a day. Tylenol helps with pain, but not swelling.
or tape, but these methods will not prevent re-injury. One predictor of the ability to return to play is being able to stand on your toes and hop up and down without pain. Swelling usually stabilizes in 24 hours and rehab can be started with range of motion (ROM) exercises. One ROM exercise is writing the alphabet repeatedly with your foot. To reduce swelling and warm up the ankle use contrast baths Fill one container with warm water and one with cold water and ice. Immerse your ankle in the warm bath for 4 minutes then the cold for 1 minute. Repeat five times. Write the alphabet throughout the warm bath phases. Repeat contrast baths up to five times a day.
RICE is the mnemonic we use to remember this treatment: Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate. Repeat these steps after walking around all day and after playing if you continue to experience swelling. You can compress as above and elevate throughout the day. Warning signs of a more serious injury include: inability to bear weight, including limping; hearing a crack or pop; instability with or without a snapping sensation; or pain when the bone is pressed in the areas in Figure 1.
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10-20% of ankle sprains become chronic, most often because the ankle was not fully rehabilitated. It will take at least 4-6 weeks of rehab to fully recover. Players frequently choose to play during the rehab process. Risk of re-injury is high soon after the initial injury. Any benefits of returning to competition early must be weighed against the risks of re-injury. Some players choose to wear protective braces
ULTIMATE « SPRING 2008
Figure 1: Left: lateral (outside) of foot, Right: medial (inside) of foot. Pain when pushing on any of these four areas suggests a fracture; consult your doctor urgently.
Strength exercises can be started when the swelling stabilizes. First use isometric exercises. Sit with your leg crossed so that you can reach your ankle with your hand. You will be applying pressure to the foot with your hand as you contract the muscles of your ankle against the hand pressure. Do this in four directions: pulling your foot up, pushing it down, rolling it outward, and rolling
Figure 2: Theraband (exercise band) exercises for ankle sprain rehabilitation.
it inward. Hold the pressure for 20 seconds. Stop if you experience pain. Repeat five times, five times per day. Once isometrics get easy, use a Theraband or exercise band for isokinetic exercises (see Figure 2). You will be using the same force directions as the hand pressure, but this time you will be actively moving your ankle. Tie the loose ends of the band in a knot and close a door over the knot. Sit on the floor, place the band slung around your foot, and do each of the four ankle motions. You will have to shift position to get the angles right. Moving your foot further from the door will make the exercise harder. Proprioception is often forgotten in rehabilitation, but is very important for preventing injury recurrence. Proprioception is the unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation. Start after the swelling has stabilized. First, simply stand on the injured foot, balance on that leg, and close your eyes for 30 seconds. Try to maintain your balance. When this is easy, stand in a runner’s pose: on your toes, other leg back, arms poised and knees bent as if mid-stride. You can also start doing calf raises on a step with a straight knee and with a bent knee. Afterward, stretch your calf with a straight and bent knee. Your goal is to work up to the strength and balance of your good ankle. Maintain aerobic fitness during this time with swimming and stationary biking.
References Garrick and Webb. Sports Injuries. 1999 Rouzier, Pierre. Patient Advisor. 2004 Special thanks to Elmo Agatep, MD and Anna Nazarov for their editing comments.
Accepting Bids for the 2009 Ultimate Organizers’ Conference The 2009 Ultimate Organizers’ Conference is a biennial event which aims to bring together Ultimate team, league and event organizers along with UPA representatives to encourage communication and provide opportunities for learning ways to better organize Ultimate within local communities. Through these events the UPA hopes to better serve local Ultimate organizations. The first conference held was a relatively small affair. We currently anticipate 60-100 attendees for the upcoming event. While the location is open, we hope to find a host in the western U.S. to support our intention to be diverse in our geographic selections. To learn more or apply to help host the 2009 Conference in your town, visit http:// www.upa.org/outreach/conference2009 to download the application.
DEADLINE: APRIL 30, 2008 The deadline to submit applications is April 30, 2008. If you have any questions, contact Melanie Byrd at Melanie@hq.upa.org.
