Monthly Archives: June 2021

Youth Summer League 2021!

VU Youth Summer League 2021–Registration is open!
Youth Summer League will run on Tuesdays and Fridays 5-7pm from July 13 to August 20th. One day will be conditioning and skills focused and the second day will be scrimmage focused.

VU is piloting our sliding scale payment policy with this program. For more information on what that means, please visit the website http://valleyultimate.org/introducing-sliding-scale-payments/

The prices we suggest for this program are: $125 to cover our cost to run the program; $150 as the traditional full fee; $200 for sustainers to pay it forward for other participants and support VU’s future programming; and $60 to adjust for financial hardship. Full scholarships are also available, by request no questions asked. If these suggested rates don’t work for you, please reach out.

Please wait to fill out the form until you have submitted payment via PayPal to ValleyUltimateBoard@gmail.com
You do not need to register with PayPal to pay via PayPal.com. If you require alternative payment methods, please email us at ValleyUltimateBoard@gmail.com

Paypal Link: https://paypal.me/valleyultimate?locale.x=en_US

Please direct all league questions to Joe Costello at joe.costello2@gmail.com. Please direct payment questions and scholarship inquiries to ValleyUltimateBoard@gmail.com
Registration form link: https://forms.gle/dcxAPxRkCfW3QfKq7

Youth Summer League COVID-19 ConsiderationsWith the May 29th announcement from Governor Baker lifting almost all the COVID-19 Regulations on the state level, Valley Ultimate, just like all of you, is in the midst of re-evaluating what our COVID-19 policy and procedures need to be. Now that statewide regulations are dropped, we think it is more important than ever that we set some clear expectations for our programs. In our process, we are looking at vaccination data and case numbers for the three primary counties we serve–Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin–as reported via the state. We are also looking at information from USAU Return to Play guidelines and the CDC. The vaccination rates and case rates (both deadly and “normal” varies between each county.)  Valley Ultimate remains committed to making the play experience as safe as possible for even the most vulnerable in our diverse community.

Please check out the current draft of our practices and policies for this summer’s league here. Let us know your thoughts!


We are still hiring!
Coach hiring survey will be out soon! Check your calendars. Coaches will be hired on a session by session or full series basis! USAU Chaperone or Coach status preferred!

Introducing: Sliding Scale Payments

Valley Ultimate has always offered financial assistance by request or coach recommendation, but now, we wish to expand this practice in a more nuanced and far reaching way. As such, Valley Ultimate is implementing a sliding scale fee system for our programs on an exploratory basis. We are inspired by our neighbor, Boston Ultimate Disc Alliance (BUDA) and other successful ultimate organizations like Triangle Ultimate in North Carolina to embrace this equitable practice in our own financial planning. We hope to discover that this practice serves to expand and strengthen our community and extend the practice to all our future programs. 

What does this mean for registration fees?

VU will list what it costs to run the event based on a certain number of expected registrants, exact program needs, and a small margin in case of lower registration. VU will then also list what we would typically charge as a full registration fee for the event or program–that number builds in a margin to provide for possible financial assistance and long term viability and sustainability of the organization and program. VU will also list a suggested price for financial hardship. Those numbers are reference points for you to decide how much you can afford to pay. Your choices are to:

  • Pay the full registration price.
  • Pay what it costs to run the program.
  • Pay the adjusted for financial hardship price.
  • Pay more than the full registration price (Sustainer price) to pay it forward and support accessible programming through Valley Ultimate.
  • Request a full fee waiver, no questions asked.

How do I decide what to pay?

Consider whether paying the full registration would be a financial hardship or a financial sacrifice.

Financial hardship is if paying the full registration fee would be challenging to pay, but possible without impacting necessary living expenses. If it would be a hardship, consider paying the full registration fee or choosing to pay the program cost or the adjusted cost.

Financial sacrifice is if paying the full registration fee would impact your ability to pay rent, buy groceries, etc. If it would be a financial sacrifice, consider paying the adjusted cost or requesting a full waiver, no questions asked.

If the fee would be neither a hardship or sacrifice, consider paying the full amount or even paying a higher fee to pay it forward.

Consider volunteering as an alternative way to support the quality (and quantity) of Valley Ultimate programming no matter what fee level you choose to pay.

What are the costs of running a program?

Each program is a little different. The common costs are physical:

  • Field Reservation (maintenance)
  • Field Lining
  • Porta potties
  • First Aid Kits
  • Discs/Jerseys
  • Generic supplies

Other costs, depending on the program, includes personnel:

  • Trainers
  • Coordinators
  • Coaches
  • Observers

While Valley Ultimate is still primarily run on volunteer work, we strive to provide payment for these key positions and strive to expand our ability to pay the people who work to provide our programming–we can only do this through you!

This information is just the tip of the iceberg about pay what you can or sliding scale payments. We will add to this FAQ over time as we develop this practice. In the mean time, we invite you to look over the way Triangle Ultimate explains their pay what you can system.

As always, we welcome your feedback!