2008 Youth Development Program Competition Guidelines

2008 UPA HS State Championships

• States holding UPA HS State Championships
• Team Info
• Early Registration
• Late Registration
• On-site registration
• Eligibility
• UPA mailing address
• Minor (Under 18) Player Info
• Important Documents

2008 UPA HS Eastern and Western Championships

• Application and Team Selection
• Requirements for Applicants (Teams) and State Tournaments
• Player Eligibility
• Event Registration

2008 UPA Youth Club Championships

• Overview
• Application Process
• Team Selection
• League Requirements
• Team and Player Requirements
• Event Registration

Competition Guidelines

• Spirit of the Game
• Coaching Certification Requirements
• Name/Logo Guidelines
• Uniform Requirements
• Formats
• Seeding
• Forfeit Rule
• Rules
• Observers
• Mixed Division Gender rules

2008 UPA State HS Championships

States holding UPA State HS Championships

The UPA State HS Championship program is an expanding program.  States are chosen to host a UPA State HS Championship at the discretion of the Director of Youth Development.  The four criteria weighed in granting UPA sponsorship to a new State HS Championship are 1. existence of a UPA sanctioned state championship in previous years 2. competent organizers to host the event 3. keeping the growth at a level where high quality training can be provided to new organizers and 4. geographic balance.

In 2008 the states hosting UPA State HS Championships are: California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

1. All teams must submit an official 2008 State Youth Championship roster by the deadlines outlined below.  UPA membership dues and individual waivers must also be submitted prior to participation at the State Championships.
2. Early Registration: Friday, two weeks prior to your State Championships.
1. Completed rosters must be received at UPA Headquarters by Friday, two weeks prior to your state championships.
   
2. Membership dues and waivers should be submitted with the roster prior to the early deadline
3. Teams submitting rosters by the early registration deadline may use the online rostering system or may manually fill out and submit a paper roster.  (Please see the Rostering 101 guide for details on the NEW online rostering system and manual rostering instructions).
4. There is a $50 late fee for teams that do not submit a roster by the early registration deadline.  This fee may be waived by the State Youth Coordinator.
3. Late Registration: Wednesday before the State Championships
1. The online rostering system is strongly preferred for teams submitting rosters by the late registration deadline, but they may manually fill out and submit a paper roster.  (Please see the Rostering 101 guide for details on the NEW online rostering system and manual rostering instructions).
2. Online late registration must be completed by the Wednesday prior to a team's State Championship (For example, if a team's state championship is May 13-14th, late registration must be completed by midnight on Wednesday, May 10)
3. Paper late registration must be received by at UPA Headquarters by close of business on Wednesday prior to a team's State Championship.
4. State Youth Coordinators may set an earlier deadline for late registration.
4. On-site Registration: The morning of the State Championships*
1. On-site registration is only allowed using a paper roster.
2. State Youth Coordinators may choose not to accept on-site registration.
5. Eligibility
1. Eligibility for the UPA HS State Championships is determined by the UPA State Youth Coordinator.  These events are intended for HS based teams; however the State Youth Coordinator can make exceptions in order to encourage growth.
2. If you are interested in playing for a team that is not based at the high school that you attend, please contact your State Youth Coordinator for your state's eligibility guidelines.
6. Failure to abide by any of the above rules may result in the immediate disqualification of the team or individual.
7. Teams should make a copy of their roster prior to mailing it to UPA Headquarters for their records. This copy should be brought to State Championships in case it needs to be referenced.
8. All teams, regardless of whether they turn their rosters in to HQ or at the tournament, should contact their state youth coordinator at least 2 weeks prior to the tournament to let the coordinator know they intend to participate (or other deadline as set and communicated to the teams by the coordinator).  Click here for coordinator contact info.
9. Please see the Rostering 101 guide for detailed instructions on how to get your roster done right and for links to the appropriate forms needed (roster, waivers, etc.).
10. Mail rosters to:
    

    State Youth Championship Roster
    (State/Name of Team)
    Ultimate Players Association
    4730 Table Mesa Dr.
    Suite J-200
    Boulder, CO 80305
    (303) 447-3472 or 1 (800) 872-4384

• Waiver
• Medical Release (minors only)
• Chaperone Waiver (minors only)

2008 UPA HS Eastern and Western Championships

Applications for the 2008 UPA HS Eastern and Western Championships will be available on the UPA website in February, 2008.  Applications will be due by March 21st, 2008 (5PM Mountain Time) and invited teams will be notified by March 28, 2008.  Teams that meet the Requirements for Applicants will be eligible to receive an invitation. Teams will be selected based on team strength and geographic representation. A team's contributions to the development of youth Ultimate may be considered as a tiebreaker in cases where teams can't be separated based on strength and geography.

