Please return the
Grant Project Update form to
upa_grants@upa.org to submit and update on the progress of your project.
2008 Innovation Grant Winners
|
$50
| Revision of Sports Medicine Section in UPA Coaching Manual
Jamie Nuwer
Fremont, CA
|
$250
| Ultimate for PE Credit
Jonathan Hillis
Austin, TX
|
$250
| Digitizing UPA Championship Statistics for Release to the Public
Alex Peters
Doylestown, PA
|
$250
| First Season's Stats
Patrick Peterson
Waynesville, NC
|
$300
| Tuscon Ultimate Resource Library
Lisa Shipek
Tuscon, AZ
|
$600
| Operation Scoresheets
Bob Krier
Boulder, CO
|
$665
| Pioneer Scholars Ultimate
Lauren Gardner
Durham, NC
|
$850
| Soweto Development Clinic
Ankur Udani
Johannesburg, South Africa
|
$910
| Co-ed Turkish Ultimate
Sean Cox and Andrew Hochstedler
Istanbul, Turkey
|
$1500
| Camp SOTG™
Andrew Norman and Sam Bellin
Pittsburgh, PA
|
2007 Innovation Grant Winners
|
$500
| The Ultimate Injury Study, by Leslie Yen, M.D.Nashville, TN
|
$200
| Ithaca Youth Bureau Afterschool Ultimate for Middle Schoolers, by Sue Boyadjian, Ithaca, NY
|
| $400 | Community Connections, by Joanne Matibag, Phoenix, AZ
|
| $350 | Missoula H.S. Youth Clubs, by James Kennedy, Missoula, MT
|
| 2006 Innovation Grant Winners |
$400
| After School Program for At Risk Youth, submitted by Kara Johnson, Stanford, CA
|
$400
| Grassroots Ultimate in the Schools, submitted by Tom House, Asheville, NC
|
$300
| Gym Class Demonstrations in Pittsburgh Public Schools, submitted by Darren Shultz, Pittsburgh, PA
|
$220
| Ultimate Scouting, submitted by Anna Unruh, Lincoln, NE
|
$180
| Frontera Frisbee, submitted by Priya Varghese, Mercedes, TX
|
2005 Innovation Grant Winners |
$250
| |
$250
| |
$500
| |
2004 Innovation Grant Winners |
$500 | A Game Wherever I Go, submitted by Keith Mason of Indianapolis, IN |
$300 | Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games, submitted by Nancy Chippendale of Winnipeg, MB |
$250 | Ultimate Blue, submitted by Matt Krehbiel of Manhattan, KS |
$190 | NY City Frisbee Camp, submitted by Arata Niizuma of New York, NY |
$85 | Ultimateteam.org, submitted by Kitt Hodsden of Mountain View, CA |
$175 | Missoula Youth Ultimate Program, submitted by Ryan Applegate of Missoula, MT |
2003 Innovation Grant Winners |
$250 | Ultimate Leadership Series, submitted by Joshua Monaghan of Seattle, WA |
$142 | In Search of Green Space, submitted by Anne-Marie Carey of Vancouver, BC |
$250 | Instructional Video Paper, submitted by Dan Cogan-Drew of Somerville, MA |
$300 | Urban Ultimate Players Association, submitted by Brenda Timm of Brooklyn, NY |
$250 | San Francisco Beach Ultimate, submitted by Jesse Myers of San Francisco, CA |
$205 | Ultimate Kids-YMCA Youth Camp, submitted by Sisinio Baldis of San Diego, CA |
$103 | RUFFED, submitted by Jesse Jacques of Gainesville, FL |
2002 Innovation Grant Winners |
$500 | Observer For a Day Film Project, submitted by Chris Keam and Craig Davidiuk of Vancouver, BC |
$400 | The Willamette Valley High School Competition Zone, submitted by David Dreher of Corvallis, OR |
$250 | |
$250 | Translation of UPA 10th Edition Rules into French, submitted by Shiellah Quintos of Montr\x{FFFD}al, Qu\x{FFFD}bec |
$250 | Elaboration of Material for Teaching Ultimate, submitted by Jean-Francois Drouin of Montr\x{FFFD}al, Qu\x{FFFD}bec |
2001 Innovation Grant Winners |
$500 | The Ultimate Documentary, submitted by Christopher Perkel, Los Angeles, CA |
$500 | UFXDawn2Disc and Circle Games, submitted by Mike Landon, White River Junction, VT |
2000 Innovation Grant Winners |
$500 | Discs for Kids, submitted by Kellie Rollins, Fayetville, Arkansas |
$200 | GRADA Youth Ultimate Programs, submitted by Judy Lombard-Newell aka "Jude", Rochester, N.Y. |
$200 | Operation Ultimate Frisbee, submitted by Jeffrey Gobee, Manhattan Beach, Calif. |
$100 | Clinicas de Disco en el Curso de Verano 2000, submitted by Fernando Nájera, México City, Mexico |
1999 Innovation Grant Winners |
Grant
| How to Play Ultimate Video, Tidepool Media and the British Columbia Disc Sports Society, Vancouver |
Grant | Ultimate Camp for Juniors, Savannah High School, July 10-18, 1999 |
Grant | Catch the Spirit Youth Outreach, Washington, DC |
Grant | Women's Ultimate Clinic, Women on the Verge, Seattle, Washington (May 8) |
Grant
| Youth Services/Ultimate Frisbee and Adventure Based Counselling, Bucks County, Pennsylvania |
Grant
| Cleats for Kids Recycling, Northwest Ultimate Association, Seattle, Washington |
Grant | Ultimate Disc Summer Clinics, Quincy, California |
Grant | Inner City Youth, San Diego, California |
1998 Innovation Grant Winners |
Grant | Purdue Girl Scouts, Amelia Taylor, Indiana |
Grant
| PADA Community Outreach, Laura Line, Philadelphia |
Grant
| Eugene Clinic, Steve McFarland & Will Birdsong, Oregon |
Grant
| Encouraging Women, Kendra Hovey, Columbus Ohio |
Grant
| Spinning Bees, Gary Auerbach, Toronto |
1997 Innovation Grant Winners |
Grant
| Stateway Ultimate Programs, Chicago, IL |
Grant
| The State of Pittsburgh Ultimate: Race and Youth, Pittsburgh, PA |
2007 UPA Innovation Grant Winners
The Ultimate Injury Study, awarded $500Leslie Yen, M.D.
