2006 Club Championship Series Guidelines

• Registration Guidelines
  • General Team Info
    • Early registration
    • Late registration
    • Registration clarifications and exceptions
    • Official team count
    • UPA mailing address
  • Masters Team Info
  • General Player Info
  • Minor (Under 18) Player Info
  • Masters Player Info
  • Important Documents

• Competition Guidelines
  • Spirit of the Game
  • Sectionals
  • Regionals
  • UPA Club Championships
    • OWX Wildcards
      • Strength Wildcards
      • Size Wildcards
      • Growth Wildcards
    • Masters Anti-Wildcards
  • Name/Logo/Uniform Guidelines
  • Uniform Requirements
  • Formats
  • Seeding
  • Forfeit Rule
  • Rules
  • Observers
  • Mixed Division Gender Ratio

Registration Guidelines

1. All teams must submit their roster through the online rostering system by the deadlines outlined below. UPA membership dues and individual waivers must also be submitted prior to participation in Sectionals.
2. Early Registration: Friday, August 25, 2006 (by 5PM Mountain Time/7PM Eastern):
   1. Completed rosters must be submitted via the online rostering system by August 25, 2006 (by 5PM Mountain Time/7PM Eastern). This date is the same for all teams, regardless of when their sectional tournament is held.
   2. Masters teams competing in Masters Regionals must meet rostering requirements by Friday, September 15 (by 5PM Mountain Time/7PM Eastern).
   3. Membership dues and waivers should be submitted prior to the early deadline, but must be submitted prior to participation in Sectionals.
   4. All teams registering for the 2006 UPA Club Series must use the online rostering system. (Please see the Rostering 101 guide for detailed online rostering instructions.)
3. Late Registration: Wednesday before Sectionals (by 5PM Mountain Time/7PM Eastern)
   1. Late registration is only allowed through the online rostering system.
   2. Late registration must be completed, via the online rostering system, by the Wednesday prior to a team's sectional tournament. (For example, if a team's sectional tournament is September 16-17, late registration must be completed by Wednesday, September 13 (by 5PM Mountain Time/7PM Eastern).)
   3. Sectional coordinators may set an earlier deadline for late registration in accordance with guidelines laid out in Sectionals Part 3.
   4. Teams that do not register by the early registration deadline will be required to pay a $50 late fee at Sectionals. (Read Section 4 below for exceptions and clarifications.)
4. Registration clarifications and exceptions:
   1. Roster changes
      1. Up to 2 additions to the roster submitted to UPA Headquarters may be made prior to the late registration deadline without penalty.
      2. If more than 2 additions are made to the roster after the early deadline, the team will be required to pay the $50 late fee.
      3. All roster changes must be submitted via the online registration system prior to the later registration deadline (by 5PM Mountain Time/7PM Eastern).
   2. Player minimums
      1. In order for a roster to be considered valid it must include at least 7 players (Mixed rosters must also include at least 3 women and 3 men).
   3. College deadline extension
      1. College (or other school-based) teams who start their fall academic term on August 16th or later are eligible for a roster deadline exception.
      2. By August 25th the team must use the online rostering system to submit a partial roster to UPA HQ. (Partial roster can include as few as one name (team spokesperson).) Fax 303-447-3483 or email matthew.bourland@upa.org.  AND
      3. By August 25th the team must fax or email to UPA HQ a copy of school material (calendar, page from class handbook, etc.) indicating the official start of the academic term and indicating that they qualify for the roster deadline exception. Indicate on the faxed materials or in the email that you have submitted a partial roster online, the name of your division, section, and your team. Fax 303-447-3483 or email matthew.bourland@upa.org. AND
      4. By the late registration deadline, the full team must be registered through the online rostering system. If a full team is not registered by that deadline, the team will be dropped from the tournament.
      5. If a college team meets the above criteria and follows the guidelines as laid out, they will be counted towards a section's on-time roster count and be exempted from the $50 late fee.
   4. Masters-eligible players
      1. Players of any age may play on an Open/Mixed/Women's (OXW) Sectionals team.
      2. OXW team representatives are responsible for making sure none of their players intend to play Master Regionals, if the OXW team expects to play at OXW Regionals.
      3. Masters-aged players will not be permitted to play in Masters Regionals if their OXW Sectionals team qualifies for and does not relinquish its OXW Regionals bid.
5. Geographic Guidelines
   1. At least 50% of the players on a team's roster must reside in the section in which that team will compete.
   2. At least 75% of the players on a team's roster must reside in the region in which that team will compete.
   3. No more than 5 players may reside outside the region in which the team will be competing.
   4. "Residence" is defined as follows:
      1. Location where person is living for the majority of September and October, AND
      2. Location where person is living for the majority of either the 3 months prior to Sept 1 or immediately following Oct 31.
      3. Sectional and Regional boundaries are available on the UPA website.
6. Official Team Count
   1. Only teams whose completed roster has been received at UPA Headquarters or submitted via the online rostering system by the early registration deadline (by 5PM Mountain Time/7PM Eastern) and who participate in the Series will be included in that section's “official team count." Note, this means received, NOT postmarked, by August 26th.
      b) Teams that do not submit rosters to HQ by the early registration deadline will be required to pay a $50 late fee at Sectionals. (See Section 4 above for exceptions and clarifications.)
      c) The "official team count" from each section will be used to determine the number of teams that will count towards each section's bids to Regionals and the number of teams that will count towards size wildcards to the UPA Club Championships. Teams who submit rosters after the early registration deadline will not be counted towards bids to Regionals or the UPA Club Championships. (See Section 4 above for exceptions and clarifications.)
7. Rosters are closed once the late registration deadline has passed, and no players can be added to a roster for the remainder of the Series.
8. Failure to abide by any of the above rules may result in the immediate disqualification of the team or individual.
9. Teams should make a copy of their roster for their records. It is a good idea to bring a copy of your roster to Sectionals in case it needs to be referenced.
10. All teams, regardless of whether they turn their rosters in to HQ or at the tournament, should contact their sectional coordinator at least 2 weeks prior to the tournament to let the coordinator know they intend to participate (or any other deadline as set and communicated to the teams by the coordinator). (See Sectionals (Section 3) and Regionals (Section 7 ).) Click here for coordinator contact info.
11. Please see the Rostering 101 guide for detailed instructions on how to get your roster done right and for links to important information and forms.
12. Mail registration information to:
    

