20 2 017 ANNUAL REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
4
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
4
H E A D Q U A R T E R S S TA F F
5
N AT I O N A L V O L U N T E E R S
6
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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LETTER FROM THE CEO
10 14 20 54 60 64 ABOUT USA ULTIMATE
MEMBERSHIP
COMPETITION
P ROGRAM GROWTH
MISSION STATEMENT
16
L E A G U E A F F I L I AT E S
EVENT SANCTIONING
18
GROWTH
22 YOUTH YOUTH CLUB REGIONALS
19
MEMBER BENEFITS
VISION STRATEGIC PLAN
HIGH SCHOOL STATES
FINANCIAL REVIEW
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR’S CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
YOUTH CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
OUTREACH PROGRAMS
30 D-I
DAY CAMPS
COLLEGE
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
LEARN TO PLAY
GIRLS’ ULTIMATE MOVEMENT
D-III 34 CLUB TRIPLE CROWN TOUR
58
COACHING
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OBSERVERS
U.S. OPEN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 40
M A S T E R S
44 BEACH NATIONALS WESTERNS 4 8 I N T E R N AT I O N A L WORLD GAMES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS OF BEACH ULTIMATE PAN AMERICAN ULTIMATE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018 EVENTS
2017 Annual Report
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Board of Directors
Headquarters Staff
DEANNA BALL PRESIDENT At-Large Representative
DR. TOM CRAWFORD CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER tom@hq.usaultimate.org
HENRY THORNE VICE PRESIDENT At-Large Representative
FINANCE & DEVELOPMENT
H E AT H E R A N N B R A U E R SECRETARY Elite Athlete Representative
JULIA LEE DIRECTOR, FINANCE & DEVELOPMENT julia@hq.usaultimate.org
ROBYN WISEMAN TREASURER Elite Athlete Representative
K AY L E I G H H U D S O N MANAGER, FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION kayleigh@hq.usaultimate.org
AUDRIUS BARZDUKAS At-Large (Independent) Representative VA L B E L M O N T E At-Large (Independent) Representative LISA BLISS At-Large (Independent) Representative HARVEY EDWARDS At-Large (Appointed) Representative TYLER KINLEY At-Large Representative D AV E K L I N K Elite Athlete Representative STEVE MOONEY At-Large (Appointed) Representative JOSH SEAMON At-Large Representative
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MARKETING & C O M M U N I C AT I O N S ANDY LEE MANAGING DIRECTOR, MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS & BRAND andy@hq.usaultimate.org S TA C E Y W A L D R U P SENIOR MANAGER, COMMUNICATIONS stacey@hq.usaultimate.org M A E LY N D I V I N S K I MANAGER, DIGITAL MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS maelyn@hq.usaultimate.org L A R R Y M E LT O N COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR larry@hq.usaultimate.org
COMPETITION & AT H L E T E P R O G R A M S
MEMBERSHIP & SPORT DEVELOPMENT
W I L L D E AV E R MANAGING DIRECTOR, COMPETITION & NATIONAL TEAMS will@hq.usaultimate.org
JOSH MURPHY DIRECTOR, MEMBER SERVICES & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT josh@hq.usaultimate.org
JOY FERENBAUGH MANAGER, COMPETITION & ATHLETE PROGRAMS (YOUTH) joy@hq.usaultimate.org
TEAL DABNEY MANAGER, EVENT SANCTIONING teal@hq.usaultimate.org
BYRON HICKS MANAGER, EVENTS byron@hq.usaultimate.org
LEAH DOLAN-KELLEY MANAGER, COMMUNITY SERVICES & DEVELOPMENT leah@hq.usaultimate.org
TOM MANEWITZ MANAGER, COMPETITION & ATHLETE PROGRAMS (COLLEGE) tom.manewitz@hq.usaultimate.org
JOY DUNPHEY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, MEMBER SERVICES info@hq.usaultimate.org
D AV I D R A F L O MANAGER, EVENTS david.raflo@hq.usaultimate.org
KIRSTIN GRAHAM MANAGER, ONLINE TECHNOLOGY kirstin@hq.usaultimate.org
ERNEST TONEY MANAGER, COMPETITION & ATHLETE PROGRAMS (CLUB) ernest@hq.usaultimate.org
DAN RAABE MANAGER, YOUTH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS dan@hq.usaultimate.org SARAH POWERS COORDINATOR, YOUTH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS sarah@hq.usaultimate.org
Volunteers YOUTH DIVISION REGIONAL DIRECTORS FRAN KELLEY CENTRAL ryd_central@usaultimate.org CHRISTIE LAWRY NORTHEAST ryd_northeast@usaultimate.org J O N AT H A N N E T H E R C U T T SOUTH ryd_south@usaultimate.org BEN SNELL WEST ryd_west@usaultimate.org
N AT I O N A L O U T R E A C H DIRECTORS GAIL REICH GIRLS’ NATIONAL OUTREACH DIRECTOR girlsoutreachdirector@usaultimate.org C H U C K G A R G A LY NATIONAL OUTREACH DIRECTOR outreachdirector@usaultimate.org
GIRLS’ REGIONAL OUTREACH DIRECTORS LAURA GEHRT CENTRAL grod_central@usaultimate.org KYLIE STERLING NORTHEAST grod_northeast@usaultimate.org MINDY RADIKE SOUTH grod_south@usaultimate.org ERIN MALONEY WEST grod_west@usaultimate.org
REGIONAL OUTREACH DIRECTORS VA C A N T CENTRAL rod_central@usaultimate.org VA C A N T NORTHEAST rod_northeast@usaultimate.org DARIUS TSE SOUTH rod_south@usaultimate.org
CLUB DIVISION N AT I O N A L D I R E C T O R S ADAM GOFF NATIONAL MEN’S DIRECTOR nod@usaultimate.org REMY SCHOR NATIONAL MIXED DIRECTOR nxd@usaultimate.org C A R O LY N F I N N E Y NATIONAL WOMEN’S DIRECTOR nwd@usaultimate.org
MASTERS DIVISION N AT I O N A L D I R E C T O R S KYLE CHRISTOPH NATIONAL MEN’S MASTERS DIRECTOR nmd@usaultimate.org KRISTI SCHMELING NATIONAL WOMEN’S MASTERS DIRECTOR nwmd@usaultimate.org
COLLEGE DIVISION N AT I O N A L D I R E C T O R S JEFF KULA NATIONAL MEN’S COLLEGE DIRECTOR nocd@usaultimate.org BETH NAKAMURA NATIONAL WOMEN’S COLLEGE DIRECTOR nwcd@usaultimate.org KEVIN KULA NATIONAL DIVISION III MEN’S COLLEGE DIRECTOR nd3cd@usaultimate.org
GRACE KIEL NATIONAL DIVISION III WOMEN’S COLLEGE DIRECTOR nd3wcd@usaultimate.org AMY HUDSON NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTAL COLLEGE COORDINATOR ndevcc@usaultimate.org
U LY R I V E R A WEST rod_west@usaultimate.org
2017 Annual Report
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F
or the last three years, I have been asked to
Every year, our board of directors meets four times –
reflect on what USA Ultimate has been doing,
twice in person and twice on a conference call. With
with the goal of turning that into a yearly report
each and every meeting, we hear back from the staff
from the president of the board. While it is a privilege
at headquarters about the numbers, the issues at the
to do so, I often sit for bit and wonder, “How did we
forefront and their thoughts on how to continue to
(USA Ultimate) do all of that?” This time is no different.
move this organization forward. At every meeting,
The letter from CEO Tom Crawford highlights many of
the staff is challenged to work on more projects and
the key initiatives USA Ultimate drove in 2017. However,
to stretch beyond where we have been to create
that list does not reflect the efforts that staff take on
more opportunities for people from all walks of life to
every day – whether in the office, at a USA Ultimate
experience ultimate. And every year, there is evidence
event or across the globe at an international event.
that those experiences are becoming more and more
The efforts of the full-time staff and the volunteers all
available, more and more valuable and more and more
around the country continually amaze me, and they
exciting. I am incredibly proud of this organization
should amaze you too.
while fully recognizing that we will continue to find ways to keep doing it better and moving forward.
DEANNA BALL, PRESIDENT
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PRESIDENT 2017 marked the start of an effort to ensure continual
Closing out reflections of 2017 makes me dream of what
forward movement of our organization: the development
2018 and beyond will bring – for USA Ultimate, for the
of the next strategic plan, while also planning for the
sport of ultimate and for those who see the incredible
50th anniversary celebration of our sport (wow!). To
promise our sport holds. I hope you, as members of this
kick off the process of developing the strategic plan,
organization, continue to see that promise and keep
staff, volunteers and board members attended Vision
dreaming big. Share your thoughts, concerns and ideas,
Tour stops across the country. Meeting with community
and remember that we are what you help us to be.
members first hand, ideas were shared and (sometimes hard) discussions were had to set the base for the direction of our organization. As of the writing of this letter, that plan has taken shape and is truly a great endeavor that will help guide USA Ultimate, keeping our eyes on the mission of character, community and competition, with equity/diversity/inclusion at the forefront.
DeAnna Ball President, USA Ultimate
2017 Annual Report
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Greetings to all in the USA Ultimate Community,
We also expanded the structure of the U.S. Open Club Championships, combining it to include both the International Club Championships (ICC) and the
I am pleased to report that 2017 was another outstanding
Youth Club Championships (YCC) divisions; 36 adult
and exciting year for us at USA Ultimate. We made
club teams competed alongside 90 youth teams. This
tremendous strides growing our competition divisions,
was a large and complex undertaking with excellent
expanding our local outreach programs and advancing
international participation, the largest YCC in history
our efforts to broadcast the sport to the world. Also,
and the largest U.S. Open Convention yet.
while other sports shrink, we continue to grow, with an overall 6.5 percent growth in membership, highlighted
Within our competition divisions, we strove to provide
by 10 percent growth in youth athletes, 8 percent
more opportunities for players to participate in our
growth in female-identifying players and 16 percent
great sport. Our masters division doubled in size from
growth in the masters division.
three divisions to six, leading to the 2017 Masters Championships being the largest event in masters
DR. TOM CRAWFORD CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
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Our international teams attained great success this
division history. The event, as well as the expansion of
past year, winning the gold medal at the World Games
the division, received great reviews from participants.
in Wroclaw, Poland; six gold medals and one silver
In the college division, we successfully introduced
medal at the World Championships of Beach Ultimate
the College Women’s Startup Project, an initiative
(WCBU) in Royan, France; and gold at the World
dedicated to increasing the number of college
Great Grand Masters Beach Ultimate Championships
women’s ultimate teams, as well as new college fall
in Praia do Meco, Portugal.
mixed regional events. Lastly, our youth division saw
CEO increased participation both in number of teams and
Championships finals live on ESPNU. The ESPN2
As is true every year, all of this progress and
players at the 2017 High School State Championships.
broadcast included our very first “direct-to-consumer”
success is only possible with our incredible dedicated
Two new states participated, and six new championship
commercial highlighting the wonder and uniqueness of
and hard-working professional staff, a helpful and
titles were awarded, including two new girls’ titles and
our beautiful sport, to rave reviews. We also launched
passionate board of directors and, especially, a huge
a middle school title.
the Live Ultimate campaign and live streamed over 120
number of incredibly generous volunteers who help all
games from various events, reaching over 13 million
year long all over the country.
Our outreach to local communities was extremely
Facebook users and hundreds of thousands of viewers
impactful again in 2017. We successfully ran more than
on ESPN over the range of broadcasts!
Big thanks to all of you!
50 outreach and education programs with partners around the country. We also added two new State-Based
We conducted a strategic planning Vision Tour
Organizations and six Affiliates, as we continue to
that stopped in cities across the U.S., providing the
invest in building our national infrastructure to help
community a direct means of sharing input for our next
service and stimulate growth at the local level. This
strategic plan and giving us a chance to meet and talk
development has been, and will continue to be, a
with USA Ultimate members and stakeholders across
huge focus for our organization.
the nation.
On the broadcast and exposure front, we had a
So, it was another very busy and successful year
very successful year, beginning with the execution
for USA Ultimate, all while continuing to be fiscally
of a landmark gender-equal broadcast partnership
responsible, meeting our budget targets and ending
with ESPN, including airing the U.S. Open’s mixed
the year with a small net of approximately $173,000
championship final live on ESPN2 and the College
and a relatively strong balance sheet.
Dr. Tom Crawford CEO, USA Ultimate
2017 Annual Report
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ABOUT USA Ultimate is the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States.