1. Open Division: In order to compete in the open division of HS Easterns or Westerns a school must compete in the previous year's UPA sanctioned state tournament (e.g. for Amherst Reg. HS to compete at Easterns in 2008, they must have competed at the UPA MA State Championships in 2007).
1. Schools that apply for Easterns and Westerns must have competed at the previous year's state tournament.  50% of the team's players at the previous year's state tournament must have been regular members of the school.
2. In the event that the state tournament has a Mixed (coed) Division, teams from that division may qualify to compete at Easterns or Westerns in the Open Division, provided the gender ratio for the Mixed Division of the state tournament was 4/3.
3. In the event that there is only one team in a state, or it is otherwise deemed by the UPA that a state tournament would be too difficult, the state tournament requirement will be waived
2. Girls Division: In order to compete in the open division of HS Easterns or Westerns a school must compete in the previous year's UPA sanctioned state tournament (e.g. for Amherst Reg. HS to compete at Easterns in 2008, they must have competed at the UPA MA State Championships in 2007).
1. Schools that apply for Easterns and Westerns must have competed at the previous year's state tournament. 50% of the team's players at the previous year's state tournament must have been regular members of the school.
2. In the event that the state tournament has a Mixed (coed) Division, teams from that division may qualify to compete at Easterns or Westerns in the Open Division, provided the gender ratio for the Mixed Division of the state tournament was 4/3.
3. In the event that there is only one team in a state, or it is otherwise deemed by the UPA that a state tournament would be too difficult, the state tournament requirement may be waived
3. State Tournament: Requirements for the State Tournament
1. The state tournament must be a UPA sanctioned event
2. The state tournament must be publicly announced at least 4 weeks prior to the event.  Announcement must include:
1. Date of event
2. Location of event
3. Contact information for event
4. Registration requirements
3. The state tournament must include every HS team in the state that meets the Tournament Director's deadlines
4. The state tournament can include teams from outside of the state as long as it does not prohibit in-state teams that have met the registration requirements.
5. In the event that there are too many in-state teams to accommodate at a state tournament there must be UPA sanctioned qualifying event(s) for the state tournament.

The UPA Eastern and Western HS Championships are intended as an event for school based teams.  For the 2008 UPA Eastern and Western Championships 100% of players on teams in the Open and Girls divisions must meet the following guidelines for "High School Players."

1. High School Players - To be considered a High School Player students must meet the following requirements
1. Students must be regular members of the school they represent in order to participate in an interscholastic athletic activity.
1. Students are a "regular member" of a school if they are enrolled half time or more, exclusive of interscholastic athletic activities
2. Students must not turn 20 prior to June 1st of the current school year.
3. Students must not have graduated or received a GED before January 1st of the current school year.
4. Students who are home schooled will be considered eligible to participate on a team at Easterns or Westerns as follows:
1. If the student is part of a UPA-recognized home school cooperative, they may participate as part of that cooperative's Ultimate team, provided that team meets the state tournament participation requirements.
2. If the student is not part of a UPA-recognized home school cooperative, they may participate as part of the Ultimate team at the public high school that they would normally attend, provided that team meets the state tournament participation requirements.
2. Club Players - Starting in 2007, Club Players (i.e. players who do not meet the requirements of "High School Players" above) are no longer eligible for HS Easterns and Westerns.
3. Violations of these rules may result in disqualification from the current UPA High School championships and possible sanctions through the UPA conduct process.
4. Clarifications - These rules are designed to be as fair as possible for all of the wide range of players participating in the UPA High School Championships.  Experience has shown that there can be cases where these rules do not determine absolutely the eligibility of a particular player.  The following procedure is available for players/teams for whom the rules are not clear:
1. The coach, team representative, or the player in question may submit an inquiry to the Youth Eligibility Committee via the eligibility form.
2. The inquiry form must be filled out completely, and submitted by the date on the form.  Late requests will not be accepted.
3. The inquiry will be reviewed by the Eligibility Committee, and responses sent by e-mail. 
4. Email upa_jun_elig_comm@upa.org if the form is not available or for any other questions.

Information on paperwork requirements and deadlines will be sent to selected teams along with the invitation to the event.

2008 UPA Youth Club Championships

Overview

The UPA Youth Club Championships is an experimental event.  The goal of this event is to provide national level competition for youth Ultimate players and encourage local, non-high school based playing opportunities for youth within the UPA structure.  The guidelines that follow are the UPA’s requirements for qualification and criteria for acceptance for the UPA Youth Club Championships.  As this is an experimental and growing division these guidelines and the bid allocation process are subject to change.