    Club Series Registration
    (Your Division/Section/Name of Team)
    Ultimate Players Association
    4730 Table Mesa Drive, Suite J-200
    Boulder, CO 80305
    (303) 447-3472 or 1 (800) 872-4384

1. All guidelines from Team Info section above apply to Masters teams, except where differences are noted in this section.
2. Masters-eligible teams may play in Open/Mixed/Women's (OXW) Sectionals as an OXW team.
3. If a Masters-eligible team qualifies for OXW Regionals, the captain must immediately inform both the OXW and Masters RCs whether the team intends to play in OXW or Masters Regionals. The team must choose, and players may not play in multiple divisions of Regionals or be on two active rosters at the Regional level of any division.
4. If a Masters-eligible team plays in OXW Sectionals, they must turn in an OXW roster by the OXW roster deadline, regardless of their intent to play Masters later.
5. Please see the Forfeit Rule which may impact Masters-eligible teams participating in OXW Sectionals as a tune-up event.
6. Early Registration: Friday, Sept. 15th (by 5PM Mountain Time/7PM Eastern):
   1. All Masters teams must turn in a Masters roster for Masters Regionals, regardless of whether they played in OXW Sectionals.
   2. Complete rosters must be submitted via the online rostering system by Friday, September 15, 2006 (by 5PM Mountain Time/7PM Eastern). This date is the same for all Masters teams, regardless of when their regional tournament is held.
   3. Only rosters that were received at HQ or entered in the online rostering system by the early registration deadline will be counted in the Masters anti-wildcard system.
7. Late Registration: Wednesday before Regionals (by 5PM Mountain Time/7PM Eastern):
   1. Late registration is only allowed through the online rostering system.
   2. Late registration for Masters teams must be completed, via the online rostering system, by the Wednesday prior to a team’s regional tournament.  (For example, if a team’s regional tournament is October 7-8, late registration must be completed by Wednesday, October 4  (by 5PM Mountain Time/7PM Eastern).).
   3. Regional coordinators may set an earlier deadline for late registration in accordance with guidelines laid out in Sectionals Part 3.
   4. Teams that do not register online by the early registration deadline will be required to pay a $50 late fee.  (See Team Info Section 4 exceptions, clarifications, and rules for roster changes.)
8. If a Masters-eligible team plays in an OXW Sectionals, does not qualify for OXW Regionals or relinquishes its bid, and subsequently registers for Masters Regionals, the two rosters are not required to match.
9. Masters-eligible players on OXW rosters for Sectionals
   1. Masters team captains are responsible for making sure none of their players are on an OXW team that has qualified for, and intends to play, Regionals.
   2. Masters-eligible players will not be permitted to play in Masters Regionals if their OXW Sectionals team qualifies for and does not relinquish their OXW Regionals spot.
   3. If a Masters team plays with such a player, the team may be disqualified.