C O R E VA L U E S Respect – We honor the rights, views, dignity and inherent value of others, striving for an environment of mutual trust. Integrity – We stay true to the mission of USA Ultimate and the highest ethical standards, demonstrating honesty and fairness in every action we take. Responsibility – We hold ourselves accountable for our decisions and actions, while striving for excellence in all that we do; we are dedicated stewards of the sport of ultimate.
USA Ultimate’s full-time staff is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., but works with volunteers
Leadership – We drive thoughtful growth, development and innovation in competition and the ultimate community, enhancing and promoting the sport as a joy to play and watch.
all across the country to create opportunities to advance the sport. Founded in 1979 as the Ultimate Players Association, the governing body was rebranded as USA Ultimate in 2010.
Teamwork – We encourage a diverse and inclusive ultimate community and work cooperatively with members and partners to achieve our mission.
USA Ultimate is a member of the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF), ultimate’s international federation, and was officially recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as a Recognized Sport Organization in 2014.
MISSION USA Ultimate oversees the sport at all competitive levels in the United States, from youth and recreational
Until 2013, the World Flying Disc Federation be-
leagues, to college competition and elite, club-level
longed to the General Association of International
ultimate. USA Ultimate also supports and selects
Sport Federations and the International World
national teams to represent the U.S. in international
Games Association. In early 2013, after fulfilling all
competitions around the world. The organization has
criteria of the International Olympic Committee’s
an annual membership of over 58,000 and sanctions
(IOC) recognition procedure, the World Flying Disc
520+ competitive and recreational events each year.
Federation became a provisional member of the IOC. WFDF became a fully recognized member of the IOC in the summer of 2015.
The mission of USA Ultimate is to advance the sport of ultimate in the United States by enhancing and promoting Character, Community and Competition.
VISION Ultimate is widely known, played and respected in the United States as a sport that inspires athletic excellence and integrity among participants and fans.
2017 Annual Report
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1
INCREASE THE VISIBILITY O F U LT I M AT E .
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1. Partner with media to broadcast USA Ultimate’s premier 3-5 events to a mass audience.
In the fall of 2012, USA Ultimate announced a
2. Reach a broad audience via promotions done in collaboration with sponsors and other partners.
six-year strategic plan that
3. Reach targeted populations through emerging media channels.
outlines the organization’s
4. Achieve national sports news visibility with a targeted publicity plan.
operations and goals from
5. Develop a promotional plan specifically for youth and parents.
2013–2018. The plan guides decision making, resource allocation and prioritization of work through 2018. In addition, for the first time ever, USA Ultimate set out a vision and set of core values that reflect who we are and what we stand for.
GOALS
STRATEGIC PLAN
S T R AT E G I E S
2
GROW YOUTH, COLLEGE A N D L E A G U E U LT I M AT E .
S T R AT E G I E S 1. Develop and oversee a broad spectrum of programs for a diverse community of youth players and administrators. 2. Facilitate knowledge transfer and program integration between leagues, other local organizations and USA Ultimate. 3. Provide tools to players and administrators to increase the number of sustainable college programs. 4. Vastly increase the number of qualified coaches and observers via training and certification programs. 5. Encourage lifetime participation in programs, competitive divisions and roles (coaching, observing, etc.).
3
ORGANIZE THE HIGHEST QUALITY U.S. COMPETITIVE EVENTS.
5
A C H I E V E S U S TA I N E D E X C E L L E N C E O F U S A U LT I M AT E T E A M S I N I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O M P E T I T I O N .
S T R AT E G I E S
S T R AT E G I E S
1. Complete club division restructuring efforts.
1. Refine and maintain fair and effective Team USA player and team selection processes at all levels.
2. Establish the U.S. Open as a top international event focused on premier competition, education and community building. 3. Attract the best athletes and teams to play in USA Ultimate’s premier events. 4. Evolve and enforce operational quality standards for all stages of USA Ultimate’s championship events. 5. Oversee event organizer certification programs, and provide resources for profitable event planning. 6. Lead a world-class marketing and promotional program to showcase USA Ultimate events and athletes. 7. Attract and retain in-person and media viewership of both ultimate-playing and other fans.
4
MAKE SPIRIT OF THE GAME R E A L F O R T O D AY ’ S U LT I M AT E P L AY E R S A N D C O M M U N I T Y.
2. Provide training and operational support for teams at priority international competition. 3. Develop and support an ongoing Team USA Coaching Program. 4. Communicate guidelines for athlete development across all levels. 5. Support gradual progress of ultimate towards Pan-American and eventually Olympic Games participation.
6
G O V E R N T H E O R G A N I Z AT I O N T O E N S U R E S TA B I L I T Y A N D EXCELLENCE.
S T R AT E G I E S 1. Evolve governance model and organizational structure to support growth and quality. 2. Maintain transparent and sound financial practices.
S T R AT E G I E S
3. Evolve risk management policies and processes to minimize organizational liability.
1. Lead a community-wide effort to clarify and communicate how Spirit of the Game applies to behaviors on and off the field.
4. Diversify and expand revenue base including a USA Ultimate fundraising program.
2. Exercise watchful, decisive and fair oversight of SOTG and values at USA Ultimate events.
5. Develop USA Ultimate’s branding strategy in relation to competitive, educational and recreational ultimate.
3. Develop coordinated values-focused internal publicity program focusing on exemplary teams and individuals.
2017 Annual Report
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MEMBERSHIP Membership levels are available for all types of members, from friends and family to players and coaches.
Membership Levels
USA Ultimate StateBased Organizations
YOUTH Specially priced membership for players who have not
After laying groundwork for the program in 2015,
yet graduated from high school.
USA Ultimate State-Based Organizations were piloted in 2016. Three organizations came on board in the
COLLEGE
program’s inaugural year: Minnesota Ultimate, New
For players who are enrolled at least half-time.
England Ultimate and North Carolina Ultimate. In 2017, two additional programs were founded: California
A D U LT
Ultimate and Illinois Ultimate.
For players who are no longer in high school.
A F F I L I AT E
State-based organizations act as extensions of USA
C O A C H A N D C O A C H / P L AY E R
Offered only through the Affiliate Program, these
Ultimate and serve and support the national governing
Includes player and non-player options for individuals
memberships provide access to local Affiliate-owned
body’s mission by administering its programs and
age 18 and older.
sanctioned events at discounted prices, along with
services to local affiliates and communities within
other member benefits.
their respective boundaries. The organizations are a
F R I E N D S A N D FA M I LY
vital part of USA Ultimate’s investment in grassroots
Non-participant level for spectators, fans and
LIFETIME
development initiatives designed to stimulate the
supporters of ultimate.
Enjoy a lifetime of benefits! Anyone is eligible.
growth of ultimate at the local level.
Y O U T H - S E R V I N G O R G A N I Z AT I O N
Annual memberships are based on a calendar year
USA Ultimate will continue to grow the state-based
Designed for multisport youth organizations that would
(January 1- December 31). All annual memberships
organization initiative in the coming years, partnering
like to run ultimate programs.
expire on December 31, regardless of when you
with local entrepreneurs and providing start-up grants
sign up. USA Ultimate begins accepting renewals on
of at least $60,000 over the first three years of each
December 1 for the next year’s membership cycle.
organization’s existence.
SINGLE EVENT Available to youth and adults without annual player-level membership who play in a specific USA Ultimate recreational sanctioned event; not available for championship series or regular-season events.
2017 Annual Report
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USA Ultimate Affiliate Program In 2013, USA Ultimate officially introduced the Affiliate
2 0 1 7 A F F I L I AT E S
Program. The program was created with the express purpose of supporting and formalizing the development of local area
Albany Ultimate Disc Association (New York)
Kalamazoo United Youth Ultimate (Michigan)
Altitude Youth Ultimate (Colorado)
Maine Ultimate (Maine)
provision and expansion of programs and services to the boys,
Atlanta Flying Disc Club Juniors (Georgia)
Missoula Ultimate Federation (Montana)
girls, men and women playing ultimate in its geographic area.
Capital Area Disc Association (Michigan)
Neuqua Valley Ultimate (Illinois)
Columbus Ultimate Disc Association (Ohio)
Triangle Ultimate (North Carolina)
Connecticut Ultimate Club (Connecticut)
Tucson Ultimate (Arizona)
Detroit Ultimate Association (Michigan)
Ultimate Players League of Austin (Texas)
DiscNY (New York)
Utah Ultimate Disc Association (Utah)
Illinois Youth Ultimate (Illinois)
Valley Ultimate (Massachusetts)
Indiana Ultimate Foundation (Indiana)
Wisconsin Ultimate (Wisconsin)
Jacksonville Ultimate League (Florida)
Zig Zag Ultimate (Michigan)
ultimate organizations and leagues into USA Ultimate affiliates
MEMBERSHIP
in order to unify and promote the sport and assist with the
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Through this closely connected partnership, affiliates benefit from additional resources and opportunities to increase their reach.
Affiliates An affiliate is an organization that has been approved as a partner of USA Ultimate. Through this partnership, USA Ultimate will support affiliates to unify, promote and provide programs and services to the players in its geographic area. While USA Ultimate maintains a close, programmatic and
Each new partner received an Infrastructure Support Grant to
strategic relationship with affiliates, each affiliate is separate
help in the transition phase and to support the growth of their
and distinct. Affiliates remain their own corporations that serve
respective organizations.
their constituents, elect board members and manage affairs as deemed appropriate under the affiliate bylaws. The goal is
USA Ultimate also instituted new efforts to increase the
to build lasting partnerships which USA Ultimate and the local
collaboration and partnerships between all affiliate organizations
organization will strive to develop, strengthen and maintain.
by bring representatives from each group together at the U.S. Open Convention. The representatives were able to share
During the 2017 calendar year, the fifth official year of the
ideas and initiatives, success stories and suggestions for ways
Affiliate Program, seven new local disc organizations partnered
to improve and develop further. Similar efforts will continue in
with USA Ultimate, bringing the program total to 22.
the future as the Affiliate Program continues to grow.
KATE KINGERY
CH ard ES w UT ity A UL Equ PA and
JOH N
S Cal lah TUB an B Aw S ard lla Ca
ZHU LA rd GE Awa AN han
AMB ER Puf SINIC ahl Aw ROP ard E
irit Sp
Spirit and Equity Award
Ba
TESS A
Dono JONE S van Aw ard
SIN HES rd a TI C MA kko Aw
JAY FROUDE
Award Donovan
Farricker Award
BABCOCK HENRY
IE
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7S
2
01
IG N A T U RE SER
In coordination with the launch of Play It Forward,
Championships with the Youth Club Championships,
USA Ultimate created its fourth Signature Series disc
two of USA Ultimate’s biggest and most visible events,
which commemorates players, events and moments
to feature the best adult athletes competing alongside
that signify the sport and USA Ultimate over the
the best youth athletes. The YCC division featured
past year. Anyone who donated $30 or more to The
90 teams, and the ICC division hosted 36 teams. The
In 2014, USA Ultimate launched the Play It Forward
Ultimate Foundation’s Greatest Need was eligible to
image is surrounded by the names and signatures of
program. Play It Forward provides financial assistance to
receive the 2017 Signature Series disc wherein the
the 2017 Spirit and Equity, Callahan, Donovan, Peter
youth ultimate players with demonstrated need to help
central image represents the first U.S. Open Club
Farricker, Kathy Pufahl and Marty Bakko Award winners.
cover the cost of their USA Ultimate memberships.
Championships which combined the U.S. Open
2017 Annual Report
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Membership Growth USA Ultimate membership continues to grow each year. After almost exceeding 55,000 members for the first time in 2016, USA Ultimate membership
MEMBERSHIP
catapulted to 58,378 at the end of 2017, accounting for
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MEMBERSHIP GROWTH 60000 55000 53362
50000 47137
45000
54849
58378
48914
40000
6 percent growth. The college division remained USA
35000
Ultimate’s largest membership category in 2017 with
30000
over 18,200 members. Youth came in second, eclipsing
25000
15,000 members. Affiliate membership saw the largest
20000
growth percentage in 2017, followed by recreational
15000
single event and adult members.
10000
27396
29311
31588
35001
34894
2010
2011
36508
5000
The percentage of female-identifying members
0
2007
2008
2009
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
continued to increase in 2017, reflecting efforts like the Girls’ Ultimate Movement to get more girls and women playing ultimate. More than 1,300 additional female members joined USA Ultimate in 2017.