The Ultimate Injury study is the first prospective study of injury types, rates, and risk factors among ultimate players. It will be conducted May 25-27, 2007 at the UPA College Championships in Columbus, Ohio. Research staff from Vanderbilt Sports Medicine, directed by lover of Ultimate and sports medicine-trained physician, Leslie Yen M.D. (from Shazam and Deliverance), will record injury data during these three days. Results will be published during the summer of 2007 on the UPA website and rec.sport.disc. Any questions? Email Leslie Yen at leslianne(dot)yen(at)vanderbilt.edu. Thank you for your support!
Ithaca Youth Bureau Afterschool Ultimate for Middle Schoolers, awarded $200
Sue Boyadjian
The only way to make the sport of Ultimate a household name is to develop programs that bring Ultimate to communities large and small. The Ithaca Area Ultimate Alliance of Ithaca NY in cooperation with the Ithaca Youth Bureau would like to bring Ultimate Frisbee to middle school children of the Southern Tier of New York State.
Community Connections, awarded $400Joanne Matibag
Community Connections is an effort of bringing community service opportunities to VOTS, Valley of the Sun Ultimate Frisbee, and introducing at-risk youth to the sport of Ultimate. The connections made between VOTS and the community will strengthen both organizations missions and goals.
Missoula H.S. Youth Clubs, awarded $350James Kennedy
The creation of the Missoula High School Youth Clubs brings Ultimate to each of the 4 local high schools in Missoula, Montana. We strive to introduce the game to a diverse population of students in each of the high schools through exciting information displays and clinics. Each of the clubs will learn the importance of sportsmanship through spirit of the game and learn constructive conflict resolution on the field through self-refereeing for application in their off-field lives. We hope to create the excitement that the greater Ultimate community feels about the sport to the youth of Missoula and to provide excited students for future competitive intra-high school play in Montana.
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2006 UPA Innovation Grant Winners
After-School Ultimate Frisbee Program for At-Risk Youth, awarded $400Kara Johnson,
Stanford, CAThe Stanford Ultimate program for at-risk youth seeks to connect to elementary and middle school students by teaching them the sport of Ultimate while mentoring them and introducing them to a supportive community of Ultimate players of all ages. We currently run our program in East Palo Alto, CA.
Grassroots Ultimate in the Schools, awarded $400Tom House,
Asheville, NCGrassroots Ultimate in the Schools is a promotional effort to introduce Ultimate to athletic directors, physical education teachers and other secondary education professionals in a friendly, supportive environment among peers who may also lack experience and/or knowledge of Ultimate.
Clinic topics will focus on spirit of the game and how this applies on and off the ultimate field, as well as the benefits of a non-contact co-ed activity at the secondary school level. We will highlight how ultimate fits within the goals of the North Carolina's Healthy Child Initiative, and promote ultimate as both an extra-curricular and playground activity.
Gym Class Demonstrations in Pittsburgh Public Schools, awarded $300Darren Shultz,
Pittsburgh, PAThe Pittsburgh High School Ultimate League brings the fast-paced game of Ultimate to Pittsburgh Public Schools. Through their expanded gym class demonstration program, 6 experienced Ultimate players (3 Club, 3 College), teach and present the game in a mix of show and tell and Harlem Globetrotter-style exhibition games. The students of the class, often reserved and skeptical at the start of the period, grow more excited as they watch big throws, hard cuts and cringe or cheer at the sound of a full layout on the hardwood gym floor. They enthusiastically respond when challenged to play the "pros" near the end of the period, and everyone gets the joy of playing when all is said and done. These demonstrations have been a huge success in Pittsburgh so far, and only more excitement is to come with our expansion.
Ultimate Scouting, awarded $220Anna Unruh,
Lincoln, NEThe University of Nebraska- Lincoln Women's Ultimate Frisbee Club is planning an Ultimate Scouting weekend. This weekend is to introduce more youth to the game of Ultimate and to educate them about how to treat themselves to stay healthy. Topics will include fitness, hydration, heat protection, and, of course Ultimate. These topics are tailored to go towards various merit badges. For both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the Spirit of the Game will be taught in relation to their laws of conduct.