1. All players participating on a team for any and all Series events must be listed on the team roster. If a player not on a team's roster participates in the Series with that team, that player and/or team may be disqualified from the Series.
2. All players listed on the roster must be current UPA members in good standing. Players who are not current members must sign up for membership on the team roster, sign and return the individual waiver form, and submit the appropriate dues prior to Sectionals. Non‑members who do not register by Sectionals will be crossed off the roster and will be ineligible to play in the remainder of the Series until they submit the appropriate forms and fees. If a non-member participates in the Series with a team, that player and/or team may be disqualified from the Series.
3. Players may appear on only one roster for the Club Series and after the start of Sectionals may not switch teams for any portion of the Series.
   1. No player may participate in more than one division of the Club Series.
      1. There is a limited exception to this rule for Masters-eligible players participating in Open, Women's, or Mixed Sectionals (see Masters Team Info and Masters Player Info).
   2. If a player participates in more than one division, or is on more than one roster, that player and/or team(s) may be disqualified from the Series.
4. Each player must fill out (completely and correctly) the appropriate UPA waiver form for the year in which they will be competing. This form is good for the entire calendar year of UPA membership. Waivers must be submitted to UPA Headquarters or the sectional coordinator prior to participation in the Series.
5. Failure to abide by any of the above rules may result in the immediate disqualification of the team or individual and possible sanctions through the UPA conduct process.

1. The minimum age for the 2006 UPA Masters Open Division is 33 for men and 30 for women (age as of 12/31/06).
2. Players who meet the age requirement (see above) are eligible to play in the Masters Division of the Club Series if and only if one of the following applies:
   1. The player is not on any Sectional roster; or
   2. The player's OXW team does not qualify for OXW Regionals; or
   3. The player's entire qualifying OXW team relinquishes its bid to OXW Regionals.
3. Failure to abide by any of the above rules may result in the immediate disqualification of the team or individual and possible sanctions through the UPA conduct process.

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

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.

1. Any team may participate in Sectionals provided they have met the team and player requirements for participation. There is no additional qualifying process for the first level of the UPA Club Series (Sectionals).
2. Division II sectionals may be offered at the discretion of the sectional coordinator.
   1. Participation in Division II sectionals is optional and is entirely contingent upon the team's desire and consent to play in Division II.
   2. Teams that participate in Division II sectionals are not eligible to advance to Division I regionals or advance to the UPA Club Championships. Division II teams may advance to Division II regionals if offered. This is not required of regional coordinators.
   3. Teams that participate in Division II sectionals are subject to the same series guidelines as Division I teams and may count towards a section's "official team count."
3. For the purposes of tournament logistics, UPA Coordinators and/or Tournament Directors may impose a deadline by which teams must decide whether they will attend the tournament. This deadline may be associated with submission of a tournament entry fee, as determined by the coordinator and TD. Tournament Directors may keep entry fees from teams that pull out of the tournament beyond a certain date, provided that date and the fee are reasonable, were approved by the event's UPA coordinator, and were communicated by the TD or coordinator to the teams ahead of time. Any deadline imposed by a coordinator or tournament director that would restrict access to the tournament for teams that would otherwise be considered eligible must be announced well in advance and must be approved by the National Division Director.

1. 1) Regional bids will be allocated to sections based on the number of teams in each section that meet the roster deadline and participate at the Sectional event (each section's "official team count").
2. Bids to Regionals will be based on the following formula:
   • N =total number of teams in the region that meet the roster deadline and participate at Sectionals
   • R =total number of spots in Regionals (R=16)
   • a =number of teams that meet the roster deadline and participate at Sectionals for Section A
   • b = number of teams that meet the roster deadline and participate at Sectionals for Section B (and so on)
     a + b. . .=N