YOUTH MEMBERSHIP GROWTH 15119
2017
14467
2016
13651
2015
MEMBERSHIP
GENDER
12511
2014 11236
2013 9923
2012
9158
2011 Staff
Coach/Player
Lifetime
Coach
Adult
Friends & Family
College
Affiliates
Youth
Event Only
Youth-Serving Organization memberships not shown
8467
2010 7274
2009 Female 31% Male 69%
6218
2008
5628
2007 4617
2006 0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
Member Retention
2017 MEMBERSHIPS MEMBERSHIP TYPE
NUMBER OF MEMBERS
Staff Lifetime Adult College Youth Coach/Player Coach Friends & Family Youth-Serving Organization Affiliates Event Only
254 503 13,414 18,238 15,119 964 558 117 19 5,610 3,582
general merchandise such as team kits, learn to play Membership retention rates increased from 2016 to 2017, with almost 62 percent of the 2016 membership returning in 2017, accounting for 33,966 members and was once again highest in the college division which 2017, a slightly higher rate than achieved in the
20 percent off custom-printed
calendar year, participate in the USA Ultimate insurance
20000 16954
11485
5000
4220
1271 19–24
20 percent off at Red Roof Inn
previous year.
unlimited number of sanctioned events during the
23723
12 & UNDER 13–18
20 percent off at Wyndham Hotels
saw 64.5 percent of members return from 2016 to
USA Ultimate annual members may participate in an
25000
0
travel discounts from our partners, including:
Ultrastar discs from Discraft • As part of the Olympic Family, USA Ultimate
AGE
10000
kits, rule books and more. • Members are eligible for merchandise, ticket and
a 1.3 percent increase in the retention rate. Retention
Member Benefits
15000
• Members receive discounted rates on USA Ultimate
25–34
35–54
members have access to scholarship opportunities through DeVry University. • Members can make a difference in the sport
program, take advantage of partner discounts and
with their eligibility to vote in USA Ultimate
much more!
elections and have the option to seek election to
• Members can attend USA Ultimate clinics and
the organization’s board of directors; become a
conventions and participate in USA Ultimate
sectional, regional or national coordinator; or join
sanctioned and championship events.
other volunteer committees.
• Members may apply for grants or kits to assist with 503 OVER 54
developing local programs, become a certified
We continue to work hard to add additional exclusive
coach or observer, or apply to sanction a local event
and valuable benefits like these. Check the USA
and receive benefits such as insurance.
Ultimate website regularly for updates on special
• Members are covered through the USA Ultimate
offers such as those listed above.
insurance program when participating in USA Ultimate sanctioned events.
2017 Annual Report
19
COMPETITION 20
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In 2017, USA Ultimate sanctioned over 520 events and designated 106 regular-season college events and 58 regular-season club events. In addition, USA Ultimate delivered nine high-quality championship events across the youth, college, club, beach and masters divisions.
Each year, hundreds of ultimate tournaments take place across the United States. At the national and regional levels, USA Ultimate provides competition
Inaugural College Mixed Regional Championships In 2017, USA Ultimate introduced the first-ever College Mixed Regional Championships. Championship events were held in October and November with 68 teams competing across five regions: East, North, Northeast, South and West. After a successful inaugural year, plans are underway to expand the college mixed division to include more events and more teams in the future.
programs for every age group of its more than 58,000 members.
College Women’s Startup Project Housed under the Season Training and Recruitment (STAR) Program, the College Women’s Startup Project was established in 2017 to help foster the growth of college women’s ultimate by incentivizing new teams and facilitating the development of new women’s programs. A 12-person focus group worked to identify the biggest challenges and barriers with starting a new college women’s team and came up with a list of benefits that would help ease the process. The following is a list of benefits teams included in the College Women’s Startup Project receive: • Free USA Ultimate college memberships over the course of three years. • A free team startup kit. • Assistance with finding a local coach and a free coach membership.
Thirty-six adult teams and more than 830 athletes
The 2017 convention provided sessions on coaching
people who have started or helped develop college
competed in the International Club Championships
and long-term athlete development, engaging
women’s teams and can offer practical advice
(ICC) division, while 90 youth teams and more
and retaining sponsorships and the Girls’ Ultimate
and support.
than 1,700 athletes competed in the Youth Club
Movement, as well as an open forum on gender equity
Championships (YCC) division. The event continued
and diversity, all designed with athletes, organizers
Nine college women’s teams were recipients of the
as an invite-only competition that highlights the best
and coaches in mind. It was also an opportunity for
• Access to a women’s team alumni support network –
program’s first grants during its inaugural year:
teams, athletes and competition the sport has to offer
affiliates and state organizations from around the
• Allegheny Hellbenderitas
from around the world. The 2017 event featured teams
country to gather and exchange ideas and updates
• Christopher Newport Rosemary
from seven nations: Colombia, Germany, Italy, Japan,
on a variety of topics.
• Drexel Spitfire
Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• East Carolina Black Pearl
Masters Division Expansion
• Pittsburgh High Voltage
The 2017 U.S. Open also marked the sport’s first-ever
• Providence Women’s Ultimate
live broadcast on ESPN2. The ICC mixed division
• Saint Joseph’s University Dirty Doves
championship final aired live on the linear network
• St. Thomas Rainy Day Women
and included USA Ultimate’s first direct-to-consumer
As part of ongoing efforts to increase opportunities
• Wheaton (IL) Mastodonnas
television commercial, part of the organization’s new
for continued participation in the sport, USA Ultimate
Live Ultimate marketing campaign.
doubled the size of the masters division in 2017,
U.S. Open Club Championships & Convention USA Ultimate held its sixth-annual U.S. Open Club Championships & Convention in August 2017, hosting teams from across the United States and the world in Blaine, Minn. The event was rebranded in 2017, changing from the U.S. Open Championships to the U.S. Open Club Championships to reflect the first combined U.S. Open and Youth Club Championships event.
increasing the competitive options from three divisions In conjunction with the tournament portion of the
to six. The mixed masters (30+ females, 33+ males),
event, a convention was also held, open to anyone and
women’s grand masters (37+) and great grand masters
everyone in the ultimate community who desired to
(45+ females, 50+ males) divisions premiered at the
advance and develop the sport of ultimate worldwide.
2017 Masters Championships in Aurora, Colo.
YOUTH COMPETITION
17 Youth Club Re nals 20 gion egio als bR 201 Clu 7Y uth ou Yo th 17 Cl 20 ub
s al
20 1
participating in USA Ultimate’s competition programs
outh Club Regionals 2017 Y 2017 You th Clu bR eg io n
outnumbered the number of participating club teams.
als ion Reg lub hC ut Yo
the fourth year in a row, the number of youth teams
Youth Club Regionals
7
organization’s fastest-growing divisions in 2017. For
Club Regionals 2017 Yo uth Youth Clu 017 bR s 2 nal eg ion gio Re als
As in recent years, the youth division was one of the
ub Cl
every age group of its more than 58,000 members.
egionals 2017 Youth Cl lub R ub R th C egi on You als 17 20 20 17 Yo ut
h
USA Ultimate provides competition programs for
als on gi Re
2017 marked the first year in the transition from The Youth Club Championships (YCC), now part of the
High School Regional Championships to Youth Club
U.S. Open Club Championships, continues to expand
Regionals. USA Ultimate’s youth regional championship
each year, as a reflection of the growth of youth
events shifted to the fall and a club team structure,
membership, with more athletes and teams than ever
moving away from the previous high-school-based
competing at the 2017 edition. Participation in youth
teams. Fifteen teams competed across two regional
club leagues also continues to increase every year,
championship events: Northeasterns and Westerns.
continuing the growth of the future of ultimate.
The 15 teams also included USA Ultimate’s first U-15 division at a championship event.
Each year, USA Ultimate hosts and helps organize dozens of youth division events across the country. Specifically hosted by USA Ultimate are youth club
Northeasterns
regional championship events and the Youth Club
U-20 BOYS’ DIVISION
Championships. High school state championships are organized locally, but USA Ultimate assists with the organization and expansion of the program and sanctions each event.
1 2 3 4 5 6
FINAL STANDINGS
SPIRIT AWARD
D.C. Foggy Bottom Boys North Allegheny High School Montreal Titane Vermont Mutiny Hampton High School Central Catholic High School
Jacques Nissen Charlie Alt Félix Pelletier Elijah Coolidge Jason Hunkele Owen Maue
Westerns U-15 BOYS’ DIVISION 1 2 3 4 5
FINAL STANDINGS
SPIRIT AWARD
Oregon Eruption! Utah Swarm Oakland Sparks Oakland Wolfpack Boise Ultimate Flyway
Sam Mayer-Radke N/A Julian Korchin Kiyoshi Monsalve Jeremy Lechten
Team Spirit Award Winner: Oakland Wolfpack
U-20 MIXED DIVISION FINAL STANDINGS 1 Seattle Bankroll 2 Bellevue BamWagon 3 Berkeley High Co(upROAR) 4 Vancouver G-Birds
SPIRIT AWARD Justin Jones, Abby Hecko Austin Hasbrook, Michelle Nguyen Tate Hoyer, Maytal Bach N/A
Team Spirit Award Winner: Berkeley High Co(upROAR)
Team Spirit Award Winner: Titane
2017 Annual Report
23
YOUTH COMPETITION 24
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H I G H S C H O O L S TAT E S PA R T I C I PAT I O N - AT H L E T E S Twenty-eight states held high school state championships in 2017. Nearly 700 teams participated, and 64 titles were awarded,
14000 12000
a significant increase from the previous year. In addition, participation increased
10000
821
significantly across all three divisions, with the largest increase seen in the mixed division which saw a 17 percent increase.
8000 6000 4000
776 439 942
4644
1074
715 1172
5507
5787
2011
2012
1421 6642
943 1743 7092
1528
1254
1304
2079
2261
7722
7567
7844
2015
2016
2017
2363
2000 0
2010
Boys
2013
2014 Girls
Mixed
Winning Schools from 2017 CALIFORNIA
IOWA
MISSOURI
TENNESSEE
Boys (D-I) – Gunn Boys (D-II) – Pitman Girls – California Roll
Boys – Ankeny Centennial
Boys – De Smet Girls - Lindbergh
Boys (D-I) – STEM Academy Boys (D-II) – River’s Edge Girls – Independence
COLORADO Boys (D-I) – Monarch Open A Boys (D-II) – Cheyenne Mountain Girls – Boulder Mixed (D-I) – Denver East A Mixed (D-II) – Broomfield CONNECTICUT Boys – Middletown GEORGIA Boys (D-I) – Grady Boys (D-II) – Northview Girls – Paideia IDAHO Mixed – Boise A ILLINOIS Boys (D-I) – Neuqua Valley A Boys (D-II) – Reavis Girls – Neuqua Valley INDIANA Boys – Center Grove Girls – Center Grove
KENTUCKY Boys – Central Kentucky Homeschool MAINE Boys – Girls – Mixed –
NEW HAMPSHIRE Mixed – Phillips Exter
TEXAS
NEW JERSEY
Boys – Marcus Mixed – Marcus 1
Boys (D-I) – Westfield Boys (D-II) – Columbia JV Girls – Watchung Hills
UTAH
Boys – CESJDS & Field
NEW YORK
Boys – Sky View Girls – Lone Peak Mixed – West High School Krakens A
MASSACHUSETTS
Boys – Bard High School Early College Girls – Stuyvesant
VIRGINIA
NORTH CAROLINA
Boys – HB Woodlawn Girls – HB Woodlawn
Boys – Carolina Friends Girls – High Country Christian Homeschoolers
WASHINGTON
MARYLAND
Boys (D-I) – Amherst Boys (D-II) – Boys (D-III) – Mixed – Girls – Newton North A MICHIGAN
OHIO
Boys –
Boys – Mason Girls – Holy Family Catholic
MINNESOTA Boys (D-I) – Edina Boys (D-II) – Apple Valley Boys (D-III) – Open World Learning Community Boys (D-IV) – Minneapolis South Girls (D-I) – Great River Girls (D-II) - Edina
Note: States without winning schools listed did not submit results.
OREGON
Boys – Girls – WISCONSIN Boys – Madison West Girls – Madison West
Boys – South Eugene PENNSYLVANIA Boys – Radnor Girls – Lower Merion
2017 Annual Report
25
C O M M U N I T I E S R E P R E S E N T E D AT Y C C 40 35 30 25
25
YOUTH COMPETITION
20
26
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15 10 5 0
10
2009
14
13
2010
2011
16
2012
28
29
2015
2016
33
19
2013
2014
2017
Y C C PA R T I C I PAT I N G T E A M S For the first time, the Youth Club Championships (YCC) were
100
held in conjunction with the U.S. Open Club Championships from August 5-7, 2017, in Blaine, Minn. The event continued
10
80
to grow in participation, playing host to 90 teams comprised of nearly 1,800 athletes representing 33 different communities, the most ever at YCC.
