How would you like to see the UPA relate and interact with local Ultimate ogranizations? Affiliate organizations?
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11 comments:
Hello,
The crux of the matter is that UPA memberships at $20 per child is simply too much to promote growth in UPA memberships beyond a certain point. I believe we are close to that point. To be blunt, the only DiscNW youth teams that really need UPA memberships are the ones going to Westerns. DiscNW runs many events already and if the UPA wants to tap into all those youth players (middle school and elementary too), then there needs to be a better membership model. Otherwise the UPA will never see a penny from those participants. This is very similar to the adult situation where the UPA doesn't get membership from purely local league players. So what needs to happen is that the UPA and local leagues need to create a win-win that serves everyone. My arguments are not coming from someone angry at the UPA, quite the opposite. I have been the leading proponent of high school single gender in Seattle including making that league UPA sanctioned. But it seems pretty obvious to me that the economic model has to change if growth in UPA youth memberships is going to grow.
Below is the text from an e-mail I sent to other members of the DiscNW youth committee that I believe would create a win-win.
Youth Committee,
Here are our numbers from single gender last year:
179 full UPA members 179 * $20 = $3580
24 $5 fees from state = $120
Grand total $3700
And a comparison from 2002 Washington State Youth Soccer Association Annual Report
125,000 members * $5.25 member fee = $656,250
WSYSA paid the National Governing Body USSF/USYS $187,500 or about $1.50 per member.
What is the parallel? Certainly not economic model since USSF/USYS has other sources of income and WSYSA has local affiliates charging players for other costs. The parallel is that there is an affiliate program and DiscNW and UPA has an affiliate program in essence but not really in contract except when DiscNW runs UPA tourneys.
My suggestion is this for a youth affiliate program.
DiscNW pays the UPA an annual sum of $5,000 for unlimited youth memberships. This is an amount that is probably more than the UPA could expect to collect from our area from youth teams. This would be a trial 3-5 year experiment.
This is an economy of scale that can create benefits for both sides, but first what exactly does DiscNW need from the UPA?
1. A national governing body similar to other youth sports. (see my other e-mail about why we need this) The UPA would recognize DiscNW as the state organizer for youth ultimate in Washington.
2. Online rostering tools including waiver tracking (that means all waivers are collected by the UPA - or maybe UPA waivers are collected and processed by DiscNW as the UPA rep?)
3. Misc forms such as medical authorization forms, chaperone forms, etc.
4. Guaranteed access to regional and national UPA tournaments including a minimum of 1 bid per division for Westerns and YCC.
5. Tournament Tools and Kits - (We use the online tournament tool to a great extent already)
6. Affordable UPA youth memberships - that should actually be #1 on the list.
What does DiscNW not need from the UPA (stuff that may drive the price of UPA memberships up)
1. Insurance - We have insurance, we just are not strong enough at collecting waivers.
2. UPA magazine. I love the UPA magazine and I have no idea what the cost is to produce each copy of each issue for each member. But this is a want and not a need. There obviously could be something like an added $5 subscription fee for youth members who want to receive the magazine.
3. What else?
What does the UPA need from DiscNW?
1. We have been leading the way on the youth side in many ways nationally. While many other areas are cathing up we are still one of the main innovators.
2. A trial affiliate that is already a 510 c-3 non-profit with a board of directors, bylaws, etc, etc to serve as a model to other youth (and adult maybe - but especially the players who only play local leagues) organizations. The youth participation in the UPA will probably pass adult participation (Especially if the UPA doesn't get in on the local adult leagues) but only if the cost per membership thing can be sorted out.
All in all, I think there are a lot of things in this plan that make sense but it obviously needs some refining and of course the UPA and DiscNW would need to approve it.
Thanks - Mike
Great post! I'll second Mike's idea.
I've never played in any of the championship series, only in local leagues, where there are very few UPA members, and many who don't even know what the UPA is. The idea of an organization paying a lump sum to the UPA for affiliation and unlimited memberships for its own players seems like a great idea to 1) increase funding and awareness of the UPA, 2)give many players who would not otherwise be able to participate in UPA activities a voice and an ear into the greater Ultimate community, and 3) unify the Ultimate community more thoroughly.