     Section A gets (a/N) x R bids to Regionals

3. Each section (unless there is team migration) must receive at least one bid.
   1. If application of the formula results in a section being allocated zero bids to Regionals, and there are unallocated bids, one unallocated bid will be awarded to each section with zero bids.
   2. If application of the formula results in a section being allocated zero bids to Regionals and all bids have been allocated, then one bid will be taken from the section with the most bids and awarded to the section with no bid.
4. Partial (fractional) bids will only be awarded if fewer than 16 total bids have been allocated. There will be a maximum of 16 bids to Regionals.
5. If each section has at least one bid, and fewer than 16 bids have been allocated, the decimal remainder from the formula results for each section will be compared. The remaining bids will be awarded to sections (one each), in order from highest to lowest remainder. (For example: a section with a decimal remainder of .82 will be awarded a bid before a section with a remainder of .67).
   1. If there is a tie for the final bid to Regionals, the number of players on the tied sections' "on-time" rosters will be used to determine the final bid.
   2. If there is still a tie, the number of teams participating at Sectionals will determine the final bid.
   3. If there is still a tie, a disc will be flipped (or Rosham if preferred).
6. Unaccepted bids
   1. If a team forfeits its bid to Regionals, the bid will be offered to the next highest finishing (eligible) team from the forfeiting team's section. This procedure will be followed until the bid is awarded.
   2. If no teams in that section accept the bid, this process will be repeated starting with the section next in line to receive a bid according to the allocation formula.
   3. If a team drops out less than one week prior to the tournament, the Regional Coordinator may accelerate the above process by shortening response times and immediately contacting all potential replacement teams.
   4. If the spot has not been filled 3 days prior to the tournament, the RC may award the bid at his/her discretion with the approval of the National Division Director.
7. For the purposes of tournament logistics, Regional Coordinators and Tournament Directors may impose a deadline by which teams must decide whether they will attend the tournament. This deadline may be associated with submission of a tournament entry fee, as determined by the coordinator and TD. Tournament Directors may keep entry fees from teams that pull out of the tournament beyond a certain date, provided that date and the fee are reasonable, were approved by the event's UPA coordinator, and were communicated by the TD or coordinator to the teams ahead of time. Any deadline imposed by a coordinator or tournament director that would restrict access to the tournament for teams that would otherwise be considered eligible must be announced well in advance and must be approved by the National Division Director.

1. General guidelines
   1. 2 strength wildcards
   2. 1 size wildcard
   3. 1 growth wildcard
   4. Maximum of 2 wildcards per region per division
   5. A region may not get both the size and growth wildcard
   6. Order of wildcard allocation: Strength, Size, Growth
2. Strength wildcards
   1. Using the previous year's Club Championships, final placements of the worst finishing teams from each region are compared. Additionally, if a Region had 4 teams in attendance, then the 3rd finishing team from that Region also participates in the comparison.
   2. The best two final placements of all compared teams each win a strength wildcard for their respective Regions. (Note that this means if the 3rd and 4th finishing teams from one Region place higher than all the other teams under comparison, that Region wins both strength wildcards.)
   3. If a Region has exactly 3 teams in attendance at Nationals and all 3 place above the 2nd place finishing teams from all the other Regions, then that Region wins both strength wildcards.
   4. If there is a tie in final placement then the following tie-breakers will be used:
      1. Head to head
      2. Finish of 2nd worst team
      3. The region with more teams at the tournament.
      4. The region that has gone the longest without a wildcard.
      5. Repeat the process using results from previous year's championships.
   5. Application of the Strength Wildcard formula results in wildcards being awarded to the following regions for 2006:
      1. Open: Northwest – 2
      2. Women's: Northeast - 1, Southwest - 1
      3. Mixed: Northeast - 1, Northwest - 1
3. Size Wildcards
   1. One size wildcard will be awarded in each division on the basis of the number of teams in each region. The region that has the most teams who meet the early registration deadline and participate at Sectionals will get the size wildcard.
   2. If there is a tie, the size wildcard will go to the region with the most players on teams who meet the early registration deadline and participate at Sectionals.
   3. If there is still a tie, the size wildcard will go to the region with the most total teams competing at Sectionals.
4. Growth Wildcard
   1. One growth wildcard in each division will be awarded to the region with the highest "percentage growth" of UPA members in the current year.
      Percentage Growth in Year N = ((Total UPA members in region in year N)-(Total UPA members in region in year N-1))/(Total UPA members in region in year N-1)
   2. In the Open Division, male UPA members will be counted. In the Women's Division, female members will be counted. In the Mixed Division, the total number of UPA members (male and female) will count towards the growth wildcard.
   3. The total member count for the current year (year N) will include only members who are current by their appropriate sectional roster deadline.
   4. The total member count for the previous year (year N-1) will include all members who are current at the end of that year (N-1).
   5. Members will count for the region in which they have their mailing address on file in the UPA database during the appropriate year.
   6. The formula takes into account both new and returning UPA members, which captures both recruitment and retention of members. The wildcard is awarded based on members, rather than teams, to minimize potential competition between divisions within a region for players. It is assumed that increased membership growth will indirectly lead to increased formation of teams and participation in the Series.