3
60
14
40
20
0
4 8
8
8 8 5
8
10
2009
2010
U-20 Boys
8 5
8 7
14
11
2011
2012
U-20 Girls
9
10
7
12
8
23
19
2013
2014
U-20 Mixed
8 13 13
7 15 14
13
13
25
27
2015
2016
U-17 Boys
20
14 16 30
2017 U-17 Girls
U-20 BOYS’ DIVISION I FINAL STANDINGS 1 2 3 4 5 6
Triangle Area Triforce Boston BUDA Texas Two Step Delaware Valley DEVYL Seattle Splash Washington, D.C. Foggy Bottom Boys 7 Cincinnati Flying Pig 8 Atlanta ATLiens 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
New York Little PoNY Nashville Nashvillians Pittsburgh Impulse Philadelphia Forge Chicago Elite Utah Swarm Oregon Avalanche Minnesota Superior A
U-20 BOYS’ DIVISION II
SPIRIT AWARD Ethan Ylizarde Sam Hare Steig Caleb Dixon Noriaki To Tony Venneri Theo Gonzalez-Tapley Sion Agami Krishan Chib, Drew DiFrancesco Ben Zhang Joshua Gabella Zac Cook Ashwin Pothukuchi Evan Haug Ryan Bills Tyler MacMaster Asa Bowen
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
FINAL STANDINGS
SPIRIT AWARD
Austin Amigos Bay Area Red Dawn Maine Rising Tide Colorado Cutthroat Triangle Area Carolina Sky Minnesota Superior 2 St. Louis Storm Connecticut Insomnia Valley Ultimate Charlotte Flight Neuqua Valley Nightmare Houston Helix Iowa Cornsaw Michigan SEMI
Jake Sames Jonah Taylor Will Corsello N/A Vincent Chen Twain Cacek Kevin Scannell Hayden French Nick Auerbach Bryce Markel Max Bacani Toya Chukwumerije Matt Adams Nicholas Colucci
U-20 GIRLS’ DIVISION 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
FINAL STANDINGS
SPIRIT AWARD
Triangle Area Warhawks Washington, D.C. Rogue Cincinnati Belle Boston BUDA Seattle Narwahl Texas Tango Minnesota Superior Colorado Cutthroat Utah Swarm Atlanta cATLanta Delaware Valley DEVYL Pittsburgh Moxie Valley Ultimate Neuqua Valley Daydream Philadelphia Forge St. Louis Hustle
Dawn Culton Taylor Smith Julia Desrosiers Zoe Hecht Bailey Shigley Sesha McMinn Makayla Jones-Klausing Annie Kim Abby Merrifield Arainna Ridley Emily Yin Sarah Rubino Claire Babbott-Bryan Ally Alford Lacey Robinson Lane Dibler
Team Spirit Award Winner: Utah Swarm
Team Spirit Award Winner: Neuqua Valley Nightmare
2017 Annual Report
27
YOUTH COMPETITION
U-20 MIXED DIVISION
28
usaultimate.org
FINAL STANDINGS
SPIRIT AWARD
1 Bay Area Happy Cows 2 Seattle Bankroll 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Mike Peng, Anna Reed Hazel Ostrowski, Ronnie Estoque Minnesota Superior Jeremy Schuetz, Torie Hengel Madison MUFAbots Margaret Walker, David Graffin San Diego Powerline Jake McCurdy, Vanessa Beeler Philadelphia Forge Layne Dodge, Griffin Kao Maine Rising Tide Aidan Hayes Indiana INcognito Rachel Gray, Sedrik Sweet Washington, D.C. Swing Vote Oren Lieber-Kotz, CC Butcher Cincinnati Notorious P.I.G. Sarah Wade, Ben Fibbe Milwaukee Lake Effect Nick Fellows, Maddy Fellows New York Skyscrapers Kevin Stewart-Mercurio, Anne Zhang Vermont Granite State Sam Newton, Elayna Bennett Connecticut Insomnia Kaitlyn Amuso, Joey Stevenson
Team Spirit Award Winner: Philadelphia Forge
U-17 BOYS’ DIVISION I FINAL STANDINGS 1 Seattle Oblivion 2 Atlanta ATLas 3 Washington, D.C. Capitol Heights 4 Delaware Valley DEVYL 5 Bay Area Aftershock 6 Indiana INtensity 7 Minnesota Superior 8 Triangle Area NC Hammer
U-17 BOYS’ DIVISION II
SPIRIT AWARD Jaelon Mendoza Harrison Briggs Asher Freidman-Rosen Luke Barry Seth Larsson Quentin Pollard Jedidiah Pratt Matthew O’Connell
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
FINAL STANDINGS
SPIRIT AWARD
Boston BUDA Chicago Windy City Maine Neap Tide Oregon Eruption Colorado Cutthroat Cincinnati Flying Piglet Colombia Revolution Triangle Area Lucky PuNCs Philadelphia Fusion Pittsburgh Pulse Texas Swing Neuqua Valley Deja Vu
Parker Lin-Butler Logan Frey Ryan Thompson Trevor Jones Zachary Hunter Nicholas Holden N/A Brady Furey Will Dawson Ryan Liang Zach Egge Trevor Scott
U-17 GIRLS’ DIVISION 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FINAL STANDINGS
SPIRIT AWARD
Seattle Eclipse Maine Rip Tide Cincinnati Belle Triangle Area Kitty Hawks Colombia Revolution Delaware Valley DEVYL Bay Area Belly of the Beast Minnesota Superior Oregon Ash Boston BUDA
Jenny Hoang Karli Chapin Therese Enders Jessica Wu N/A Catherine Ray April Lu Grace Taylor Clare Dupuy Indhy May
Team Spirit Award Winner: Colombia Revolution
Team Spirit Award Winner: Pittsburgh Pulse
2017 Annual Report
29
COLLEGE COMPETITION
ACE Program
F I V E S TA R
The Achieving Collegiate Excellence (ACE) Program,
Case Western Reserve Men
Florida State Men
Case Western Reserve Women
St. Olaf Women
sponsored by Breakmark, is designed to provide incentives and recognize growth and sustainability of college ultimate programs based on team development and alignment with the three Cs of USA Ultimate’s
F O U R S TA R North Carolina State Women
South Carolina Men
Northeastern Men
Wisconsin-La Crosse Men
T H R E E S TA R
mission: character, community and competition. The college division continues to be USA Ultimate’s
Teams can be recognized as five-star, four-star,
largest member segment; a total of 15,063 athletes
three-star or honorable mention programs. Each level
participated in the 2017 college series.
comes with specific benefits for the teams recognized. Twenty teams were included as honorees in 2017.
The College Championship Postseason Series was again held to qualify teams for the 2017 College
Brandeis Men
Nevada Men
California Men
Puget Sound Women
Mississippi State Women
Swarthmore Women
HONORABLE MENTION Arizona State Women
Georgia Tech Women
Army Men
Syracuse Men
Cornell Women
Valparaiso Women
Championships. Championships were held for Division I and Division III schools in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lexington, Ky., respectively.
C O L L E G E S E R I E S PA R T I C I PAT I O N ( AT H L E T E S ) 20000
College membership grew in 2017, but college series participation dipped slightly due to the first weekend of
15000
conference championships falling on Easter Weekend. As a result, there was a 2 percent decrease in men’s players, a 1 percent increase in women’s players and a
10000
|1 percent decrease in total participation. 5000
The College Championships were broadcast live for
308 1493 1122 2460
378
136
1727
1559 1362
372
306
1383 1360
1291 1263
1371
2700
2859
3445
3283
3420
4954
4849
5024
2887
2716
3161
3316
4546
4783
2011
2012
426
451
1454 1351 3047
1472 1345 2951
3564
3580
5425
5264
2016
2017
the fifth consecutive year by the Worldwide Leader in Sports. The semifinals were broadcast on ESPN3, and finals were broadcast live around the nation on ESPNU on Memorial Day.
0
2013 D-I Men
2014 D-I Women
Developmental Men
2015 D-III Men
D-III Women
Developmental Women
2017 Annual Report
31
COLLEGE COMPETITION 32
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Division I College Championships MEN’S DIVISION 1 2 3T 3T 5T 5T 5T 5T 9T 9T 9T 9T 13T 13T 13T 13T 17T 17T 17T 17T
FINAL STANDINGS
SPIRIT AWARD
Carleton College North Carolina-Wilmington Massachusetts North Carolina Minnesota Pittsburgh Washington Wisconsin Auburn Cal Poly-SLO Michigan Oregon British Columbia Connecticut Stanford Texas A&M Colorado Colorado State Oregon State Virginia Tech
Adam Throne Thomas Theunissen William Thornton Alex Grosskurth Tony Poletto Max Thompson Galen Kornowske Adam Klaus Hank Womble Ian Sweeney Josh Becker Max Moore Patrick Mavety Daniel Reilly Allan Ndovu Kyle Flaherty Josh Crane Easton Archibald Eric Callahan Adam Norrbom
Team Spirit Award Winner: Virginia Tech 2017 Callahan Award Winner: John Stubbs – Harvard
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1 2 3T 3T 5T 5T 5T 5T 9T 9T 9T 9T 13T 13T 13T 13T 17T 17T 17T 17T
FINAL STANDINGS
SPIRIT AWARD
Dartmouth Texas British Columbia Colorado Oregon Stanford Virginia UCLA California Carleton College Michigan Notre Dame California-San Diego Delaware North Carolina Ohio State Connecticut Florida Pittsburgh Tufts
Mae Hardebeck Andrea Esparza Samantha Roche Megan Ives Lillian Weaver Ellie Norby Rebecca Driver Moorea Henn Alison Griffith Caroline Sheffield Mary Boyd Mary Andersen Leanne Go Kat Ritzmann Mary-Catherine Adams Stacy Lu Elizabeth Bamford Evangeline Abraham Linda Morse Maeve O’Sullivan
Team Spirit Award Winner: Stanford 2017 Callahan Award Winner: Angela Zhu – Dartmouth
Division III College Championships
College Mixed Regional Championships
MEN’S DIVISION 1 2 3T 3T 5T 5T 7T 7T 9 10 11T 11T 13 14 15 16
FINAL STANDINGS
SPIRIT AWARD
Richmond Davidson Alabama-Huntsville Bryant Franciscan John Brown Dartmouth Wheaton (IL) St. John’s Army Air Force North Carolina-Asheville Colorado College Portland Occidental Amherst
Sam Gillespie Dustin Smith Elijah Jaime Cameron Jack Tommy Lannen Ethan Penner Robert Halvorsen Holden Thompson Seamus Ott Montana Bilger Kevin Foley Chad Gerber Crispin Whittier John Black Max Marion Nate Sacks
Team Spirit Award Winner: John Brown 2017 Donovan Award Winner: Henry Babcock – Richmond
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1 2 3T 3T 5T 5T 7T 7T 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
FINAL STANDINGS
SPIRIT AWARD
Carleton College-Eclipse Wesleyan Puget Sound Valparaiso Portland Williams St. Olaf Truman State Bowdoin Bates Georgia College Mount Holyoke Haverford Catholic Lehigh Claremont
Fiona Fraser Amabel Jeon Abby Mayo Serena Badgley Raychel Teman Liliana Bierer Anna Ruehlow Sabrina Lavezzi Brigitte McFarland Madeline Dulchin Lindsey Moon Abby Cough Bess Cohen Rachel Youngberg Kelly Skewis Montana Roberts
The inaugural College Mixed Regional Championships were held in October and November 2017, with 68 teams competing across five regions: East, North, Northeast, South and West.
2017 WINNERS EVENT
WINNER
East Mixed Regional
N/A – Day two of competition cancelled due to inclement weather
North Mixed Regional
Northwestern
Northeast Mixed Regional
Massachusetts
South Mixed Regional
Texas
West Mixed Regional
Cal Poly-SLO
Team Spirit Award Winner: Georgia College 2017 Donovan Award Winner: Tessa Jones - Swarthmore
2017 Annual Report
33
CLUB COMPETITION
Teams: Top eight teams
With a more formal regular season, games played at TCT
in North America
events over the summer leading up the Championship
Qualification: Top eight teams
Series really matter. Teams in each flight are provided
based on results from the
opportunities to play in events specific to their flight,
previous season’s National
guaranteeing at-level competition for all participating
Championship
teams throughout the TCT. Cross-flight challenges are built into the season schedule as well, ensuring that teams have access to playing opportunities that will help them
The Triple Crown Tour was introduced in 2012 as the
Teams: 9th-16th best teams
new club division competition format and was officially
in North America
established in 2013, making the 2017 season the fifth
Qualification: Teams
The U.S Open Club Championships and other existing
year of the Triple Crown Tour structure.
placing 9th-16th at the
events, as well as some new events, were included in the
previous season’s National
2017 club season as tour stops for each flight.