In order to award bids earlier so that teams can make the necessary preparations for selecting and preparing teams, only leagues from the prior year (2007 leagues for the 2008 UPA YCC) will qualify for bids to the Youth Club Championships.

UPA-sanctioned youth club (non-high school affiliated) leagues will be at the top of the priority list in receiving bids. These leagues will be guaranteed one bid in each division for which they apply and can support a team. If more UPA youth club leagues apply than there are available bids in any division, the division will be expanded to accommodate those league-based teams. 

UPA sanctioned High School League bids will still be accepted after UPA sanctioned youth club league bids, provided there are available bids. However, these leagues will not be guaranteed bids to the event 

“At-large” teams, not affiliated with a UPA sanctioned league, will be eligible for any remaining bids not awarded to UPA league-based teams.

This team selection process is designed to encourage communities to develop youth club leagues outside of the high school leagues that have been successful without the YCC in place and which are supported beyond the state level by State Championships and High School Easterns and Westerns.  The combination of incentives created by national-level high school and youth club events encourages the development of both kinds of leagues in all areas. 

Application Process

1. Early Application Period:  UPA sanctioned league-based team applications for the 2008 UPA Youth Club Championships will be made available on the UPA website in February 2008. Applications will be due by March 7, 2008 (5PM Mountain Time). Early bids will be awarded according to the team selection process on March 14, 2008.
2. Late Application Period:  If the tournament is not filled during the early application period a late application will be made available on the UPA website in April, 2008.  The late applications will be available for late applying UPA sanctioned league-based teams and at-large teams. The deadline for the late application process will be May 16, 2008.  Late bids will be awarded according to the team selection process on May 30, 2008.

Team Selection

Criteria for Acceptance (ordered by priority)

1. Category 1 - UPA Youth Club Leagues: Sponsored by a UPA sanctioned Youth Club (non-high school based) League that occurred during the previous calendar year. Within Category 1, one bid is guaranteed in each division for which the league applies and can support a team for the event. The UPA reserves the right to determine that a league can adequately and safely support a team.
2. Category 2 - UPA High School Leagues: Sponsored by a UPA sanctioned High School League that occurred during the previous calendar year. Within Category 2, bids will be awarded based on the # of players (UPA registered and paid) in the league. Click here for more details.
3. Category 3 - At-large:  Any other team made up of players from outside a UPA sanctioned Youth Club or High School league.  Within Category 3, bids will be awarded based on a combination of factors including geographic representation and team strength.

League Requirements

1. For the purposes of Team Selection for the YCC, leagues will be defined as follows.
2. UPA Youth Club League
1. UPA sanctioned
2. Provides playing opportunities for youth in a youth-focused environment
3. Open registration/enrollment
1. Registration deadlines are acceptable, but must be communicated clearly and enforced consistently
2. Limitations on player registration are acceptable for logistical reasons, but must be communicated clearly and enforced consistently
3. Skill level of players may not be a factor in determining a player’s ability to register
4. Competition and team makeup is not based on school affiliation
5. Minimum of 4 league meetings (scheduled game days per team) over a minimum of 4 weeks
3. UPA High School League
1. UPA sanctioned
2. Competition and team makeup is based entirely or partially on school affiliation
3. Minimum of 4 league meetings (scheduled game days per team) over a minimum of 4 weeks
4. The UPA reserves the right to determine whether leagues applying for bids to the YCC meet the above criteria.

Team and Player Requirements

1. On-time receipt of application
2. Adequate adult support structure (at least 2 chaperones over 25)
3. All players must not turn 19 prior to June 1st of the year of the UPA Youth Club Championships in order to be eligible.
4. Teams must be made up of players residing in the same (UPA adult club) region
5. If the team is a league sponsored team, all players must have either:
1. participated in the season that the application is based on OR
2. be registered to participate in the league the year of the YCC prior to the beginning of the YCC.

Event Registration

Information on paperwork requirements and deadlines will be sent to selected teams along with the invitation to the event.

Competition Guidelines

Most Ultimate players care deeply about Spirit of the Game. The organizational challenge for the UPA is to foster an environment where the challenge does not become, "to see what I can get away with". Rather than dictate what Spirit of the Game is or should be, it is up to each player to do so for him or herself within the context of the teams he or she plays with and against.

During games at UPA Championship events where field access is restricted, teams with coaching staff are required to have at least one Level 1 Certified coach in order for coaching staff to have player-level field access. All other non-player support staff, with player-level or limited field access, including coaches, must read, sign and agree to abide by the UPA Coaching Code of Ethics and Spirit of Coaching Statement. Limits on number of coaches and other non-player support staff will be determined by specific event guidelines.