Frontera Frisbee, awarded $180Priya Varghese,
Mercedes, TXFifth and sixth graders at John F. Kennedy Elementary in Mercedes, TX are pioneers of Ultimate Frisbee in the Rio Grande Valley. New to the sport, they are eager to master a broad spectrum of skills and strategies to become stellar frisbee players. They set out to spread enthusiasm for the game, exemplify good Spirit, and to maintain healthy minds and bodies.
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2005 UPA Innovation Grant Winners
Alaska Ultimate Clinics, 2005 Innovation Grant awarded $250
Glen Anderson, Fairbanks, AK
The Fairbanks Ultimate Club will be holding a series of local Ultimate frisbee clincis which will be offered to the public free of charge. There will be 3 clinics beginning in May held over three consecutive weeks. The first clinci will be for women only ages 16 and up, followed by a clinic for Juniors ages 13-18 and then a final clinic for the general public (ages 18 and up). Clinics will be held at the Soccer complex or at the UAF fields. for further information, contact Glenner at
(907) 474-4347
Project Scoresheet, 2005 Innovation Grant awarded $50
James Parinella, Sudbury, MA
Project Scoresheet is a grassroots effort to take, compile, and analyze ultimate statistics at all levels of the game. It builds upon existing statistical systems in ultimate (primarily RUFUS) and other sports.
Flik'd DVD Magazine, 2005 Innovation Grant awarded $250
Michael Hall, Vancouver, BC
Flik'D is an Ultimate Frisbee DVD Magazine. Each issue will contain several "articles" or short documentaries of tournaments, teams, events and Ultimate culture, package together in a slick DVD package with motion graphics and steamin' hot tunes. This "pilot" issue will be the means by which we attract investors and distributors for full production in regular 6 month releases.
Big Green Bus, 2005 Innovation Grant awarded $500
Aekta Shah, Hanover, NH
This summer 15 Dartmouth College Ultimate Frisbee players (9 guys and 6 girls) will be driving across the country in a school bus converted to run on vegetable oil. We call ourselves The Big Green Bus. Our mission is simple: to interact with as many people as possible on our cross-country journey and share with them our passion for Ultimate Frisbee and our knowledge about alternative fuels.
On our trek across the country we will meet up with local ultimate frisbee communities, play pickup, play in tournaments, and, importantly, hold Ultimate clinics for school-age children. To conclude all of our visits, we will give each community an entertaining, interactive, and highly informative presentation/show about the viability of alternative fuels.
The Big Green Bus believes that students can make a difference in our country and the world we live in.
One bus, fifteen empassioned kids, and Ultimate; we, The Big Green Bus, are very excited about the possibilities the future holds.
2004 UPA Innovation Grant Winners
A Game Wherever I Go - 2004 Innovation Grant awarded $500.00
Keith Mason, Indianapolis, IN
A Game Wherever I Go program provides children within the state ward system located at the Marion County Guardian Home the opportunity, knowledge, and resources to play Ultimate Frisbee wherever they go, on their terms. With instruction from neighborhood volunteers from the Irvington Ultimate Relaxed League, children are taught the basic rules of how to play Ultimate Frisbee, are able to develop skills through interaction with peers and seasoned players, and receive a disc of their own to take with them wherever their travels may take them - rules included. Have disc, will travel....and will play Ultimate whenever and wherever they go.
Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games - 2004 Innovation Grant awarded $300.00
Nancy Chippendale, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Ultimate will be a demonstration sport in the 2004 Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games taking place in The Pas/Opaskwayak Cree Nation, from July 22nd to July 25th, 2004. These games are a training event for athletes planning to attend the North American Indigenous Games in Buffalo, NY in 2005. In a goodwill ambassador format, two “Teams Canada” will also be running Ultimate clinics to include some of the 1,500 athletes who will be in attendance at the Games. These teams will be comprised of 20 athletes from Manitoba Ultimate’s veteran, touring team and junior ranks and between 10 and 20 other Canadians who show present or future interest in running an Ultimate clinic or creating a hat tournament in other interested First Nations communities in Canada. Ultimate discs partially funded by UPA grant money will be presented to some of the athletes, coaches, representatives in North American Aboriginal Sport and politicians in attendance at the MISG!
Ultimate Blue - 2004 Innovation Grant awarded $250.00
Matt Krehbiel, Manhattan, KS
Ultimate Blue would give students an invigorating opportunity to experience a new sport by establishing a new club at Junction City High School. It will provide a safe (at least relatively) after school activity for students in an underprivileged and ethnically diverse school district. By combining the start-up of a club team with incorporation of ultimate into the Physical Education curriculum, a solid program will develop that will be self-sustaining.
NY City Frisbee Camp - 2004 Innovation Grant awarded $190.00
Arata Niizuma, New York, NY
The NYCFC is a great program that allows children to learn the game of Frisbee at a younger age. The children are given the opportunity to enjoy their summer learning the techniques of throwing and catching a Frisbee, while also learning the greater lesson of the “spirit of the game”. This is wonderful way for children to get away from the busy city life, and to run around in a field and to have fun!