The Triple Crown Tour (TCT) builds on the success of the
develop and keep the Tour competitive.
Championship
longstanding club series and was developed through feedback from the ultimate community. The TCT was
EVENT
LOCATION
structured with four main goals in mind:
Teams: Up to four teams per
U.S. Open Club Championships
Blaine, Minn.
• Provide more meaningful playing opportunities
geographic region, 32 teams
Pro-Elite Challenge – Colorado Cup
Aurora, Colo.
• Provide more accessible playing opportunities
maximum
Elite-Select Challenge
Appleton, Wis.
• Encourage participation and growth
Qualification: Based on
Select Flight Invite – Oshadega Invite
Columbus, Ohio
• Showcase the sport at its best
regional playoff results, in
Pro Championships
Burlington, Wash.
order of top teams that do
National Championships
Sarasota, Fla.
Every club ultimate team in North America is eligible to
not qualify for the National
participate in the Triple Crown Tour. Teams are slotted
Championships
The more structured TCT format provides additional showcase opportunities for the sport, for participating
into four flights based on competitive performance, with the potential to be promoted or relegated dependent
Teams: Unlimited
players, the current ultimate community, outside fans
on the current year’s results. Each year, the best of the
Qualification: Any USA
and media. The TCT system also helps develop more
best will get a chance to compete for the Triple Crown,
Ultimate registered team
consistency for teams and more opportunities for
the ultimate ultimate champion who wins the U.S. Open
eligible to compete in
sponsorships and increased exposure.
Club Championships, the Pro Championships and the
the regular season or the
National Championships in the same year.
postseason Championship Series
2017 Annual Report
35
CLUB COMPETITION
MEN’S DIVISION
36
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
Sockeye Revolver Truck Stop Johnny Bravo Ring of Fire High Five Ironside Clapham Patrol Sub Zero CUS Bologna Inside Rakete
Seattle, Wash. San Francisco, Calif. Washington, D.C. Denver, Colo. Raleigh, N.C. Ann Arbor, Mich. Boston, Mass. London, U.K. Philadelphia, Pa. Minneapolis, Minn. Bologna, Italy Darmstadt, Germany
Joe Sefton Eli Friedman N/A N/A Henry Fisher Jacob Turner Piers MacNaughton Conor Hogan Tom Allen N/A Alberto Tonelli Martin Cronacher
Team Spirit Award Winner: Sockeye
MIXED DIVISION CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
1 Mixtape
Seattle, Wash.
2 Drag’n Thrust 3 AMP 4 Slow White
Minneapolis, Minn. Philadelphia, Pa. Boston, Mass.
5 Metro North 6 Steamboat
Mianus, Conn. Cincinnati, Ohio
the International Club Championships (ICC) competition field
7 Mischief 8 Shinshu Loose
San Francisco, Calif. Matsumoto, Japan
included eight international teams from six nations around
9 NOISE
Madison, Wis.
Drew Johnson, Cole Johnson Jess Haller, Pat Niles Linda Morse, Matt Carter Mary Glickman, Tannor Johnson Allison Yum, Eugene Yum Nichole Kwee, Chris Powers Ellen Rim, Matt West Yuka Sakai, Shun Akamatsu Anna Hrovat Staedter, Josh Wilson N/A Marisol Ruiz, Alejandro Aguado Maria Paula Santos, Rivaldo Briceño
The sixth-annual U.S. Open, the first re-branded as the U.S. Open Club Championships and combined with the Youth Club Championships, was contested in Blaine, Minn., from Aug. 4-7. Competition and convention sessions were all held at the National Sports Center. In addition to the United States representation at the event,
the world: Colombia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom. The 2017 U.S. Open also marked the sport’s first-ever live broadcast on ESPN2. The ICC mixed division championship final aired live on the linear network and included USA Ultimate’s first direct-to-consumer television commercial, part of the organization’s new Live Ultimate marketing campaign.
FINAL STANDINGS
10 Migrant 11 Team Mexico
Tokyo, Japan Mexico City, Mexico
12 Fire Ultimate Club
Bogotá, Colombia
Team Spirit Award Winner: Fire Ultimate Club
C L U B PA R T I C I PAT I O N ( T E A M S )
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
700
Revolution Molly Brown Fury Riot Brute Squad Scandal Heist MUD Traffic Showdown UNO Iceni
Medellín, Colombia Denver, Colo. San Francisco, Calif. Seattle, Wash. Boston, Mass. Washington, D.C. Madison, Wis. Tokyo, Japan Vancouver, Canada Austin, Texas Aichi, Japan London, U.K.
N/A Sally Lambert Darragh Clancy N/A Becca Ludford Lisa Kowalski Adrienne Wells Yukie Yamaguchi Jenn Kwok Ivy Harrison Hiromi Omura Xenia Shevnina
600
112
500
218
Team Spirit Award Winner: Fury
400 300
303
200
117 210
261
89
90
87
206
214
225
228
228
242
233
220
213
215
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
201
Teams have an opportunity to win prize money for each of the three legs of the Triple Crown, starting with the U.S. Open and followed by the Pro Championships and the National Championships. Seattle Mixtape won the Triple Crown in 2017, becoming the first team in the mixed division to earn the distinction. San Francisco Revolver is the only other team that has won the Triple Crown, accomplishing the feat twice (2013, 2015). Regular-season rankings once again had direct implications for National Championships bid allocations. Rankings were maintained throughout the season, with a minimum threshold for inclusion of 10 sanctioned games. For a third consecutive year, the mixed division was the largest with 254 competing teams in 2017, followed by the men’s division with 215.
254
100 0 2010
2011
Men’s
Postseason Championship Series
91
91
96
Mixed
Women’s
CLUB COMPETITION 38
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The 2017 National Championships were held at the Premier
MEN’S DIVISION
Sports Campus in Sarasota, Fla., from Oct. 19-22. Forty-eight teams and more than 1,200 athletes competed in Sarasota with eyes on taking home national titles in the men’s, mixed and women’s divisions. For a fifth straight year, seven games from the semifinal and final rounds of play at the National Championships were broadcast live on ESPN3.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9T 9T 11 12 13 14 15 16
FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
Revolver Doublewide Ring of Fire Truck Stop Ironside Dig PoNY Sub Zero Florida United Johnny Bravo Machine Sockeye High Five GOAT Condors Patrol
San Francisco, Calif. Austin, Texas Raleigh, N.C. Washington, D.C. Boston, Mass. Boston, Mass. New York, N.Y. Minneapolis, Minn. Florida Denver, Colo. Chicago, Ill. Seattle, Wash. Ann Arbor, Mich. Toronto, Ont. Santa Barbara, Calif. Philadelphia, Pa.
Joel Schlachet Jay Froude Josh Hartzog Alan Kolick Jay Clark Rocco Linehan Chris Kocher Sam Bumsted Travis Catron Jimmy Mickle Michael Schwenk Reid Koss Mitch Cihon Anatoly Vasilvev Jesse Cohen Quinn Hunziker
Team Spirit Award Winner: Johnny Bravo Farricker Award Winner: Jay Froude - Doublewide
MIXED DIVISION CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
1 Mixtape
FINAL STANDINGS
Seattle, Wash.
2 AMP 3 BFG
Philadelphia, Pa. Seattle, Wash.
4 Slow White
Boston, Mass.
Meagan Kapostasy, Alex Duffel Rob Robinson, Linda Morse Kate Kingery, Bryson Simon Fox Tommy Ferguson, Vicki Chang Megan Wilson, Gus Haflin Paul Utesch, Rebecca Philp Kat Ritzmann, Brett Sullivan Teddy Mason, Elsa Regnell Sam Valesano, Jimmy McDonald Spencer Tibbs, Elizabeth Murphy Deanna Bjorkquist, Mac Taylor Brendan Smith, Sarah Hasch Manisha Daryani, Devon Ray Williams Pat McCarthy, Jen Golan Katie Patterson, Matthew Zemel Josh Wilson, Anna Hrovat Staedter
5 6 7 8 9T
Wild Card Public Enemy Drag’n Thrust Metro North No Touching!
Boston, Mass. Dallas, Texas Minneapolis, Minn. Mianus, Conn. Minneapolis, Minn.
9T shame.
Fort Collins, Colo.
11 Blackbird
San Francisco, Calif.
12 Toro 13 Mischief
Durham, N.C. San Francisco, Calif.
14 Steamboat 15 Love Tractor
Cincinnati, Ohio Denver, Colo.
16 NOISE
Madison, Wis.
Team Spirit Award Winner: Metro North Spirit and Equity Award: Kate Kingery – BFG, Paul Utesch – Public Enemy
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1 2 3T 3T 5 6 7 8 9T 9T 11 12 13 14 15 16
FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
Fury Brute Squad Molly Brown Ozone Riot Traffic Scandal Nightlock 6ixers Rival Underground Schwa Heist Pop Nemesis Showdown
San Francisco, Calif. Boston, Mass. Denver, Colo. Atlanta, Ga. Seattle, Wash. Vancouver, B.C. Washington, D.C. San Francisco, Calif. Toronto, Ont. Columbus, Ohio Seattle, Wash. Portland, Ore. Madison, Wis. Minneapolis, Minn. Chicago, Ill. Austin, Texas
Cree Howard Amber Sinicrope Claire Chastain Kayla Emrick Alyssa Weatherford Terri Whitehead Anne Price Alison Griffith Sarah Burke Tracey Lo Madeleine Stephenson Jenica Villamor Bryn Martyna Emily Regan Erika Danckers Laura Landis
Team Spirit Award Winner: Heist Kathy Pufahl Award: Amber Sinicrope – Brute Squad
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MEN’S MASTERS 2017 played host to the largest Masters Championships yet. The event was held in Aurora, Colo., July 21-23, with 77 teams competing across six divisions: 16 men’s masters teams, 12 mixed masters teams, 15 women’s masters teams, 16 men’s grand masters teams, six women’s grand masters teams and 11 men’s great grand masters teams. 2017 was the inaugural year for three divisions at the Masters Championships: mixed masters, women’s grand masters and men’s great grand masters.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
Johnny Encore Rest Stop All Bashed Out Surly Boneyard Crawl Voltron 2020 Black Cans & Highlands Surly Cynic Geronimo Naptown Royal Stag Pacemaker Outlaw Polar Vortex Burnside
Denver, Colo. Baltimore, Md. Albany, N.Y. Minneapolis, Minn. Raleigh, N.C. Phoenix, Ariz. Seattle, Wash. Washington, D.C. Minneapolis, Minn. Dallas, Texas Indianapolis, Ind. Madison, Wis. Chicago, Ill. Fayetteville, Ark. Chicago, Ill. Portland, Ore.
Kevin Walsh Joe Cueno Peter Konisberg Chris Hickman Mike Moore Daniel Krass Jamie Arambula Erik Salmi Joe Andrighetti Brett Marinelli Matthew Broadwell Jeff Wala Mati Chessin Jon Summers Ben Schmidt Enrique Benitez
Team Spirit Award Winner: All Bashed Out Marty Bakko Award Winner: Mati Chessin – Pacemaker
MIXED MASTERS CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
1 UPAARP
FINAL STANDINGS
Chicago, Ill.
2 3 4 5
Members Only 512 Hey Babe Molasses Disaster
Southern California Austin, Texas Minneapolis, Minn. Boston, Mass.
6 San Francisco Bridge Club 7 Trickle Down 8 Old Parts and Pandas 9 Prime
San Francisco, Calif.
Chrissy Hedges, Patrick Gleason Trung Pham, Ann Lee Rebecca Smith Vu Nguyen Kendra Frederik, Eric Stevens Nick Buccelli, Amy Chang Lani Bensheimer Justin Twenter Heather Gardner, Ryan Bell Adam Zingsheim Tal Kopan Emily Bratton, Greg Tschoepe
10 Old Fashioned 11 Third Party 12 Trainwreck
Portland, Ore. Seattle, Wash. Greenville, S.C. Madison, Wis. Washington, D.C. Raleigh, N.C.
Team Spirit Award Winner: Trainwreck
WOMEN’S MASTERS FINAL STANDINGS CITY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Surly C.O.U.G.A.R.S. Ripe iRot Lame Duck Molly Grey BKFT Loose Cannon PUMAS Zenith BizNasty Seattle Mint Atlantiques I Thought This Was A Wine Tasting 14 Hot Flash 15 Vermont Women’s Tapped 16 G.O.S.E.
