Based on the success of the gold medal finishes of the US Junior Open, Masters, Mixed, silver medal for the US Junior Women's and Open, and bronze medal of the US Women's teams at the World Ultimate Championships in Turku, Finland in 2004, the US has qualified for participation in the 2005 World Games in Duisburg, Germany.

Based on this qualification, the UPA, as the national governing body for the sport of Ultimate in the United States, has been offered the opportunity to select a team for participation by the World Flying Disc Federation. This bid has been accepted by the UPA.

For more information on Team USA, including player profiles and the UPA's fundraising efforts, please click here.

World Games – Ultimate Tournament Details

Teams Participating
Six teams will participate in the sport of Ultimate at the 2005 World Games. These teams will be made up of players from the countries of:

1. Canada
2. United States of America
3. Australia
4. Finland
5. Japan
6. Germany

This list also represents the seeding of teams for the event as based on the World Games qualification procedure undertaken at the 2004 World Ultimate and Guts Championships.

Number of Players per Team
Each country will send a team of 11 players - 6 male players and 5 female players.

Players on the Field
For game play, each team will field seven players per point. For each point teams will field 4 male players and 3 female players. If a country can not meet this requirement at any time during a game they will default.

Game Rules
All game rules will follow the WFDF rules of Ultimate as published January 1, 2005, with the following amendments:

1. The first team to reach 13 points with a margin of 2 points or more will win the game. The first team to reach 15 points with any margin will win the game.
2. When the first team reaches 7 points, there will be a 10 minute Half Time.
3. Each team will be able to call 3 time outs per game, with a maximum of 2 time outs called per half.
   a) When a game reaches 12-12, teams with remaining time outs will lose those time outs. Each team will be given a total of 1 time out for the remainder of the game.

Tournament Format
The tournament will use the following format: (Schedule to be confirmed during 2005.)

Initial Pool (A):

1. Canada (A1)
2. United States of America (A2)
3. Australia (A3)
4. Finland (A4)
5. Japan (A5)
6. Germany (A6)

Teams are Re-Ordered according to Round Robin Results

A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6

ATHLETE APPLICATION PROCEDURES

US Team Athlete Selection

Once again, the UPA will be choosing a "select" team to represent the UPA and the United States at the World Games. Based on the Player Mission Statement approved by the UPA Board of Directors in 2001, World Games players "should represent the best of US Ultimate in play and in sportsmanship. Players will be chosen based on high skill as prerequisite, with service to the sport, championship experience, ambassadorial qualities, and ability to fit into the team all valued highly in the selection process." A total squad of 17 (men and women) will be selected (11 members and 6 alternates).

Who Can Apply for the Team

Any Ultimate athlete who:

1. believes that he/she can fulfill the ideals set forth in the World Games US Player's Mission statement noted above
2. completes the Application posted on the UPA web site
3. who agrees to the guidelines established by the UPA, WFDF and IWGA

Although room and board at the World Games will be covered by the IWGA and local organizing group, players must also be able to pay for travel to and from the World Games, as well as expenses related to a number of training weekends and tournaments in preparation for the World Games. ONLY THOSE PLAYERS WHO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR SELECTION TO THE TEAM.

Obligations if Selected

In additions to submitting an application, athletes who wish to be considered for selection must be willing to comply with all rules and guidelines established by the IWGA, WFDF and the UPA, including WADA Guidelines related to Anti-Doping (http://www.wfdf.org/index.php?page=antidoping/index.htm) . Players should recognize that selection to and participation on the 2005 World Games squad is a significant commitment of time (including ongoing workouts in their home community and communications with teammates and coaches) and financial resources and must be willing to accept this responsibility.

Although it has not been finalized if this will be necessary, applicants may be required to travel to a tryout camp in late November and to pay for all expenses related to participation. Players and coaches must be willing to personally finance all travel and training expenses related to practices and tournament participation in preparation for the World Games (events and dates TBD). Player accommodations, meals and local travel at the World Games will be provided by the event organizers, but travel to and from the event will be borne by the participants.

Despite limited financial resources, it is the goal of the UPA Board of Directors, staff and World Games Committee to support the team to the greatest extent possible, and efforts will be made to generate both financial and personal support of the team from throughout the entire ultimate community.

COACH APPLICATION PROCEDURES

After careful consideration, the UPA has determined that high level coaching will enhance the probability for success of the 2005 US World Games team. As such, the UPA hopes to identify an individual(s) to coach this select team.

Coaching Mission Statement: Coach(es) will be chosen with the same high standards and qualities as players (high skill, service to the sport, championship and ambassadorial qualities), but will also be required to demonstrate the best of US Ultimate in coaching ability, communication and conduct as well as leadership skills and the capacity to unite a team of elite male and female players.

Who Can Apply as Coach for the US Team

Any Ultimate coach who:

1. believes that he/she can fulfill the ideals set forth in the World Games US Coaching Mission statement noted above
2. completes the Application posted on the UPA web site
3. who agrees to the guidelines established by the UPA, WFDF and IWGA

is eligible for consideration (this includes IWGA and WFDF anti-doping rules).

Obligations if Selected

In additions to submitting an application, coaches who wish to be considered for selection must be willing to comply with all rules and guidelines established by the IWGA, WFDF and the UPA, including WADA Guidelines related to Anti-Doping (http://www.wfdf.org/index.php?page=antidoping/index.htm). Coaches should recognize that selection to and participation on the 2005 World Games squad is a significant commitment of time (including ongoing communications with team members and co-coach) and financial resources and must be willing to accept this responsibility.

Although it has not been finalized if this will be necessary, coaches may be required to travel to the 2004 Club Championships and/or Tryout Camp in late November and to pay for all expenses related to participation. Coaches must be willing to personally finance all travel and training expenses related to practices and tournament participation in preparation for the World Games (events and dates TBD), travel to and from the World Games as well as accommodations, meals and local travel at the World Games.

Despite limited financial resources, it is the goal of the UPA Board of Directors, staff and World Games Committee to support the team to the greatest extent possible, and efforts will be made to generate both financial and personal support of the team from throughout the entire ultimate community.