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T H E
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P: Steve Prodan
P: Joshua Luetkehans
BYU’s Alison Henry throwing past Suck N Blow at 2008 New Years Fest.
P: Brittany Hill
I always dreamed of being in the UPA magazine...
San Diego State’s Will Griffin giving it all to D up David Husid of the University of Arizona in the finals of the UCI Huctoberfest.
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Maggie Desmond pulls for George Washington University at the Stanford Qualifier.
ULTIMATE « SPRING 2008
courtesy: Richey Ward
P: Bill Desmond
Westmont College, formerly coached by will wiersma, gathers to recap their day of play.
Tennessee’s Richey Ward making a forehand look easy against a loose mark.
Thank you
to everyone across the country who sent in their college team pictures to the UPA.
renew your UPA membership now and continue to receive your USA Ultimate magazine
ULTIMATE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY ULTIMATE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY & 2008 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION & 2008 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Complete renewal form and waiver and return to UPA, Membership, 4730 Table Mesa Dr., Suite J-200, Boulder, CO 80305. Complete renewal form and waiver and return to UPA, Membership, 4730 Table Mesa Dr., Suite J-200, Boulder, CO 80305. Circle one: Renewal or New Member Circle One: SSN # or UPA ID: ___________________ (may use only last 4 digits of ssn) Circle one: Renewal or New Member Circle One: SSN # or UPA ID: ___________________ (may use only last 4 digits of ssn) Name: (Last) ____________________________ (First) ________________________ Former name: _________________ Name: (Last) ____________________________ (First) ________________________ Former name: _________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________ Apt/Ste #: ____________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________ Apt/Ste #: ____________________ City/State/Zip/Country: _________________________________________________ Birth Date: ______/______/______ City/State/Zip/Country: _________________________________________________ Birth Date: ______/______/______ E-Mail: ___________________________________ Phone: (______) ______________________ Circle: Male or Female E-Mail: ___________________________________ Phone: (______) ______________________ Circle: Male or Female Check your membership level (Include check or money order made out to the UPA): Check your membership level (Include check or money order made out to the UPA): $40 Regular $40 Regular $30 College (Half-time student or more. Max 6 yrs.) $30 College (Half-time student or more. Max 6 yrs.) $20 Youth (Must be in H.S. & may not reach 19thth birthday before June) $20 Youth (Must be in H.S. & may not reach 19 birthday before June) $750 Lifetime Membership $750 Lifetime Membership In addition, I am enclosing a tax deductible contribution in support of Ultimate development $__________.______ In addition, I am enclosing a tax deductible contribution in support of Ultimate development $__________.______ Waiver and Release of Liability Waiver and Release of Liability (waiver may not be modified) (waiver may not be modified) In consideration of being allowed to participate in any way in the Ultimate Players Association programs, related events and In consideration of being allowed to participate in anyand waywillingly in the Ultimate Players Association programs, related events and activities, the undersigned acknowledges, appreciates agrees that: activities, the undersigned acknowledges, appreciates and willingly agrees that: 1. I will comply with the stated and customary terms and conditions for participation. If, however, I observe any unusual 1. significant I will comply with the stated customary terms and conditions for participation. If, however, and I observe hazard during my and presence or participation, I will remove myself from participation bring any suchunusual to the significant during my immediately. presence or participation, I will remove myself from participation and bring such to the attention ofhazard the nearest official of the and nearest immediately. 2. Iattention acknowledge fullyofficial understand that each participant will be engaging in activities that involve risk or serious injury, 2. Iincluding acknowledge and fully understand that and eachsevere participant engaginglosses in activities that involve risk or from serious injury, permanent disability and death, socialwill andbeeconomic which may result not only their own including permanent disability and death, and severe social and economic losses which may result not only from their actions, inactions or negligence but the action, inaction or negligence of others, the rules of play, or the condition ofown the actions, inactions or equipment negligence used. but the Further, action, inaction negligence of others, the of play, or the condition of the premises or of any I acceptorpersonal responsibility for rules the damages following such injury, premises of any or equipment permanentordisability death. used. Further, I accept personal responsibility for the damages following such injury, disabilityand or death. 