1. If a Region has at least 5 Masters teams who meet the early registration deadline for Masters Regionals and attend Masters Regionals, it will get two bids to the UPA Club Championships.
2. If a region has fewer than 5 teams who meet the early registration deadline for Masters Regionals and attend Masters Regionals, it will receive only one bid to the UPA Club Championships.
3. Any lost bid(s) will be awarded alternately based on regional strength and size comparisons.
   1. No region may receive more than 3 bids to the UPA Club Championships.
   2. Strength Wildcards (awarded first if bids are available)
      1. If a region is in the running for a 2nd bid, that region's 2nd finishing team at the previous year's nationals is used in the strength comparison (or 1st finishing team if only one team was in attendance).
      2. If a region is in the running for a 3rd bid, that region's 3rd finishing team at the previous nationals is used in the strength comparison (or 2nd finishing team if only two team were in attendance, PROVIDED that team has not already been used to earn a strength wildcard*).
      3. *Once a team's finish is used to earn a strength wildcard, it may not be used in any other strength wildcard comparisons.
   3. Size Wildcards (to be awarded second if bids are available)
      1. The region with the most teams meeting the early registration deadline for Masters Regionals will receive the size bid.
      2. Tiebreakers: If there is a tie, the bid will go to the region with the most players on rosters that met the early registration deadline. If there is still a tie for the extra bid, the region with the most total teams competing at Masters Regionals will get the bid. If there is still a tie, the region with the most players on all participating teams' rosters will get the bid.

• 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

1. All players participating in the UPA Club Championship tournament for a given team must wear jerseys of identical color and design.
2. Teams must have two jerseys of distinctly different color.
3. 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.).
4. Uniform bottoms (shorts, pants, skirts) worn by players on the field must be the same color.
5. Names, logos, and graphics on jerseys must comply with the Name/Logo/Uniform Guidelines above.
6. It is recommended that uniform accessories including tights, undershirts, hats, and socks be of identical or coordinated style and color.
7. The UPA reserves the right to disqualify players who fail to meet the uniform requirements.
8. These requirements do not apply to Sectionals or Regionals.
9. Frequently Asked Questions on uniform requirements.

• Seeding for Sectionals and Regionals and the UPA Championships will be done by the coordinator using the following information: input solicited from all the captains of participating teams; results prior to the Series (e.g. head to head, common opponents, tournament finish); results of last year's Series; and other applicable information (e.g. team composition, conditions). The coordinator has the authority to adjust rankings according to the best information available.
• Seeding for Regionals will additionally be held to the following guideline: No team that finishes ahead of another team at Sectionals may be seeded behind that team at Regionals.
• Seeding for the UPA College Championships will additionally be held to the following guideline: No team that finishes ahead of another team at Regionals may be seeded behind that team at the UPA College Championships.
• Seeding for Sectionals must be pre-approved by the appropriate Regional Coordinator. (If the Sectional and Regional coordinators are affiliated (player, coach, alum, etc.) with the same team, seedings must be approved by the National Division Director.)
  
• Seeding for Regionals must be pre-approved by the National Division Director. (If the Regional coordinator and National Director are affiliated (player, coach, alum, etc.) with the same team, seedings must be approved by the UPA Championship Director.)
• Seeding for the UPA Club Championships must be pre-approved by the Championship Director. (If the National Director and Championship Director are affiliated (player, coach, alum, etc.) with the same team, seedings must be approved by the Competition Committee of national directors.)

1. A team must play all its games at a "qualifying" tournament in order to qualify for the next tournament in the Series.
   1. A team that forfeits a Series game, and every player on that team's roster, is disqualified for the remainder of the current Series, in every Division.
   2. 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.
   3. 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 10th 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).

The 2006 Club Series will be played under the 10th Edition Rules of Ultimate.
Any changes to those rules, implemented under the captain's clause, must meet the following criteria:

• 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 or may indirectly affect other aspects of the Series. 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 Series competition.)

1. The gender ratio for the Mixed Division of the UPA Championship Series (Sectionals, Regionals, and the UPA 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.
   4. 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.