Ultimateteam.org – 2004 Innovation Grant awarded $85.00
Kitt Hodsden, Mountain View, CA
Imagine heading to practice and having only 10 teammates show up! If you'd known that only 10 teammates were coming, you could have cancelled practice or asked other players to come. Or how about, several teammates have expressed interest in going to a traveling tournament. Best to have an accurate count before sending in the bid. ultimateteam.org helps both of these cases by enabling teammate signups for practice, tournaments and the like.
Or! How about this one? Your team is going to participate in the fall club series. Imagine how convenient signing up would be if you could log into ultimateteam.org, navigate to the roster generation page from the team administration page, and push one button to submit your roster to the UPA? Yep, that's one of the advanced features planned for the site.
Missoula Youth Ultimate Program – 2004 Innovation Grant awarded $175.00
Ryan Applegate, Missoula, MT
Missoula Youth Ultimate Program (YUP) is teaming up with Missoula County Public School Flagship program and the City of Missoula Parks and Rec. Kids in Action program to offer multiple 1 day Ultimate workshops for kids ages 6-14.
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2003 UPA Innovation Grant Winners
Ultimate Leadership Series - 2003 Innovation Grant awarded $250
Joshua Monaghan, Seattle, WA 98102
The Ultimate Leadership Series is a five week program of Thursday evening presentations. It will provide an excellent learning opportunity for leaders of organized teams of all levels. Presenters will include leaders from Seattle's traveling clubs (Riot, Sockeye, Shazam, Keg Workers), as well as other veteran ultimate team organizers. Agenda topics will include: Building your team, Developing your team's offensive and defensive strategies, Winning tips from championship teams, Favorite strategies... and more.
San Francisco Beach Ultimate -- 2003 Innovation Grant awarded $250
Jesse Myers, San Francisco, CA
Beach Ultimate in San Francisco has recently seen an explosion in popularity. Its usual playing field, Ocean Beach, is typically littered with trash and debris from bonfires, including dangerous shards of glass and burning embers. As a result, the local Ultimate community has spent considerable time and some money to keep the beach clean. At the same time, several people have started to interact with local agencies to enact policies that will promote beach cleaning and safety. San Francisco Beach Ultimate seeks financial resources from the UPA to promote and organize these efforts, as well as beach ultimate in general.
In Search of Greenspace -- 2003 Innovation Grant awarded $142
Anne-Marie Carey, Vancouver, BC
In Search of Greenspace brings together leagues across Canada and the United States for the common goal of attaining more ultimate playing fields. By compiling the past struggles and achievements in not only ultimate leagues but also other field sports, we can, as a collective, learn what works and what doesn't, what is attainable and how to do it. We will be better informed to make decisions that will have a lasting impact with our city leagues to give us better quality fields, and greater access to them. This is a research project and an exercise in uniting us. The end result will be a great web-based resource to find information on what city leagues have done and can do to secure more green space. It will be a gathering place for league organizers to discuss the important issue of league expansion.
RUFFED (Reichert Ultimate Frisbee Fever Encourages Development) -- 2003 Innovation Grant awarded: $103 (two sets of UPA Youth Instructional discs)
Jesse Jacques of Reichert House/ UF Ultimate Club Team, Gainesville, Fl
RUFFED (Reichert Ultimate Frisbee Fever Encourages Development) is a program designed to introduce and encourage the play of Ultimate Frisbee to a population that has generally not had the opportunity to play, youth at-risk. The Reichert House is an after-school program devoted to serving underprivileged and impoverished kids that have found their way into the judicial system and are headed down the wrong path. This program will teach the skills of Ultimate Frisbee with an emphasis on Spirit of the Game. RUFFED is committed to improving participants communication and problem solving skills while enjoying a fun and challenging new game.
Urban Ultimate: Developing Women's Ultimate in New York City -- 2003 Innovation Grant awarded $300
Brenda Timm, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Urban Ultimate: Developing Women's Ultimate in New York City is a four-part program intended to facilitate the growth of the sport among young and inexperienced players living in a uniquely urban environment. Due to the dense population of New York, where access to fields in limited
to more traditional sports, ultimate has been unable to grow to a degree comparable to other large cities. Urban Ultimate seeks to promote, advertise, and sponsor various all-female events so that in an area of 20M, more than a hand-full of women will learn and play ultimate!
Ultimate Kids -- 2003 Innovation Grant awarded $205 (one UPA Youth instructional kit and two additional sets of instructional discs)
Sisinio Baldis, San Diego, CA
Ultimate Kids is an Ultimate outreach program for kids aged 7 to 12. Currently Ultimate Kids is working with a YMCA center in San Diego that runs a gang and drug prevention program for children from high-risk neighborhoods. Ultimate Kids plans to expand its program to other centers where there is a need.
Instructional Video Paper -- 2003 Innovation Grant awarded $250
Daniel Cogan-Drew, Somerville, MA
Current use and distribution of ultimate footage is primarily used for entertainment. Where it is used for learning or coaching, the communication surrounding the video remains closed to a select few who can physically attend a viewing. New technology allows for the same video to be shared via the Internet across broadband or via CD on individual desktop computers. I propose to create annotated videos - known as "videopapers" that will offer an example of how authors may comment on ultimate videos and then share their comments (and the videos) with a larger audience. The conversation can be supported with links to online discussion groups. This project seeks to grant players around the world a chance to read experienced commentary on every skill in the game - from throwing a forehand to teaching a team how to play junk defense - and then respond with comments of their own.