3. Ipermanent hereby authorize give my full consent to the Ultimate Players Association to copyright and/or publish any and all 3. Iphotographs, hereby authorize and give my film full consent the Ultimate Players Association to copyright and/or andmay all videotapes and/or in which to I appear while attending any UPA event. I further agreepublish that theany UPA photographs, videotapes and/or film in which I appear while attending any UPA event. I further agree that the UPA may transfer, use or cause to be used, these photographs, videotapes, or films for any exhibitions, public displays, publications, transfer, use or to be used,purposes, these photographs, videotapes, films for any exhibitions, public displays, publications, commercials, artcause and advertising and television programsorwithout limitations or reservations. commercials, art and advertising purposes, and television programs without limitations or reservations. 4. I knowingly and freely assume all such risk, both known and unknown, even those arising from the negligent acts or 4. Iomissions knowinglyofand freely risk, bothforknown and unknown, even those arising from the negligent acts or others, andassume assumeall fullsuch responsibility my participation. omissions of others, and assume full responsibility for my participation. 5. I, for myself and on behalf of my heirs, assigns, personal representatives and next of kin, hereby release, and agree to 5. I, for harmless myself andthe on Ultimate behalf ofPlayers my heirs, assigns, personal representatives and next of kin, hereby release,administrators, and agree to hold Association, its officers, officials, affiliated clubs, their respective hold harmless thecoaches, Ultimateand Players Association,of its officials, affiliated clubs,sponsoring their respective administrators, directors, agents, other employees theofficers, organization, other participants, agencies, advertisers, directors, agents, coaches, andlessors other employees of used the organization, other participants, sponsoring agencies, advertisers, and, if applicable owners and of premises to conduct the event, all of which are hereinafter referred to as and, if applicable owners to and premises used to conduct theorevent, all of referredarising to as “releasees”, with respect all lessors and anyofinjury, disability, death or loss damage to which personare or hereinafter property, whether “releasees”, with respect to all and any injury, disability, death or loss or damage to person or property, whether arising from the negligence of the releasees or otherwise, to the fullest extent permitted by law. I will indemnify, save and hold from the negligence of the releasees otherwise, to the fullest permitted damage by law. Iorwill indemnify, savereleasees and hold harmless above named releasees of, or from and against any loss,extent cost, expense, liability that such harmless above named releasees of, from and against any loss, cost, expense, damage or liability that such releasees may incur as a result of, arising from or in connection with such claim, including without limitation any attorney's fees, or may result of,orarising from or in connection with such claim, including without limitation any attorney's fees, or otherincur costsas or aexpenses litigation. other costs or expenses or litigation. I have read this release of liability and assumption of risk agreement, fully understand its terms, and understand that I have Igiven haveup read this release of by liability andit and assumption of risk agreement, understand its terms, and understand that I have substantial rights signing sign it freely and voluntarilyfully without any inducement. given up substantial rights by signing it and sign it freely and voluntarily without any inducement.
_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Participant’s Signature (including minors) Participant’s Signature (including minors)
__________________________ __________________________ Date Date
18 or Older 18 or Older
This is to certify that I, as parents/guardian with legal responsibility for this participant, do consent and agree to indemnify and hold harmless Thisreleasees is to certify thatany I, asand parents/guardian with legal responsibility for involvement this participant, do consent and agreeprograms to indemnify and even hold harmless the from all liabilities incident to my minor child’s or participation in these above, if arising the from any all liabilities toby mylaw. minor child’s involvement or participation in these programs above, even if arising fromreleasees their negligence, to and the fullest extent incident permitted from their negligence, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature (required if participant is under 18)
__________________________ __________________________ Date
Parent/Guardian Signature (required if participant is under 18) Date UPA – www.upa.org – info@upa.org – 1.800.872.4384
UPA – www.upa.org – info@upa.org – 1-800-872-4384 UPA – www.upa.org – info@upa.org – 1-800-872-4384
Under 18 Years Under 18 Years
WWW.UPA.ORG
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