Agreed.
Not sure it should be a big priority of the UPA to reach out to local organizations. I personally tend to like decentralized government...
That said, I do think the UPA could give advice in the form of literature or best practices to local orgs to help them develop, recruit, run leagues, etc.
I'd argue that providing insurance remains one of the UPA's indispensable roles. That DiscNW can provide it's own insurance is impressive and admirable, but is certainly the exception, not the rule.
Jeremy,
I'm actually advocating that even though DiscNW has insurance there are other reasons to be a UPA member, but that membership has to be more accessible and reasonably priced.
And yes, I agree that the UPA insurance is a very important item that can be offered to leagues.
-Mike
As a youth coach I think that it's very interesting we are primarily talking about youth Ultimate leagues. I have a couple comments about youth Ultimate at the National level and some ideas about the adult leagues as well.
First, National competition for youth Ultimate should be on it's way out. The high school season is way too short to be traveling all over the country playing elite Ultimate. It is important that we work on getting in-state competition better to legitamize State tournaments. The UPA should start working with local leagues to develop better Ultimate teams, and start moving away from the National Tournaments. I know my athletes love the National competition, but I worry about burnout and wearing down our kids (afterall they are students first). I think the UPA should continue to work towards organizing State tourneys and City leagues and they should use that to sell themselves to these organizations.
As far as the adults... Most of the adult league players I know have no need for the UPA's services (insurance aside) as they see the main function of the UPA is setting up National competition. If the UPA wants to get league members to join, they are going to have to offer something more, but most league players seem pretty content with the services their leagues are currently providing.
Will Smolinski
YHB Open Varsity Coach
WMS Founder/Coach
I just caught up with the news that Level 1 coaching cert is required in the 2008 youth series.
While encouraging quality coaching is a priority, all this may do is further minimize the benefits of sanctioning/working thru the UPA.
The HS players I work with who might be able to form a team are highly discouraged. $20 per player, at least $60 per coach (membership & cert) and that's before any field, equipment & apparel costs.
Hi Dank,
I think the coaching certification requirements are a little confusing if you just hear about it through word of mouth...it's NOT a blanket requirement that all coaches must be certified.
Simply, it's that coaches who wish to have player level access (i.e. inside the ropes for semis and finals) at Easterns/Westerns/YCC in 2008 and College in 2009 need to have one member of their coaching staff certified. It doesn't change if the teams play the games, just how close their coach can be to the sideline.
If you are working with a new team of high schoolers, they won't be effected by this Coaching Certification requirement until they are at the point where they are in the semis or finals of Westerns/Easterns. These are our most premiere events where we showcase the sport. It's certainly not required at every sanctioned event.
By requiring one coach to be certified, we know that they have been taught the standards of behavior (Spirit of Coaching, Code of Ethics etc) that the UPA values, and we can hold them to those standards at our most publicized events.
I think when the rumor mills circulate, the news can be a little daunting. But take a look at the specifics (http://www.upa.org/coaches/requirements) and I think you'll see its reasonable. And, feel free to write me any time if you (or anyone) has any questions: meredith.tosta@upa.org
Meredith Tosta
UPA Youth Director
One problem with UPA being connected with local leagues/organizations is that those leagues generally have a fee and then on top of that if you aren't a member you are paying a $20-$40 UPA fee as well. That can definitely prevent some people from playing, especially if they are just getting into the sport, and especially for youth. Although on a side note, youth who play in other sport leagues are easily paying $40-$100 to participate.
It seems that it could use too many resources at the UPA to get too involved with local leagues, especially since the locals are doing a pretty good job already at organizing, plus it creates other leaders in ultimate that can be a resource for UPA on other levels and at other events. I would only recommend that the UPA tries to be in contact with league organizers in case they ever want to tap those persons for organizing local UPA events, providing feedback, etc.
Sorry, I left out the part about insurance, definitely the role UPA plays right now in providing insurance is very key.
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