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2002 UPA Innovation Grant Winners
The Willamette Valley High School Competition Zone
David Dreher
Summary: Oregon is fertile ground for juniors ultimate! Juniors players have been cutting their teeth in city leagues from Portland down to Eugene and are now looking to take juniors ultimate to the next level with the establishment of the Willamette Valley Competition Zone! Organized by Corvallis Ultimate in conjunction with the Corvallis Parks and Recreation Department, this project seeks to create a setting for juniors players to compete against each other and build credibility for their teams and ultimate with their respective schools. A regional tournament with teams from Portland, Eugene and Corvallis will be held in late April and at least one team from the area will travel to Seattle for Spring Reign.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
David Dreher.
Observer For a Day
Chris Keam and Craig Davidiuk
Summary: Observer. For a job title it sounds pretty simple. But the reality is, there is a lot more to it than that. When spirit of the game gives way to the thirst for victory, conflict results. Sometimes, it ain\x{FFFD}t pretty. Many Ultimate players see a changing, more competitive Ultimate landscape and want a mediator to speed up the game. Purists decry them as the thin edge of the zebra-striped wedge of referee-dom.
"Observer For A Day" talks to the players whose games they officiate, watches as they mediate in sometimes intense situations, and listens as observers themselves offer analysis and insight into their role as arbiters in an environment that has, until recently, evolved without their presence. (30 minute video documentary)
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Chris Keam.
Scarsdale's Ultimate Frisbee Camp for Youth
Edward Hsieh and Edward Lin
Summary: In order for society to see Ultimate attract an equal share of players, it first must see it as an equal to other sports. This is possible only if one learns about it at the same time he or she learns about the more popular sports such as soccer, football, or baseball, which is during one's childhood. Children should have the chance to explore and to become interested in Ultimate as a sport, as they do with soccer, basketball, and football. The Scarsdale Ultimate Frisbee Camp For Youth is a camp that will teach basic skills and concepts of ultimate to elementary school kids. The goal is to give kids a good experience with ultimate so that they will not have a bias against ultimate. This way, ultimate can be given the equal chances of attracting players.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Edward Hsieh or
Edward Lin.
Elaboration of Material for Teaching Ultimate
Jean-Francois Drouin
Summary: Ultimate is a growing sport that is beginning to spread to more and more regions in province of Quebec. Since its entry into the scene via McGill University and its first league games on the island of Ste-Helene, Ultimate has made its mark. There are more than 2000 participants across the different areas of Quebec. The main centres of ultimate are the Montreal region, Quebec City, Trois-Rivieres, and Sherbrooke.
This project uses the effective method of imparting the principle of playing ultimate via the educational system. It is our goal to provide standardized ultimate teaching tools, in French and English, to the primary and secondary educational systems.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Jean-Francois Drouin.
Translation of UPA 10th Edition Rules into French
Shiellah Quintos
Summary: Since the recent approval of the UPA 10th Edition Rules, the Association de Ultimate de Montreal (AUM) has initiated a project to translate the rules into French. Players in Ultimate leagues throughout the province of Quebec and other leagues that serve a French-speaking community will all benefit.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Shiellah Quintos.
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2001 UPA Innovation Grant Winners
The Ultimate Documentary
Christopher Perkel
Summary: "The Ultimate Documentary" will be a 22-25 minute documentary that chronicles the Santa Barbara Condor's drive to repeat in 2001.\x{FFFD}\x{FFFD} I want to introduce the viewer not only to the beauty and athleticism of the sport but also to the unique culture that surrounds it.\x{FFFD} I am particularly interested in spirit of the game and how that ideal has survived in an age of cynicism and fading sportsmanship.\x{FFFD} It will be shot on Beta SP and edited on AVID.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Christopher Perkel.
UFXDawn2Disc and Circle Games
Mike Landon
Summary: Circle Games--a twenty-four hour, continuous, unscored, joy-of-the-game Ultimate Disc festival open to players of all ages and abilities-- will change the way our local community thinks about Ultimate in September 2001. Circle Games, and its shorter, all day predecessor UFXDawn2Disc are hosted by UFX Ultimate of Norwich VT. The events include disc skills clinics, lively arts, a tournament-level (Exhibitionists) demonstration game, information tables for area nonprofit organizations, and a sampling of holistic health practitioners.Circle Games will create a model for how sports and fun can strengthen the webs that hold communities together. Money raised at the event will fund micro-grants for local organizations that provide recreation and volunteer opportunities. Inspired by the book Bowling Alone, by Robert Putnam, Circle Games will introduce new players to Ultimate, old Ultimate players to a new way of experiencing the game, and hopefully encourage similar festivals in Ultimate communities everywhere. Come help us not keep score for 24 hours!
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Mike Landon.