SPIRIT AWARD
Minneapolis, Minn. Raleigh, N.C. Seattle, Wash. Washington, D.C. Denver, Colo. San Francisco, Calif. Philadelphia, Pa. Ames, Iowa Baltimore, Md. San Francisco, Calif. Seattle, Wash. Atlanta, Ga. New York, N.Y.
Robin Kunze Britta Jones Molly McKeon Trudy Phillip Leah Borsheim Amanda Leahy Caitlin Redding Love Anjonrin-Ohu Zara Cadoux Beckie Menten Katie Nielsen N/A Kelly Germanowski
Cincinnati, Ohio Burlington, Vt.
Rachel Clark Beth Goldstone
Minneapolis, Minn.
Seija Stratton
Team Spirit Award Winner: Hot Flash
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MEN’S GRAND MASTERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
Surly Johnny Walker No Country Shadows ShutDown Kalakala Reckon Old Man Winter Bighorn Hootenanny Endless Sunset Sick Hammers GrandMaster Flash Old Growth Projectile dysfunction Critical Mass
Minneapolis, Minn. Denver, Colo. Brattleboro, Vt. Oakland, Calif. Washington, D.C. Seattle, Wash. Georgia and Tennessee Chicago, Ill. Boulder, Colo. Raleigh, N.C. San Diego, Calif. Austin, Texas Orlando, Fla. Silicon Valley, Calif. Columbus, Ohio Northampton, Mass.
Mark Enright Kevin Monohan Jim Parinella Ian Appleyard Ben Potash Alex Blanton Ben Nanny Paul Grafing Chad Underwood Alan Ellis Doug Peterson Francisco Puga Thad Ellett J.D. Doelitzsch N/A Sheldon Snodgrass
Team Spirit Award Winner: Bighorn
WOMEN’S GRAND MASTERS 1 2 3 4 5 6
FINAL STANDINGS CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
Boston J2 Sidearm Riding High West Poachella Peak Bloom
Chrissy Hedges Jen Schneeweis Lynne Nolan Christina Hedderly Meghan Swardstrom Robin Parker
Boston, Mass. Seattle, Wash. Chicago, Ill. Arizona Seattle, Wash. Rockville, Md.
Team Spirit Award Winner: Peak Bloom
M E N ’ S G R E AT G R A N D M A S T E R S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
Relics Old and in the Way wreckAge Old Growth TriAged Surly Rudy and Friends Great GrandMaster Flash Endless Sunset Age Against the Machine Ozark Hillbillys
San Francisco, Calif. Boulder, Colo. Sudbury, Mass. Tacoma, Wash. Raleigh, N.C. Minneapolis, Minn. Concord, Mass. Orlando, Fla. San Diego, Calif. Cincinnati, Ohio Fayetteville, Ark.
Ken Joye Chris Payne Chris Borden Delfino Cornali Mike Riley Chris Hickman N/A William Dean Hinton Ed Cable Chris Oldstone-Moore Jim Martinez
Team Spirit Award Winner: Rudy and Friends
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BEACH COMPETITION
MEN’S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11T 11T 13 14
FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
And the Warhawks Bayonet AMPersand Paranoia Trollvolver Midrift FludWhale Bro Watch Somerville Youth Beach Wrench High Level Sleepover at Lenin’s Jaybirds Summer of George
Cambridge, Mass. San Francisco, Calif. Philadelphia, Pa. Washington, D.C. Philadelphia, Pa. Iowa City, Iowa Richmond, Va. Athens, Ohio Somerville, Mass. Cambridge, Mass. Gainesville, Fla. Brooklyn, N.Y. Destin, Fla. Fairfax, Va.
N/A Abe McKay Stephen Ng Alex Bodaken Himalaya Mehta Jimmy Wiesbrock Chris Bowling Cody Petitt Matt Fasano Eugene Buonaccorsi Matt Goff N/A Caleb Posey Caleb Ward
Team Spirit Award Winner: Sleepover at Lenin’s
MIXED FINAL STANDINGS
The third annual USA Ultimate Beach Championships were held May 20–21, 2017, with 64 teams and more than 900 athletes competing in five divisions: men’s, mixed, women’s, mixed masters and men’s grand masters. The event was held in Virginia Beach, Va., for a third consecutive year.
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
1 Point Break
Los Angeles, Calif.
2 No Tsu Oh
Houston, Texas
3 Team Canada Mixed 4 Squirtle Squad
Canada Montclair, N.J.
5 Beachboat 6 Fog City
Cincinnati, Ohio San Francisco, Calif.
7 90s Babies
Washington, D.C.
8 Kevin Seiler Experience 9 Spring Chickens
Ames, Iowa
Lori Eich, Russell Gaskamp John Sandahl, Sharon Tsao N/A Rebecca Halleran, Mason Compton Steph Mack Jannon Frank, Marge Rosano Kate Trenerry, Gabe Webster Matt Lee, Brittnee Grimshaw Isabelle Toutant, PierreYves Lavertu Grace Relf Eric Martin, Lauren Gardner Stephenie Wang, Devin Holland Pat McGrath, Moriah Lee Mary Kelly, David Caplan Jameson Howell, Colleen Wisniewski
Montreal, Canada
10 Swamp City 11 Carolina Cottonmouth 12 Land Ho!
Washington, D.C. Chapel Hill, N.C.
13 Big Fish
Falmouth, Mass.
St. Louis, Mo.
14T Locals
Norfolk, Va.
14T Lord Fairfax
Fairfax, Va.
Team Spirit Award Winner: Locals
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WOMEN’S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7T 7T 9T 9T 11 12
MEN’S GRAND MASTERS
FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
The Otter Team Rockford Beaches Skeeahreet LAMP First in Flight Throwtorious RBG Filthy Rich The Collective Sharks and Kisses The Bends Sea Sick Foxx
San Francisco, Calif. Madison, Wis. Boston, Mass. Philadelphia, Pa. Chapel Hill, N.C. Washington, D.C. Richmond, Va. Atlantic Provinces, Calif. Gainesville, Fla. New York, N.Y. Long Beach Island, N.J. Peterborough, Canada
Cassie Wong Emily Langland Sydney Dobkin Kelsey Devlin Erin Weeks Mayra Nava Krista Johnson Suzy Stever Christine Lynch N/A Alice Weng Krissi Baxter
Team Spirit Award Winner: Sharks and Kisses
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
Sandblast Johnny Walker No Country Scrapple Hootenanny Reckon Borderline Coney Island Fun House Grave Error Sol Draft Blazing Sandals Goatswitcher
Chicago, Ill. Denver, Colo. Brattleboro, Vt. Philadelphia, Pa. Raleigh, N.C. Nashville, Tenn. Orono, Maine Avalon, N.J. Chapel Hill, N.C. Orlando, Fla. Lakeland, Fla. Birmingham, Ala.
Keith Allen Buzz Ellsworth Mike Namkung Tom Carroll Keith Doucette Chris Dawson N/A Dan Klotz Mike Hamilton-Genson James Cheek Tony Christian N/A
Team Spirit Award Winner: Reckon
MIXED MASTERS FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
1 Swamp Rats
Raleigh, N.C.
2 Over the Hill
Washington, D.C.
3 TEXaCO
Denver/Austin
4 SHAM
Washington, D.C.
5 Win, Loose, or Die
Philadelphia, Pa.
6 Overrated
Rochester, N.Y.
7 Charge!
Jennieville, Md.
June Lohner, Mike Jolley Christian Heneghan, Lisa Shipek Katie Patterson, David Street Justin Kratz, Adrienne Nicholson Elise Colomb, Dov Goldman Scott Franklin, Rhiannon Myers Patricia McGlone, Chris Schulze David Stiles, Katie West Kim Tischler, Winston Ely John Markham, Kylie Korsnack Jan Hendrik-Spille, Val Locker
8 Ye Olde Boxcar 9 Shostakovich and the Angry Buddha 10 Beaches and Cream
Raleigh, N.C. Brooklyn, N.Y.
11 Love Handles
Boston, Mass.
Nashville, Tenn.
Team Spirit Award Winner: SHAM
2017 Annual Report
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BEACH COMPETITION
MEN’S
46
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
Beach Boys USA USA Beach Masters Grand M.U.S.A. Stealth Santa Gnarbrah Bayonet Detox Mom’s Spaghetti Tribe Karma Bandits Thundersnow
U.S.A. U.S.A. U.S.A. Los Angeles, Calif. Santa Barbara, Calif. San Francisco, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif. Temecula, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif. Tucson, Ariz. Flagstaff, Ariz.
N/A Moses Rifkin N/A KuoHsun Wang Kevin Kirchhoff Abe McKay Ben Toney James Murray Ryan Plant Eric Eia Lucas Klein
Team Spirit Award Winner: Beach Boys USA
MIXED FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
1 Tanks Obama
U.S.A.
2 Long Beach Legacy
Long Beach, Calif.
3 Point Break
Los Angeles, Calif.
event became the second national event in the USA Ultimate
4 Loose Seal
Crestone, Colo.
Beach Division.
5 Spring Chickens
Canada
6 Hammer or Bust
Orange County, Calif.
Briana Cahn, Jack McShane Jacob Baumer, Ashley Landry Megan Prazenica, Andrew McRae Nathan Woolridge, Tobie Miller Emily Norton, Jordan Bower Jeff Hagen, Anika Ballent
The first annual USA Ultimate Beach Westerns debuted April 22–23, 2017, in Santa Monica, Calif. Thirty-one teams and 415 athletes competed across four divisions: men’s, mixed, women’s and men’s grand masters. Hosted by LAOUT, the
Team Spirit Award Winner: Long Beach Legacy
WOMEN’S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7T 7T 7T
FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
Woosand Ronrunner TCWM Huck the Patriarchy Sea Salt Santa Babe-ra San Diego Yacht Club Viva Sunbreaks
Boston, Mass. Chicago, Ill. Toronto, Canada Seattle, Wash. Bay Area, Calif. Santa Barbara, Calif. San Diego, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif. Seattle, Wash.
Magon Liu Emily Smith-Wilson N/A Lexi Garrity Jessica Wilson Liv Wheeler Mary-Beth Young Connie Chan Grace Baron
Team Spirit Award Winner: Viva
MEN’S GRAND MASTERS 1 2 3 4 5
FINAL STANDINGS
CITY
SPIRIT AWARD
‘Merica Endless Sunset Kalakala Zone Team Canada GGM
San Francisco, Calif. San Diego, Calif. Seattle, Wash. Huntington Beach, Calif. Vancouver, Canada
Stephen Feldman Mark Laffoon Travis Frazier Jeff Landesman Daniel Gwartz
Team Spirit Award Winner: Team Canada GGM
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INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
World Games Every four years, the World Flying Disc Federation hosts the World Games. The 2017 event was held July 20-30, in Wroclaw, Poland. Seventy athletes were invited to tryouts and considered for just 20 spots on the National Team. The final roster consisted of 14 athletes, seven men and seven women who traveled to Poland, and six alternates. Highlighted in Goal Five of the strategic plan, achieving sustained excellence of USA Ultimate teams
In their first game of the tournament, the U.S. fell to
in international competition is a major focus for USA
Colombia 12-13, but defeated Canada, Australia and
Ultimate. U.S. national teams participated in four
Japan to move to 3-1 in the preliminary rounds. In the
international events in 2017: the World Games, the World
gold-medal game, the U.S. avenged their earlier loss,
Championships of Beach Ultimate (WCBU), the World
defeating Colombia and bringing home World Games
Great Grand Masters Beach Ultimate Championships and
gold for the fourth consecutive time.
the Pan American Ultimate Club Championships (PAUCC), all hosted by the World Flying Disc Federation. 2017 was another dominant year for the U.S. on the international stage. The U.S. National Team earned gold at the World Games in Wroclaw, Poland, the fourth consecutive World Games gold medal for the U.S. At WCBU, the U.S. reached the championship final in every division. In all, the U.S. contingent earned six gold medals and one silver medal, plus a gold at the World Great Grand Masters Beach Ultimate Championships. In Argentina at PAUCC, the U.S. teams took home five medals, winning gold in the mixed and men’s masters divisions.
