Annual Meeting Recap & March 2017 Meeting

The next Valley Ultimate board meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 28th from 7-8pm at the Bluebonnet Diner in Northampton, MA. Anyone with any interest in helping grow Ultimate in the Valley is welcome to attend! Help spread the word by inviting people to the Facebook event!

During the meeting we will be focusing on:

  • A recap of our 1st Annual Women’s Ultimate Day
  • YCC planning
  • Outreach programs to underserved areas
  • Volunteer management
  • Oxbow field site planning

Additionally, we will be pulling together a summary of the results of the strategic planning session we ran during our annual meeting. Major themes that came out of the session include:

  • Promoting women’s Ultimate
  • Expanding outreach
  • Introducing more adults to the sport
  • Promoting Spirit of the Game
  • Training more coaches

Come on out and help chart the course of Ultimate in the Valley!

First Annual Women’s Ultimate Day

Coach Leila Tunnell

Announcing VU’s First Annual Women’s Ultimate Day! The event will be held on Friday March 3rd from 5pm to 10pm at Indoor Action Sports located at 1385 Bernardston Rd., Greenfield, MA 01370. The event costs $10 per participant.

Whether you are looking to dust off your old cleats, continue winter training, or pick up a disc for the first time, women of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend this indoor event. The all-female environment will be led by Championship-level female athletes with ties to this area as coaches and players.

From the Two-Time Reigning National Women’s Division Champions Boston Brutesquad:

  • Emily Baecher
  • Aly Heath
  • Vicky Negus
  • Lauren Sadler
  • Amber Sinicrope
  • Claudia Tajima
  • Leila Tunnell
  • Dory Ziperstein

From the 2016 National Mixed Champions Boston Slow White:

  • Hannah Baranes

Activities will include:

  • Differentiated instruction based on ability
  • Skill building, including throwing instruction and athletic movement
  • Community building and discussions on gender equity and leadership
  • A mini-tournament alongside the greatest players that the sport has to offer
  • Much more!

For more information, including instructions on how to register,
please visit the event page.

February 2017 Board Meeting

Solstice SunThis event is being rescheduled to the end of March. The new date will be posted here as soon as it’s determined.

The February 2017 Board meeting will take place on Tuesday, 2/28/17 from 6-7pm at the Bluebonnet Diner in Northampton, MA. Anyone with any interest in helping grow Ultimate in the Valley is welcome to attend. Discussion topics will include:

  • Oxbow Event Planning
  • Outreach programs
  • Volunteer Management
  • Youth Club Champs 2017
  • Annual meeting recap
  • Whatever you’d like to bring up!

If you’re not a board member and you plan on attending the meeting, please email josh@valleyultimate.org so we can plan for the proper numbers at the diner.

Share the Facebook event page!

At the January meeting we planned expanded outreach initiatives, the first annual meeting, and our Women’s Ultimate Day.

Spring Scheduling Meeting & First Annual Annual Meeting!

Sunday, February 5, 2017, 11am – 2pm
Amherst Regional High School

11am – Come get your local team (college, high school, middle school) schedule set for the spring.

Then stick around for Valley Ultimate’s Annual Meeting where we’ll:

  • Outline of the upcoming year of Valley Ultimate activity
  • Take input on what to work on
  • Breakout into groups to discuss specific topics like leagues, hat tournaments, governance, youth development, and communication
  • Lots more!

Open to all – Hope to see you there!!

Facebook Event — Ask questions here!

Valley Ultimate will be sending girls and boys teams to the 2017 Youth Club Championships!

Who: Valley Ultimate’s YCC program aims to serve all youth ultimate players in our region. We encourage any girl or boys in the area to come and play during the summer!

What: Valley Ultimate will send send our own girls and boys teams to participate in USA Ultimate’s Youth Club Championships in Blaine, Minnesota. According to the 2017 Youth Competition Guidelines, the age divisions participating in this national tournament will be U17 and U20. Competition divisions will include Boys’, Girls’ and Mixed. (USA Ultimate recently announced a revision and clarification of the Guidelines, including player eligibility, here.)

Where: The Youth Club Championships is a national tournament held in Blaine, Minnesota.

When: The Youth Club Championships will be held on the first or second weekend of August.

Why: Youth ultimate is growing nationally, and within our region. We believe that we have some of the best young players and organizers in the country! The Youth Club Championships is an event that will showcase our talent and character. This program exemplifies our mission to continue to expand our offerings and networking for the ultimate community in our region.

How: Valley Ultimate is committed to promoting gender equity in our sport. We will be reaching out to the young women in our region as well as organizers and coaches to make sure that our YCC program will provide the best opportunities for girls.