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2000 UPA Innovation Grant Winners
Clinicas de Disco en el Curso de Verano 2000
Fernando Nájera
Summary: Our project is to promote ULTIMATE during this years summer camp sponsored by the Benito Juárez County in México City. We have a very young population. (60% is under 18 years of age) Ultimate provides a "cheap" ($) alternative to soccer. Andrew Tulchin was the one that said to me, "Why don’t you get a "gringo" coach to help out". We did it last year for the first time. Almost 500 kids were exposed to Ultimate and the results were amazing. The lack of a sense of "Justice" in our country is a big problem. Playing is the easiest way to learn. If we teach our kids SOTG and they learn to apply it on everyday situations, we’ll help to make better people.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Fernando Nájera.
Disc for Kids
Kellie Rollins
Summary: The Fayetteville Disc Association will use the grant money to supply each of our local elementary school P.E. programs with at least 10 discs and an information packet about the frisbee related games and drills.
We will also provide a 2-hour class, taught by a experienced P.E./ultimate teacher, given to all the P.E. teachers in our area. This class will teach them how to teach children Ultimate frisbee, based on Spirit of the Game. This same teacher will also hold a clinic for our members on the basic teachings of ultimate, certifying us to help these teachers when it is taught to the children. We hope this program will develop our skills as teachers of ultimate and will allow us to hold frisbee day camps for the children in the future. We also hope this will encourage more ultimate playing and disc throwing among the children in our area.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Kellie Rollins.
Operation Ultimate Frisbee
Jeffrey Gobee
Summary: The City of Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Department is proposing an Ultimate Frisbee class to be offered during the eight week summer session. The class would be instructed by local ultimate college players and conducted in city parks. Through this class we intend to promote and execute a proper Ultimate Frisbee tournament as well as support and inform the community about the growing sport of Ultimate Frisbee.
Ultimate Frisbee is a growing sport in the South Bay. Our goal is to support a new and exciting sport in the community through our diverse recreational programs and provide a safe, wholesome environment and economical opportunity for participants to engage in physical activity.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Jeffrey Gobee.
GRADA (Greater Rochester Area Disc Association) Youth Ultimate Programs
Judy Lombard-Newell aka "Jude"
Summary: Word about Ultimate travels in many ways: stories are told from older sibling to younger, from friend to friend; vague rumors of the sport are hinted at on the internet; or maybe a game in progress is actually viewed. No matter how it happens, a teenager's interest is piqued. It has been happening this way for several years now in the greater Rochester, NY area. Some of the more ambitious youth have been known to occasionally throw together a few rough and tumble Ultimate games of their own. Having noticed these activities, we would like to supply the area's teenagers with an organized league to play in, where they can experience Ultimate in its true form. We also relish the idea of encouraging growth in the sport of Ultimate in schools by providing these clinics for students of all ages, encouraging and demonstrating to girls that they can be just as active in this sport, and to promote the principles of the Spirit of the Game not just on the field but in our every day lives.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Judy Lombard-Nevell.
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1999 UPA Innovation Grant Winners
"How to Play Ultimate" Video
Craig Davidiuk
Summary: "How to play Ultimate" is a booklet and supporting video that goes beyond traditional print diagrams featuring squares, triangles and dotted lines. Produced by an experienced producer of training videos, "How to Play Ultimate" is a comprehensive introduction to the sport.
Two hosts, a narrator and Spirit Reporter "Flip Discman" navigate the newbie through the the basics of the game. Learn about rules, passing, stacking and forcing. This video appeals to all learning styles using humor and fun. After watching the video and flipping through the accompanying booklet, new players can go to their first game or practic and have a clear understanding of the game of Ultimate.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Craig Davidiuk Savannah Ultimate Summer Camp for Juniors
Rich Franck
Summary: An Ultimate summer camp for Juniors (high school students) will be held July 10-18, 1999 in Savannah. This camp will immerse the kids (7 days / 7 nights) in Ultimate ... Spirit of the Game, rules, teamwork, skills, drills, scrimmages, and a camp tournament.
New players will get a great introduction to Ultimate and plenty of playing time. Imagine how many "touches" they will get in those 7 days. Experienced players will be able to hone their skills. Counselors (experienced club players) will evaluate each player, offering suggestions to improve their game.
Ideally, the kids will have such a great time playing Ultimate at the camp that they will return to school and get their friends to play. These kids will go on to play Ultimate in college and beyond. Ultimate will grow!