2 0 1 7 U . S . N AT I O N A L T E A M Head Coach: Alexander Ghesquiere Assistant Coach: Matty Tsang NAME
CITY, ST
Georgia Bosscher Claire Desmond Carolyn Finney Dylan Freechild Sarah Griffith LiĂŞn Hoffmann Sandy Jorgensen Beau Kittredge Chris Kocher Grant Lindsley Jimmy Mickle Anna Nazarov Nick Stuart George Stubbs
Madison, Wis. Oakland, Calif. San Francisco, Calif. Portland, Ore. Seattle, Wash. Somerville, Mass. Washington, D.C. San Francisco, Calif. Brooklyn, N.Y. Oakland, Calif. Boulder, Colo. San Francisco, Calif. Minneapolis, Minn. Sausalito, Calif.
Alternates Claire Chastain Kami Groom Ashlin Joye Octavia Payne Joel Schlachet Nicky Spiva
Denver, Colo. Somerville, Mass. Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Denver, Colo. Berkeley, Calif. Philadelphia, Pa.
2017 Annual Report
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The U.S. was the reigning champion from
2017 U.S. MIXED NATIONAL TEAM
2015 in all divisions except mixed. The contingent left Royan with gold in the men’s,
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
mixed, men’s masters, mixed masters, women’s
50
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masters and men’s grand masters divisions. The U.S. women’s team earned silver. Lastly, WFDF sanctioned the WGGMBUC, which was held separately, in Praia do Meco, Portugal, June 17-21. The U.S. men’s The 2017 World Championships of Beach
great grand masters team earned gold at
Ultimate were held in Royan, France, June
the event.
18-24, and were hosted by the World Flying Disc Federation and the Beach Ultimate Lovers Association. The U.S. sent national teams in all seven
Head Coach: Eileen Murray NAME
CITY, ST
Marika Austin Simon Higgins Kaela Jorgenson Elijah Kerns Byron Liu Ben Lohre Lisi Lohre Jack McShane Sarah Meckstroth Sally Mimms Liza Minor Andrea Romano Markham Shofner Mac Taylor Nathan White
San Francisco, Calif. San Francisco, Calif. San Francisco, Calif. San Francisco, Calif. San Francisco, Calif. Golden, Colo. Golden, Colo. Westminster, Colo. Minneapolis, Minn. Highland Park, Ill. Boulder, Colo. San Francisco, Calif. Nashville, Tenn. San Francisco, Calif. San Francisco, Calif.
2017 U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
2017 U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Head Coach: Bryan Jones
Head Coach: Mike Whitaker
contested divisions: men’s, mixed, women’s, men’s masters, mixed masters, women’s
NAME
CITY, ST
NAME
CITY, ST
masters and men’s grand masters. Together,
Tyler Chan Jason Clark Tyler DeGirolamo Jack Hatchett Jonathan Helton Jared Inselmann William Katz Brett Matzuka AJ Nelson Walden Nelson Jonathan Nethercutt Mario O’Brien Peter Prial Cassidy Rasmussen Russell Wynne
Boston, Mass. Boston, Mass. Pittsburgh, Pa. Boston, Mass. Raleigh, N.C. Boston, Mass. Seattle, Wash. Kansas City, Kan. Chicago, Ill. Chicago, Ill. Raleigh, N.C. Seattle, Wash. Boston, Mass. San Francisco, Calif. San Francisco, Calif.
Sarah Anciaux Calise Cardenas Ness Fajardo Cree Howard Sarah Levinn Magon Liu Allison Maddux Becky Malinowski Sara Miller Maggie Ruden Lauren Sadler Amber Sinicrope Paige Soper Claudia Tajima
Iowa City, Iowa Seattle, Wash. San Francisco, Calif. San Francisco, Calif. Austin, Texas Ames, Iowa Arlington, Va. Boston, Mass. Chicago, Ill. San Francisco, Calif. Seattle, Wash. Somerville, Mass. Cincinnati, Ohio Somerville, Mass.
they combined for a remarkable 83-3 record over seven days of play. Nearly 750 athletes submitted applications to be considered for one of the seven select national teams that travelled to France, with just 104 eventually selected by a committee of team managers and USA Ultimate staff.
2017 U.S. MEN’S MASTERS NATIONAL TEAM
2017 U.S. WOMEN’S MASTERS NATIONAL TEAM
2017 U.S. MEN’S GREAT GRAND MASTERS NATIONAL TEAM
NAME
CITY, ST
NAME
CITY, ST
NAME
CITY, ST
Andrew Brown William Chen Casey Degnan Ben Dieter Thomas Doi Dan Gillick Sandy Hartwiger Ben Van Heuvelen Paul Raymond Illian Tyler Kinley Barrs Lang Ryan Purcell Moses Rifkin Matthew Sewell Bartholomew Watson
Madison, Wis. Seattle, Wash. Raleigh, N.C. Oxford, N.C. San Francisco, Calif. Oakland, Calif. Raleigh, N.C. New York, N.Y. Seattle, Wash. Ann Arbor, Mich. Oakland, Calif. Austin, Texas Seattle, Wash. Seattle, Wash. Louisville, Colo.
Manisha Daryani Melissa Gibbs Sarah Itoh Courtney Kiesow Kate Kingery Sally Lambert Geneviève Laroche Becky LeDonne Angela Lin Haley Reese Emily Smith-Wilson Kate Wilson Brittany Winner Robyn Wiseman Katherine Wooten
San Francisco, Calif. St. Louis, Mo. Falls Church, Va. Somerville, Mass. Seattle, Wash. Boulder, Colo. San Francisco, Calif. Madison, Wis. Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta, Ga. Bozeman, Mont. Atlanta, Ga. Cincinnati, Ohio Madison, Wis. Atlanta, Ga.
Britt Atack Alex de Frondeville Stephen Feldman Lars Fjelstad Thomas Glass John Hock Anthony Iwaszko Kerry Karter Matt Krei Jim Nolte Jim Olson Dan Powers Richard Russell Adam Smith Greg Williams Patrick Wright Eric Zaslow
Seattle, Wash. Arlington, Mass. Portland, Ore. Portland, Ore. Robbinsville, N.J. Naperville, Ill. Arlington, Va. Livermore, Calif. Aurora, Colo. Denver, Colo. Brattleboro, Vt. Sunnyvale, Calif. Greer, S.C. Boca Raton, Fla. Charlotte, N.C. Camp Hill, Pa. Evanston, Ill.
2017 U.S. MIXED MASTERS NATIONAL TEAM
2017 U.S. MEN’S GRAND MASTERS NATIONAL TEAM
NAME
CITY, ST
NAME
CITY, ST
Kimberly Beach VY Chow Dominique Fontenette Josh Hemmesch Bridget Kane Trey Katzenbach Maureen McCamley Ashley Morgan Ryan Morgan Sean Murray Calvin Oung Chelsea Twohig Keegan Uhl Owen Westbrook Joel Wooten
Harrisburg, Pa. San Francisco, Calif. Seattle, Wash. St. Paul, Minn. Minneapolis, Minn. Philadelphia, Pa. Atlanta, Ga. Denver, Colo. Arlington, Va. Brookside, N.J. Towson, Md. Portland, Ore. Los Angeles, Calif. Boulder, Colo. Columbia, S.C.
Jeremy Clark Ricky Elkstadt Greg Husak Gary LeDonne Sean McCall Keven Moldenhauer Tim Murray Michael Namkung Jon Remucal Steven Rouisse John Sandahl Jim Schoettler Brandon Streets Kelly Swiryn Don Tom
Portland, Ore. Ann Arbor, Mich. Santa Barbara, Calif. Chicago, Ill. Houston, Texas Forest Hill, Md. Brevard, N.C. Miami, Fla. Madison, Wis. Louisville, Colo. Minneapolis, Minn. Denver, Colo. Santa Barbara, Calif. Phoenix, Ariz. Houston, Texas
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION 52
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MIXED 1 2 3 4 5
The 2017 Pan American Ultimate Club Championships were held in Cañuelas, Argentina, Nov. 14-19, and were hosted by the World Flying Disc Federation. The U.S. sent club teams in the mixed and men’s masters divisions. U.S. teams swept the mixed division, with the five American teams claiming the first through fifth spots at PAUCC. The two men’s masters teams representing the U.S. took home gold and bronze. Cincinnati Steamboat also claimed the mixed division Team Spirit Award.
PLACEMENT
CITY
Mischief AMP Drag’n Thrust Doubledown Steamboat
San Francisco, Calif. Philadelphia, Pa. Minneapolis, Minn. Austin, Texas Cincinnati, Ohio
MEN’S MASTERS PLACEMENT 1 Black Cans & Highlands 3 Beyondors
CITY Washington, D.C. Santa Barbara, Calif.
2018 International Events Calendar year 2018 holds more exciting opportunities for USA Ultimate’s international teams. The WFDF World U-24 Ultimate Championships will be held January 7-13 in Perth, Australia. The U.S. will send teams in all three division: men’s, mixed and women’s. The WFDF World Ultimate Club Championships will be held on American soil for the first time since 2002. The event is scheduled for July 14-21 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The U.S. will send teams in all three divisions: men’s, mixed and women’s. A total of 13 teams will represent the U.S. in Cincinnati, all of which qualified based on their finishes at the 2017 National Championships. The WFDF World Masters Ultimate Club Championships (WMUCC) will be held July 29-August 4 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The U.S. will send teams in all four contested divisions: men’s masters, mixed masters, women’s masters and men’s grand masters. In all, 23 teams, who qualified based on finishes at the 2017 Masters Championships, will represent the U.S. at WMUCC. The WFDF World Junior Ultimate Championships will be held August 19-25 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The U.S. will send a boys’ team and a girls’ team.
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PROGRAM GROWTH
Sanctioning Program
Tournament Director’s Certification Program
With the goal of encouraging and supporting growth
The Tournament Director’s Certification Program (TDCP)
The TDCP was designed to help provide the best possible
of ultimate at all levels, the USA Ultimate Sanctioning
certified 121 members in 2017, bringing the total
tournament experience for athletes, coaches, chaperones,
Program assists event organizers in providing their local
number of certified members to 606. Having launched
family members and fans. The cornerstone of the TDCP
communities with opportunities to participate and learn
in 2015 and with certifications lasting two years, a
is the Tournament Director’s Manual which includes
about the sport through high-quality, well-organized
re-certification program was ready at the end of the
information about safety, standards and best practices that
events. Tournaments and leagues sanctioned through
year for those needing to re-certify. The re-certification
can help organizers run the best events possible.
USA Ultimate receive legitimacy through their association
program was released concurrently with the second
with USA Ultimate, insurance coverage, access to
version of the Tournament Director’s Manual, which was
additional resources and materials and much more.
updated with information on topics including equity, conduct issues, cart safety and lightning safety.
USA Ultimate sanctioned 524 events in 2017, accounting for nearly five percent growth over 2016. In addition to local leagues and tournaments, those 524 sanctioned events included 106 college regular-season events and 58 club events to make up the divisions’ official regular seasons.
U S A U LT I M AT E S A N C T I O N E D E V E N T S
600 500 467
400 300 200
270
290
390
398
2013
2014
500
524
336
100 0
2010*
2011
2012**
2015
2016
2017
*2010 marked the beginning of the official college regular season. **2012 marked the beginning of the official club regular season.
2017 Annual Report
55
Outreach Programs In 2017, USA Ultimate held 36 Learn to Play clinics, seven more than in 2016, and three Learn to Play leagues. The total youth participation at Learn to Play clinics and leagues increased by nearly 100 athletes (598 in 2016 to 694 in 2017). Approximately 1,200 elementary school, middle school and
PROGRAM GROWTH
high school kids participated in youth outreach clinics in 2017
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through Learn to Play, GUM, community recreation and other
USA Ultimate staff members also attended the National
programs in partnership with local disc associations. The number
SHAPE conference in 2017 and worked with the new outreach
of kids participating overall increased by more than 60, and the
volunteer structure to support presentations at 13 state physical
total number of clinics and leagues increased from 64 in 2016
education teacher conferences. USA Ultimate also supported
to 69 in 2017.
Maine Ultimate’s presence at a Girls on the Run 5K event as they promoted girls’ ultimate and GUM. In addition, USA
USA Ultimate also licensed its day camp program to Altitude
Ultimate provided physical education in-service support for a
Youth Ultimate for the second consecutive year. Eighty-three
program in Columbus, Ohio. Conferences and events like these
kids attended four week-long summer camps in Denver
help USA Ultimate continue networking efforts with various
and Boulder.
community, recreation and teachers’ organizations and advance the sport of ultimate amongst these key groups.
For a fifth straight year, the Youth Club Championships played host to a Talent ID Camp. Coaches from around the country
During the 2017 calendar year, nearly 125 outreach kits,
were on-hand to lead clinics and training sessions with 87 top
accounting for more than 1,200 discs, were distributed to
youth ultimate players in the United States (a tremendous
groups advancing ultimate as a teaching tool and recreational
increase from 31 participants
activity. Newly forming teams, schools, teachers, community
in 2016), each of whom had
recreation groups and organizations, YMCAs, Boy Scouts
elected to register for and
troops, parks and recreation programs, and Learn to Play and
participate in the day camp.