The timetable for implementation will be:
- 2008 - UPA Youth and High School Championship events (Easterns, Westerns, YCC, etc.)
- 2009 - UPA College Championships

This policy was approved by the Board of Directors in the summer of 2006 as an incentive for coaches to get Level 1 certification as well as to ensure compliance with UPA standards of knowledge and behavior at the UPA's highest profile games. As noted above, this requirement will not be in effect for HS Easterns, HS Westerns, and YCC until 2008. Restricted access games currently include the semi-finals and finals, but may be expanded to include other games. Coaches should make plans to get Level 1 certification in 2007 or early 2008 in order to ensure access to the sideline for all games at these tournaments.

• The UPA reserves the right to alter, or require a team to alter, a team name, player nickname, team logo, jersey graphic, or uniform and/or suggest alternatives at or in conjunction with a UPA program or event should UPA personnel determine that the existing name, logo, graphic, or uniform might hinder the mission of the organization or the goals of a specific UPA program or event. Alterations must meet with the approval of UPA personnel.
• Frequently Asked Questions on Name/Logo/Uniform Guidelines

• All players participating in the UPA High School Eastern and Western Championships and the UPA Youth Club Championship tournaments for a given team must wear jerseys of identical color and design.
• Teams must have two jerseys of distinctly different color.
• Jerseys must have numbers on the back. The numbers must be at least 6 inches high and be one or two digit Arabic numerals. No two players on a given team may use the same number or numbers with the same value (e.g. 00 and 0, 01 and 1, etc.).
  
• Uniform bottoms (shorts, pants, skirts) worn by players on the field must be the same color.
• It is recommended that uniform accessories including tights, undershits, hats, and socks be of identical or coordinated style and color.
• The UPA reserves the right to disqualify and/or fine players who fail to meet the uniform requirements.
• The Uniform requirements for UPA State HS Championships are to be determined by the State Youth Coordinator.
• Frequently Asked Questions regarding uniform requirements.

• Seeding for the State HS Championships will be done by the coordinator using the following information: input solicited from all the captains of participating teams; results of head to head match-ups prior to the Championships; results of last year's Championships; and other applicable information such as team composition during or prior to the Championships. (The coordinator has the authority to adjust rankings according to the best information available.)
• Seeding for the UPA Youth Club Championships and UPA HS Easterns and Westerns will be done by the UPA Director of Youth Development and Director of Championships using the following information: input solicited from all the captains of participating teams; results of head to head match-ups prior to the Championships; results of last year's Championships; and other applicable information such as team composition during or prior to the Championships and geographic location.

1. A team must play all its games at a tournament.
   1. Any scheduled game where the winner and loser are not determined by playing Ultimate on the field should be considered a forfeit for the loser.
   2. At the discretion of the event's UPA coordinator, consideration may be given to situations that might warrant an exception being made, provided it does not affect the fairness or integrity of the competition. Consideration should be given if a team misses the first game of the first day because of travel problems.
2. If one team is not ready to play at game-time, points may be assessed in accordance with the 11th Edition Rules of Ultimate (Section VIII.A.4). Under these conditions, if the score of the game reaches 8–0, the team that has failed to signal readiness will technically forfeit the game (see rule above).

• they must be agreed upon at the captain's meeting prior to the start of competition; and
• they must be approved by the event's UPA coordinator (This approval is necessary because certain rules may require more notice to implement than would be given the morning of competition. A coordinator may choose not to approve a rule change that cannot be adequately implemented or that might be deemed inappropriate or inconsistent as part of the overall competition.)

1. Youth Club Championships
1. The gender ratio for the Mixed Division of the Youth Club Championships will be 4/3 (4 men and 3 women, or 4 women and 3 men).
2.  The receiving team will determine if the current point will be played with 4 men and 3 women or 4 women and 3 men. The pulling team must match the gender ratio of the receiving team.
3. If the pulling team cannot match the gender of all 7 players, then it must play with fewer than 7 players, matching the gender of as many players as possible.
4. Injury timeouts
1. In the event of an injury time-out where a player leaves the field, the replacing player must be the same gender as the injured player.
2. If a team replaces players, the opposing team has the option of substituting a like number of, or fewer players.
3. The replacing player(s) must be the same gender as the player(s) they replace.
5. If a team calls an injury time-out but does not have a replacement player of the same gender as the injured player, it may not replace that player and must play with fewer than 7 players.
2. State HS Championships
1. At UPA State HS Championships that include a mixed division, the gender ratio for that division will be determined by the UPA State Youth Coordinator after consulting with the affected teams' captains and coaches.
2. Please note that for teams to be eligible to apply for participation at HS Easterns and Westerns, the Mixed Division or a sanctioned state championship or a sponsored UPA State HS Championship must have the gender ration of 4/3.