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Rich Franck Catch the Spirit Youth Outreach, Washington, DC
Michael Garrity
Summary:The mission of the Catch the Spirit (CTS) program is to promote the sport and ideals of Ultimate to kids by creating opportunities for them to learn and play. Such opportunities include, but are not limited to, partnering with local schools and groups that work with youth to teach kids to play Ultimate in any way that fits with the group's existing structure. In the spring of 1999, CTS will be working with the DC Department of Recreation and Parks to teach single-day Ultimate clinics in five locations (see our website at
http://www.angelfire.com/wa/wafcyouth for pictures) followed by an eight-week youth league. We anticipate working with schools to develop a curriculum for Ultimate to be taught in physical education classes, as well as after school as an intramural or varsity sport. We would like CTS to be viewed as both a hands-on organizer of clinics and leagues as well as a resource for teachers and youth-group leaders, to whom we will provide materials and suggested methods for instructing kids within the established group.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Michael Garrity Fourth Annual Seattle Women's Clinic
Abbi Nilssen
Summary:Join the Women on the Verge as we host the Fourth Annual Seattle Women's Clinic on May 8, 1999. Improve your knowledge and skills of ultimate at a beginner, intermediate or advanced level with coaching from experienced elite WOMEN athletes. Learn first hand about the benefits women's ultimate can offer. As a sport, a hobby, recreation and leisure activity, Ultimate provides exercise, fitness, health, athletic skills and a competitive outlet. In parallel with the recent growth of women's sports, Ultimate offers a way for women to become athletically active at an attainable local level even if they never started in younger years. The unique nature of the game-a self-coached approach with no referees based on what's called Spirit of the Game- teaches sportsmanship, values, responsibility, self-discipline, confidence, leadership, and teamwork transferable to other areas of life. It also adds joy, happiness and satisfaction to life. Off the field, Ultimate brings social interaction, a sense of community, and family involvement as it attracts people of all ages, occupations, and experiences in life. Come experience what women's ultimate is all about.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Abbi Nilssen Bucks County (PA) Youth Services/Ultimate Frisbee and Adventure Based Counselling
Brian Boger
Summary:Ultimate is a game enjoyed by people who might be characterized as a bit outside the mainstream of society in certain respects. I know a lot of people like that in the field in which I am employed. For the past nine years my wife and I have been involved in counselling at-risk youth in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA and Trenton, NJ. Many of these kids have a lot of problems--that's no suprise. The suprise is that many of them are really great kids just waiting for someone or something to touch them. Many of these kids have fantastically low self-esteems and are kind-of turned off to the things that kids "traditionally" enjoy. My experience has been that Ultimate is a fantastic teaching tool for introducing kids to fitness (without them knowing it) and topics such as conflict resolution, teamwork, respect for others, sportsmanship, and tolerance (without them knowing it). We all know that kids learn by playing...and that is the theory of Adventure Based Counselling in a nutshell. I also know all of these terrific, progressive agencies in Bucks County staffed by young, idealistic, energetic men and women. My proposal is to take a self-designed Ultimate curriculum that we've been using successfully in our agency and go out and teach it to other agency's staff and kids. I would do it with the help with the help of all of these cool, zany Ultimate players that I know that I think my kids would think are pretty cool too! Please help?
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Brian Boger Cleats for Kids Recyling
Deborah & Emil Usinger
Summary:The Cleats for Kids Recycling Program - Collecting cleats from adult players at events through out the year, and distributing them to middle school players for their fall public school season. The deal is that each kid receiving a pair of cleats has to promise to give a pair of cleats to a kid someday. It's especially great to see the girls get really excited about their cleats - its something they probably wouldn't buy on their own or ask their parents for the first pair.
This idea came about because so many of the junior high kids were playing in the thick mud without cleats - sliding, falling, etc. The other half of the idea came from the fact that so many adult players have extra cleats lying around their basements and porches.
The need for kids cleats was also confirmed by the middle school principals in the year-end SAFE (Seattle Athletics Facilities & Education) reports. Some of the public school kids at some of the schools can not afford school lunch, let alone cleats.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please write: Deborah & Emil Usinger - Northwest Ultimate Association - P.O. Box 85112 - Seattle WA 98145
Ultimate Disc Summer Clinics Program, Quincy, CA
Marc Eastman
Summary:This will be the Stage 1 in building interest for Ultimate among San Diego teens in low socio-economic neighborhoods. Eventually, perhaps next year, we will begin doing after-school programs/practices at the high schools. The "ultimate" goal is to have a fully competitive afterschool Ultimate program in all SD high schools and middle schools.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Brian Chen San Diego Inner-City Youth Disc
Marc Eastman
Summary:Mountain Ultimate Disc in co-operation with Feather River College has created a Summer Ultimate Disc Clinic Program . The purpose is to expose and educate grades-chool and highschool youths in the practice and spirit of Ultimate Disc. 15 clinics will be held support an experience for youths from fourth grade to twelfth grade. The program will culminate in a tournament at the college for all clinic participants. Our long range goal is to promote Ultimate as a sport choice in the regions schools.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Marc Eastman Return to Top
1998 UPA Innovation Grant Winners
Purdue and the Girl Scout's GirlSports Day - Lafayette, IN
Amelia Taylor
Summary: On May 2,1998 the Girl Scouts of America have their annual Girlsports Day, where Girl Scouts from around the country get together to learn crafts, individual sports, and team sports as well as some of history of the sports (like when did they start, where, and who participates), nutrition, and injury prevention. The Lafayette, West Lafayette, and some surrounding communities (in Indiana) are getting all of their troupes together to participate in this big event.
The Purdue Women's Ultimate team first made contact with the local girl scouts in the Fall of 1997 when they did a similar, but much smaller version of this event. Ultimate Frisbee was the team sport that we taught the girls. On that day, Purdue and Indian University female ultimate players instructed approximately 20 first through fourth graders how to throw and catch a frisbee and acquainted them with the basic rules of ultimate. This particular sports day left such a positive impression on the girls who participated and the troupe leaders involved that the girl scout leaders in charge of this year's Girlsports Day decided that they would like ultimate frisbee to be their team sport! Thus they have requested the assistance of our team for this big event and we have accepted this invitation.