GUM clinic organizers all received kits thanks to USA Ultimate equipment grants to help support local grassroots efforts to expand ultimate’s reach around the country.
Girls’ Ultimate Movement The Girls’ Ultimate Movement (GUM) continued its great work in 2017, the program’s fourth official year. GUM focuses on creating opportunities for more girls to participate in sports, lead with their peers and celebrate the beauty of sport with their opponents. The total number of Girls’ Ultimate Movement (GUM) clinics for kids of all ages slightly decreased in 2017, with 33 clinics, down from 35 in 2016, while the total youth participation decreased from 517 in 2016 to 483 in 2017. In addition to creating more competitive opportunities for girls, GUM is also working to provide more coverage of female athletes, particularly from the female perspective. In 2017, USA Ultimate published seven GUM blog posts, a tremendous increase from zero in 2016 and two in 2015. The posts’ topics ranged from mental toughness to organizing to playing in the YCC finals for the first time and playing D-III ultimate.
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Coaching Through the Coaching Development Program (CDP), USA Ultimate has been running clinics to certify coaches since 2004. The Coaching Development Program, again sponsored by Five Ultimate in 2017, is a process of educating coaches, professionalizing and growing the vocation of coaching and creating a pool of qualified volunteers to help grow the sport of ultimate. In 2017, USA Ultimate’s Coaching Development Program hosted 26 full-day Ethics & Coaching Performance Workshops across the United States and four online ethics-only workshops.
U S A U LT I M AT E C O A C H I N G M E M B E R S H I P S
Total members participating in the Coaching Development
1750
PROGRAM GROWTH
Program dropped to 451 in 2017, but coach and coach/player memberships both slightly increased during the year. USA Ultimate’s outreach and education staff collaborated with three coaching task forces – one each in Seattle, Minneapolis and Boston – along with CDP instructors to determine new goals for the CDP that better serve the needs of the ultimate community and to continue professionalizing the vocation
and C level certifications, each geared toward a particular age group and skill level of ultimate players. Also in 2017, as part of ongoing improvements to safeguard ultimate athletes, new educational requirements were added for anyone interested in a coach-level USA Ultimate membership, including the CDC’s online concussion training
usaultimate.org
964
547
558
2016
2017
759
1000 750
652 615
661 455
500 250
Additionally, it was established that the CDP would have A, B
943
1250
522
552
of coaching.
and SafeSport training regarding athlete protection. 58
1500
0
118
165
193
2009
2010
2011
247
275
2012
2013
Coach Member
372
402
2014
2015
Coach/Player Member
Observer Program
The USA Ultimate Observer Program took on its current structure in 2005 with the completion of
USA Ultimate endorses the use of observers
a standardized training manual, outlining of the
in ultimate but does not endorse the use of
training clinic curriculum and development of
referees. Observers have the responsibility to
criteria for certification. The Observer Program
uphold Spirit of the Game on the field, but
is overseen by the USA Ultimate Observer
responsibility for the integrity of ultimate and
Committee which is responsible for determining
Spirit of the Game remains with the players.
guidelines for observing, including current standards for USA Ultimate competition, and training materials and methods.
OBSERVER PROGRAM
In 2017, the USA Ultimate Observer Program held seven successful clinics, training and
80 70
71
66
60
76
50
55
of the Year Awards in 2017. The observer award
33
32
20
USA Ultimate announced its inaugural Observer
52
program was established to recognize the hard
30
0
62
46
40
10
were also recertified over the course of the year.
65 57
50
certifying 33 new observers. Sixty-two observers
33
winners of these awards were recognized for the
20
impact they had on the sport of ultimate during 13
8
7
2011
work and dedication of certified observers. The
2012
10
5
2013 Clinics
2014 Newly CertiďŹ ed
the 2016 calendar year.
8
2015 RecertiďŹ cations
7
2016
2017
Laura Meyer was the inaugural recipient of the Observer the Year award. The Rookie Observer of the Year award went to Paderic Driscoll.
2017 Annual Report
59
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Sponsorship and Merchandising
The first-ever live broadcast of ultimate on ESPN2 occurred at the U.S. Open Club Championships, with the mixed championship final airing live on the linear network
In 2017, USA Ultimate continued its marketing partnerships with several endemic
during primetime. The U.S. Open men’s and women’s division finals will be broadcast
merchandise manufacturers, including Five Ultimate, Spin Ultimate and VC Ultimate.
live on ESPN2 over the next two years. The Pro Championships were also added to
These companies again were licensees of the USA Ultimate brand and marks, and
the ESPN programming slate for 2017, with live coverage of the three championship
served as the official merchandise provider of at least one of USA Ultimate’s nine
finals available on ESPN3 on Labor Day.
championship-level events. Alignment with the “Worldwide Leader in Sports” provides exposure for the sport Five Ultimate also served as the official apparel provider and sponsor of the
of ultimate unmatched in previous years and correlates directly with Goal One in USA
U.S. National Teams competing at the World Games and the World Flying Disc
Ultimate’s strategic plan. The ESPN relationship also allowed USA Ultimate to place
Federation’s World Championships of Beach Ultimate.
more highlight clips in SportsCenter’s Top 10.
Revenue from sponsorship, licensing and merchandise revenue increased by
To provide extra support for the mixed and women’s club divisions, USA Ultimate
12 percent in 2017, despite merchandising four fewer championship events;
partnered with Fulcrum Media Group to livestream 41 games from the U.S. Open Club
cash sponsorship increased by 28 percent.
Championships and National Championships on Facebook, reaching over 13 million people. In all, 119 games from USA Ultimate championship events were streamed
Broadcasting
across four platforms (ESPN, TSN, Facebook and Ultiworld) in 2017: 51 women’s games, 34 mixed games and 34 men’s games.
In an extension of the partnership begun in 2013, USA Ultimate championship events
As part of marketing efforts for the World Games team, USA Ultimate created the
were again broadcast live on the ESPN family of networks in 2017. The year marked the
video series “Inside Out” featuring exclusive and intimate interviews with each
beginning of a new, three-year completely gender equal agreement. Live coverage of
World Games athlete. The 20 videos collectively reached over one million people
the College Championships semifinals, U.S. Open Club Championships and National
on Facebook and YouTube.
Championships was available on ESPN3. Live coverage of the College Championships finals was provided on ESPNU on Memorial Day, the first-ever live broadcast on the linear network, followed by additional coverage shown on ESPNU during primetime the week after the event.
2017 Annual Report
61
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS 62
usaultimate.org
Communications, Social Media, Website
USA Ultimate Weekly is an easy place for anyone and everyone to keep up to date with the goings on at USA Ultimate.
Five microsites were developed and launched in 2017, creating a more user-friendly and mobilely responsive way for players
The marketing and communications team added a manager
and fans to find and follow information about some of USA
of digital marketing and communications early in 2017 to
Ultimate’s biggest events. Custom sites were created for the
help ramp up the organization’s digital presence. As a result
College Championships, U.S. Open, Triple Crown Tour and
of the addition, and increased, engaging content like the
USA Ultimate National Teams. A fifth site was developed as
Inside Out series and live streams from championship events,
part of the organization’s first major marketing and branding
USA Ultimate’s social media outlets each ended 2017 with
campaign: Live Ultimate.
impressive increases in followers.
The Live Ultimate campaign was created with the help of two outside agencies, Jack Morton Worldwide and Hats + Rabbits,
Mobile App
with three phases of engagement in mind, accounting for all levels of familiarity with the sport: those who already know
New features and capabilities continue to be
it and love it, those who have a peripheral knowledge and
added to the USA Ultimate mobile app. In its
those who are completely new to ultimate. The campaign is
third year, development began to make the
largely digital, but the launch of the Live Ultimate Ambassador
app’s “My Teams” feature much more robust,
Program brought on board some of the sport’s biggest
with team event information, score updates
names and influencers to help engage the community with
and media information available through
#LiveUltimate. Live Ultimate marketing items were also
custom push notifications. The added
distributed heavily at the 2017 National Championships.
features continue to increase the usability and relevance of the app for all its users.
2017 marked the third year of USA Ultimate Weekly. Throughout the course of the year, 40 issues of the Weekly were released in web and email formats. More than 20,000 people were subscribed to receive the email version in 2017, an increase of 100 percent in subscribers over the previous year, with thousands more views on the web version.
FA C E B O O K
I N S TA G R A M
Annual Report
6% increase in likes
9% increase in followers
55% increase in followers
USA Ultimate published its fifth annual report for the organization in late 2017. The publication outlined all things USA Ultimate from the 2016 calendar year.
FA C E B O O K L I K E S 80k 64372
60k 40k 20k 0
21807
29520
33117
42879
68339
49421
Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
TWITTER FOLLOWERS 40k 30k 20k
19439
10k 0
5134
9282
24442
27631
30119
14307
Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
2017 Annual Report
63
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Revenue Sources ($4,183,475) Membership — 60% ($2,508,232) Championship Events — 22% ($904,507) Sponsorship/Merchandise Sales/Licensing — 14% ($579,183) National Teams — 1% ($36,540) Education Programs — 1% ($32,837) Other — 3% ($122,176)
Audited Expenses ($3,599,567) Youth, College, Club, Masters and Beach Events & Programs — 43% ($1,530,090) Member Services, Communications & Marketing — 33% ($1,192,875) National Teams — 10% ($368,326) Community & Sport Development — 10% ($348,651) Education Programs — 4% ($159,625)
2017 Annual Report
65
Statement of Financial Position
Statement of Activities & Changes In Net Assets
ASSETS
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents Accounts receivable, net Inventory Prepaid expenses & deposits Certificate of deposit Total Current Assets
66
usaultimate.org
Property and Equipment IT infrastructure system Furniture and equipment Computer equipment Event equipment Leasehold improvements Other depreciable projects Software Subtotal Less accumulated depreciation Property and Equipment - net Long-Term Investments Other Assets Total Assets
EXPENSES $1,414,780 $24,342 $23,325 $187,241 $499,463 $2,149,151 $421,012 $39,179 $45,898 $16,415 $11,959 $13,200 $3,400 $551,063 $295,313 $255,750 $903,484 $1,300 $3,309,685
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Current Liabilities Accounts payable Due to USA Ultimate Foundation Accrued liabilities Current portion of deferred revenue Total Current Liabilities
$400,811 $15,228 $103,042 $545,202 $1,064,283
Deferred Revenue Total Liabilities
$271,162 $1,335,445
Marketing and sponsorship Triple Crown Tour, Masters event and programs Youth events and programs Community and sport development National teams College events and programs Education programs Member services Beach events and programs International programs Event standards/Spirit of the Game/rules/disc standards AE system Grants Total Program Services Supporting Services Operations Board of Directors Fundraising Total Supporting Services Total Expenses
$1,057,436 $605,908 $441,867 $319,752 $319,419 $314,496 $159,625 $135,439 $134,902 $48,907 $32,917 $28,899 $0 $3,599,567 $179,598 $167,532 $63,710 $410,840 $4,010,407
Statement of Cash Flows REVENUE Membership dues Competition and athlete programs Sponsorship and licensing National teams Sport development and sanctioning Sales Cost of goods sold Contributions National teams Education Other income Satisfied program restrictions Total Revenue
C A S H F L O W F R O M O P E R AT I O N A C T I V I T I E S 2 0 1 7 $2,424,245 $904,507 $514,505 $134,704 $83,987 $64,678 -$49,904 $15,338 $36,540 $32,837 $10,914 $11,124 $4,183,475
Net cash provided by operating activities: $263,991 Adjustments to reconcile the change in net assets to net cash provided by operating activities Depreciation and amortization: $93,877 Loss on investments: -$119,625
R E V E N U E A N D E X P E N S E T O TA L S Change in net assets Net assets, beginning of year Net assets, end of year
$173,068 $1,801,172 $1,974,240
Decrease (increase) in assets Accounts receivable, net Due from Ultimate Foundation Inventory Prepaid expenses and deposits
$25,369 $0 $311 -$161,293
Increase in liabilities Accounts payable Due from USA Ultimate Foundation
$107,033 $4,157
Accrued liabilities Deferred revenue
-$25,321 $166,415
Total adjustments: $90,923 Change in net assets: $173,068
2017 Annual Report
67
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Phone (719) 219-8322 • Fax (719) 219-1480 info@usaultimate.org
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