We are planning to send a girls team and a boys team from The Valley. We welcome players of all ages to participate! Player and community involvement will determine the age and competition division(s) in which Valley Ultimate will participate at YCCs.

If necessary, Valley Ultimate may conduct a tryout process, or facilitate player participation at YCCs in Blaine through our network of youth organizations. We are committed to supporting ANY player from our region who aspires to compete nationally at YCC’s. Some financial aid will be available!

Valley Ultimate will continue to offer summer and fall leagues for youth players of all experience levels. These leagues will connect players with our local coaching and organizational talent!

If you are a player who is interested in learning more about this opportunity, please fill out this quick survey.

If you are a parent, a coach, or interested in volunteering in any way, please fill out this quick survey.

Valley Ultimate is a registered 501(c)3 whose mission is to promote and grow the sport of ultimate in western Massachusetts and the Connecticut River Valley. For specific inquiries about Valley Ultimate’s YCC program, contact Joe Costello (joe.costello2@gmail.com) or visit ValleyUltimate.org.

January 2017 Board Meeting

Solstice SunThe January 2017 Board meeting will take place on Tuesday, 1/10/17 from 6-7pm at the Johnny’s Roadside Diner in Hadley, MA. Anyone with any interest in helping grow Ultimate in the Valley is welcome to attend. Discussion topics will include:

  • Oxbow Event Planning
  • Outreach programs
  • Volunteer Management
  • Youth Club Champs 2017
  • Hatgiving 2016 recap
  • Spring 2017 events
  • Whatever you’d like to bring up!

If you’re not a board member and you plan on attending the meeting, please email josh@valleyultimate.org so we can plan for the proper numbers at the diner.

Share the Facebook event page!

At the recent October meeting we discussed all of the above topics plus Hatgiving planning, spring events, youth club development ideas, and some updates from Jonathan Levy of New England Ultimate.

USA Ultimate Coaching Clinic

usaultimatelogo435x290Valley Ultimate is hosting a USA Ultimate Coaching Development Program Level I Workshop on December 10!

What: The Level I program consists of two workshops (Coaching Ethics and Coaching Performance) where coaches will learn skills and techniques to introduce ultimate and its skills to new players.

Are you a female coach or a coach of a female or mixed team? You may be eligible for a rebate through the Women’s Development Program. Visit Women’s Development for details.

When: Saturday, December 10 from 8:30 am-5:00 pm
Where: Northampton High School (NHS), 380 Elm St., Northampton, MA 01060
Cost: $82.50

NOTE: A USA Ultimate membership is required to attend. While any membership will work for attendance, a background check ($21.50+ additional county costs), and a coach-level membership are required for certification.

What do I get? In addition to gaining certification (and the benefits of the list above), coaches will also receive the following from USA Ultimate and program sponsor, Five Ultimate:

  • USA Ultimate Coaching Ethics and Performance Manuals
  • USA Ultimate Coaching Code of Ethics and Spirit of Coaching
  • Five Ultimate Coaching Development Program Five Gear
  • Five Ultimate Coach Bag
  • USA Ultimate Coaching Development Program Disc

Do note that if you are under 21, you may attend the workshop, but your certification will be held until you turn 21.

Want more details?

November 2016 Board Meeting

Solstice SunThe November 2016 Board meeting will take place on Tuesday, 11/15 from 6-7pm at the the Bluebonnet Diner in Northampton, MA. Anyone with any interest in helping grow Ultimate in the Valley is welcome to attend. Discussion topics will include:

  • The 3rd Annual Hatgiving tournament
  • Oxbow Event Planning
  • Outreach programs
  • Volunteer Management
  • Youth Club Champs 2017
  • Whatever you’d like to bring up!

If you’re not a board member and you plan on attending the meeting, please email josh@valleyultimate.org so we can plan for the proper numbers at the diner.

Share the Facebook event page!

At the recent October meeting we discussed all of the above topics plus spring events, youth club development ideas, and board-releated paperwork.

October 2016 Board Meeting

Solstice SunThe October 2016 Board meeting will take place on Wednesday, 10/26 from 7-8pm at the the Johnny’s Roadside Diner in Hadley, MA. Anyone with any interest in helping grow Ultimate in the Valley is welcome to attend. Discussion topics will include:

  • The 3rd Annual Hatgiving tournament
  • Oxbow Event Planning
  • Outreach programs
  • Coaching opportunities
  • Volunteer Management
  • Whatever you’d like to bring up!

If you’re not a board member and you plan on attending the meeting, please email josh@valleyultimate.org so we can plan for the proper numbers at the diner.

Share the Facebook event page!

At the recent September meeting we discussed all of the above topics plus a recap of our 5 events this summer and plans for youth development in 2017 – 2018.