Conversation with the UPA

I attended the UCPC conference this past weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. Tiina Booth and George Cooke know how to put on a great event. I'm planning on blogging about my presentation (Strategizing for Tournaments) and the panel I was a part of (State of Women's Ultimate), but for now I wanted to let people know about what the UPA revealed about its new strategic plan.

First off, the UPA had not fully developed its strategic plan document (which I think it is planning on doing in the next month), so many of the specific details were not entirely fleshed out. However, they were able to identify a few key directions that the UPA will be pursuing in the next five years. This plan seems ambitious, so I am interested to see how it all pans out. I guess the UPA is reluctant to release too much information about the plan before they have the plan fully worked out so that they can avoid potential confusion. They did provide a short pamphlet at the UCPC that outlined some of what the UPA is committed to doing along the lines of Character, Community, and Competition. Hopefully if I quote directly from this handout, I won't be misrepresenting what they presented.

"Character: Increase integrity and accountability for competitive Ultimate

• Prepare a written document which clarifies and defines Spirit of the Game and can be used for marketing both internally and externally
• Implement spirit rating system based on Observer, coach, spectator input
• Produce and maintain online rules resources including abbreviated rules, annotated rules, video enactments, cheat sheet of outcomes
• Develop online rules quizzes for use by all players. Implement rules quizzes requirements for a) coaching certification, b) UPA Championship Series
• Increase the number of and quality of observers across the country through increased training clinics (goal 75 new observers per year) and implementation of an observer pay scale system
• Partner with existing college and club tournaments to experiment with an expanded scope for Observers
• Revision of the Observer evaluation program; develop recertification criteria and procedures; explore a tiered system of certification
• Ongoing modification of the role of Observers in competitive play. In year one alone, Observers will implement active force-out calls and hand signals; and experiment with active up-down and travel calls
• Promote use of UPA established Spirit rating systems and awards at non-UPA events

"Community: Support others to grow, develop and promote the sport

• Create a Youth Ultimate Promotional package containing youth/high school Ultimate video footage, promotional booklet with Ultimate info, how to start a school team or local youth league, basic skills. Distribute free to YMCA's, Parks and Rec Depts, PE teachers
• Expand the role of State Youth Coordinators to increase development of local high school and youth league programs and improve competition at the state level
• Stimulate a pilot for a local Ultimate program for underserved youth
• Revamp Coaching education offerings to be better targeted and more accessible; review HS/MS curriculum and rewrite if necessary
• Form league advisory council to facilitate ongoing structured interaction between UPA and league leaders; develop a league affiliate model
• Create online community for league organizers; develop biannual electronic communication for league organizers
• Design and conduct a regional leadership training program for women interested in teaching and organizing Ultimate on the local level
• Develop relationships with College Club Sports Administrators and team faculty advisors in order to build on-campus support for Ultimate
• Provide Alumni reunion benefits at Club Championships during Hall of Fame inductance years
• Organize parents group to increase understanding of the sport and encourage attendance at Ultimate events

"Competition: Develop and enhance competitive opportunities at all levels

• Explore the need and structure for non-school based youth play, and the potential role of the Youth Club Championships in that structure
• Plan and implement a Division II College Series
• Form partnerships to develop UPA College Pre-Series (Regular Season) competitive program
• Redraw sectional/regional boundaries and adjust bid allocation system
• Create UPA Grand Masters and Women's Masters Experimental Championship Event
• Implement roster limits in the Club Series
• Plan and implement UPA Club Pre-Series (Regular Season) Competitive program
• Plan and implement a Division II Club Series"

I can't believe I just typed all that. I'll feel especially dumb if it gets posted to the UCPC website tomorrow.

The aspects that interest me most are the competition tactics. The UPA admitted that these were the tactics they had worked out the least as they are quite complicated. The ones I'm particularly curious about are (a) adjusting the bid allocation system, (b) Division II Series (both college and club) and (c) Pre-Series (Regular Season) program for college and club. The other ones seem like good ideas, but don't really affect me personally (re-examining YCC, club roster limits at 27 for 2009, grand masters (age 40+) and womens' masters (age 30+) summer championships in 2009).

As far as the actual panel discussion went, I felt the UPA representatives probably could have done a better job getting the audience really excited about the plan elements. All of their tactics were supported by information and direction from the membership, so I think the UPA could have spent less time justifying the decisions and more time offering an inspiring glimpse of where the plan could take ultimate. I'm still excited about the possibilities, but it will take seeing the final documents and getting a sense of the timelines they propose for implementing some of the elements before I'll have any real sense of how it's all going to work.