Following are a few reasons why people join the UPA...
"Becoming a UPA member allows players to take ownership of their sport. It is similar to owning stock in a corporation; members help control future growth of Ultimate by voting on Board members and rules revisions. Membership also allows a player to become part of a larger Ultimate community. The UPA provides sanctioning that includes the security of liability insurance and the publicity and credibility that go along with being affiliated with a governing body. It's an affordable way to show support for the sport you love."
"The UPA provides structure and guidance to organized Ultimate in North America -- standardized rules, a quarterly newsletter to keep players in touch with events and developments, and the championship series are all irreplaceable."
"The UPA is necessary for the continuation of Ultimate and its progression as a sport. People who play Ultimate should support it. Governing bodies are good at keeping the rules and laws of a sport up to date, and can help direct a sport's development. I have also seen how mismanagement and poor decision making can bring a sport's governing body to the brink of ruin. Even so, I feel they are effective when the people running it are passionate about the sport and not merely figure heads making decisions."
"The UPA is a tool for Ultimate players worldwide. It gives players access to championships as well as tools necessary to make a successful club and organize a successful event. By joining the UPA, opinions and the overall direction of how one feels the organization should be run are heard and decided on. Without joining the UPA, Ultimate as we know it could be changed without your opinion ever being heard. All the resources offered via the organization would be lost."
"Joining the UPA is a positive thing. It allows for centralized leadership and promotion of the sport, through activities such as the website and sanctioned tournaments. The UPA has the ability, with the support of the members, to pursue avenues of player development with youth, colleges, and beginning clubs."
"It's important to join the UPA. The UPA provides many things most people don't think of. Being affiliated with a governing body gives the sport accreditation. The UPA fights many battles for its members. Example: When I was in college and wanted to use the fields. I could ask but wouldn't get permission because I was an individual. When I went through the Club Sports Council and said the team would like to use the stadium, things worked out. The UPA does those things. They (we) fight the battles that individuals might have to face. They (we) help organize a sport that is notorious for being unorganized. UPA provides a forum for players to address trends and new issues. UPA works to provide answers, provide a governing body, to keep players informed and up to date with events and new information. Players should join just for the sake of helping spread Ultimate. Making the UPA a strong body is important for later development - it gives Ultimate players credibility and visibility."
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