So where does the UPA and an innovation grant fit into this picture? Discs!! We are in dire need of quality discs to teach 200 girls to play ultimate.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Amelia Taylor Encouraging Women's Participation in Ultimate - Columbus, OH
Kendra Hovey
Summary: Check the UPA tournament page and you'll see that women's pools are always the last to fill up. Ask same-city co-ed and women's teams about their tug-a-wars over female players, or try organizing a mixed summer league that is growing faster than the growth rate in women players. Same story, we do have strong, determined, committed, athletic women playing and competing in ultimate, but, we do not have enough. When I started the Columbus Women's Ultimate Team, "Alice Unchained," we were barely into our first shaky season when UPA regional organizers started begging me to take my nascent team to regionals. Regionals! At the same time our decade-old local club team (they say club, they mean men) was struggling for a spot in that tournament. From where I sit (or huck, sprint, and score, in this case) this looks like a problem. Ultimate needs more women. How can this be done? I wish I had the answers, maybe I do, but right now all I have are ideas and I am looking to the UPA to help me and other women players in the Midwest try them out.
Proposal: We are proposing a full-court Midwest press to get women involved in Ultimate. Because the genders seem to like to hang out together, men will no doubt benefit as well-a kind of trickle down theory. This press will involve teaching clinics and an out-and-out regional and national media blitz.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Kendra Hovey Spinning Bees Outreach Project, Toronto
Gary Auerbach
Summary: There are state and provincial conferences held nearly every weekend from October to December. They are attended by thousands of 'new-sport-seekers' who are really looking for Ultimate. Last year, I presented 2 workshops at a regional conference and then published an article about Ultimate in the regional journal (distribution 10,000). I've received lots of interest from all grade levels and have prepared a teaching resource kit for grades 1-3, 4-6, and 7-9.
This year I am preparing to present at 2-3 more conferences and the sought after grant would greatly assist in covering some of the expenses. Besides basic travel and food there is follow-up mailing, photocopies, both display and product costs.
Contact information: For more information give
Gary Auerbach a buzzzzz at 416/778-8199
Eugene Ultimate Clinic - Eugene, OR
Steve McFarland and Will Birdsong
Summary: We are requesting funds to put on a five day Ultimate clinic for kids ages 9-12 in Eugene, Oregon during July of 1998. The goals of this clinic are to help spread the spirit of Ultimate; to encourage greater levels of participation in our sport; and especially to teach the younger generations how to play Ultimate. The event will take place on the second weekend of July. I expect 56 (8 groups of 7) people to participate. I have reserved fields at Ascott Park in Eugene. I expect to have them for 3 hours a day, from 9:00-12:00. We will cover all the basics, from throwing and catching to things like "stacking it up" and the more important rules of the game.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Steve McFarland or
Will Birdsong PADA Community Outreach Program, Philadelphia, PA
Laura Line
Summary: The outreach program was piloted last fall to teach kids in low-resource neighborhoods in Philadelphia to play ultimate. The program's premise is that ultimate is a sport for everyone: a chance to have a ton o' fun, learn early the value of team play and the importance of the spirit of the game. In addition to all its positive messages, ultimate suits these communities because at a minimum it only requires a frisbee and a field. PADA also has a strong commitment to the city of Philadelphia and the community of Fairmount Park where we claim our home. These clinics have been a great opportunity to bring PADA members into neighborhoods they had no reason to come to before and remove the barriers that lack of familiarity breeds. We believe it is important to play in these youths' communities, so we pick neighborhoods that have appropriate (size and safety-wise) fields. These fields are fairly easy to obtain (particularly in relation to finding fields for PADA league play).
We have paid for supplies with our meager PADA budget. With UPA's help, we can expand the opportunities the program offers and continue these clinics. We like to give discs to the youths after each clinic so they can play in their spare time. We would love to have a small tournament and Barbeque at some point with teams from each neighborhood and PADA members.
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please email
Laura Line Return to Top
1997 UPA Innovation Grant Winners
Stateway Ultimate Program - Chicago, IL
Angelo Artemakis, Nicole Cantello, Ted Ernst, and Barret White
Summary: To introduce ultimate to youth from a disadvantaged neighborhood (Stateway Gardens is the northern extension of the Robert Taylor housing project, which is the largest and near-poorest public housing development in the country). The program would focus on the teaching of disc skills and Spirit of the Game.
-- To form a youth league and/or juniors team for these kids.
The State of Pittsburgh Ultimate: Race and Youth
Graham Ivory
Summary: We are organizing an event called Pittsburgh Racial Harmony Day/Ultimate Frisbee Exhibition/Youth Frisbee Camp/BBQ/Funk Festival. Our goals are to a) display the possibility of a racially harmonious society; b) promote awareness of ultimate frisbee to greater Pittsburgh; c) bring two ultimate communities together to revel in and appreciate their ultimate and cultural differences; d) spread ultimate fever to inner city youth of all races to help lay groundwork for a youth ultimate league in 1998; e) recruit new players for both leagues. In a nutshell, Frisbee Food Funk Fun Free to the Public!
Contact information: If you are interested in more details or would like to contact the people behind this grant proposal, please contact Graham Ivory at 261 Main Street Apt 1, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
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