2013 TCT Update: Final Guidelines

In response to feedback from teams in the Men's, Mixed, and Women's divisions, USA Ultimate has made a number of final modifications to its plans for the 2013 Triple Crown Tour (TCT). Based on discussions with and input from a wide variety of teams with different needs, the final guidelines for the TCT will provide additional flexibility for teams to participate in the Regular Season and Post Season. This flexibility is being provided in this inaugural year of the new structure in order to include as many qualifying teams as possible, while still preserving important elements of the structure. The modified Triple Crown Tour Guidelines have been posted and a summary of the changes is included below. Please refer to the guidelines for additional details.

1 - Pro and Elite flight requirements have been modified. Required events have been reduced from 2 to 1 event. Top 4 Pro teams will be required to attend the US Open. Bottom 4 Pro and all 8 Elite teams will be required to attend the Pro-Elite Challenge.

2 - Pro and Elite teams will be required to play a minimum of 10 regular season games to be eligible for the Post Season.

3 - Elite-Select Challenge and Pro Flight Finale will be designated as preferred events. Elite and Pro teams are strongly encouraged, but not required, to attend these events as originally designed. Pro and Elite teams that attend one or more of these preferred events will receive a bye to Regionals. Non-attending Pro and Elite teams will be required to attend Sectionals. USA Ultimate plans to weight the results from these events, in addition to the results from the US Open and Pro-Elite Challenge to reflect their status relative to TCT Regular Season Select and sanctioned events. Additional incentives to attend include prize money for the winners of these events.

4 - Pro, Elite, and Top Select teams will still be required to commit to their flight-specific event schedule by February 18, including a decision/preference-choice regarding the optional TCT events. The final field of teams for TCT Pro and Elite flight Regular Season events will be announced by March 1. Teams must attend the TCT events to which they commit in order to remain eligible for the Post Season.

Tom Crawford, CEO commented: "USA Ultimate believes strongly that the TCT structure will lead to many benefits for teams and event organizers, while also introducing new and exciting opportunities to promote and grow the sport. We also believe it is really important to be responsive to feedback from the teams, and be as inclusive as possible. Indeed, that inclusivity is one of the defining characteristics of the TCT structure. These modifications are responsive to the input from teams, while also allowing us the opportunity to launch the tiered flight structure.

Will Deaver, Managing Director of Athlete and Competition Programs added: "We sincerely hope teams in all the flights will seek out multi-flight events to compete in throughout the season, in addition to the TCT events. With increased flexibility for this first year of the TCT, USA Ultimate looks forward to helping existing teams participate at a pace where they can more readily adapt to the new structure. USA Ultimate looks forward to learning from this inaugural year and working with teams, event organizers, fans, media, and other partners to continue to evolve the competitive structure to serve the needs of participating teams and meet the organization’s goals for the sport."

Note: the date and location of the Mixed Elite-Select Challenge has been confirmed for August 10-11 in Seattle, WA. More details will be provided in an announcement next week. The Pro Flight finale has also been renamed to be the Bay Area Invitiational. Below is an updated schedule map (link goes to a PDF version):



(PDF)

Have any questions or comments? We welcome community feedback and discussion made in a respectful manner. Please refrain from profanity or personal attacks, as such public comments negatively reflect on our sport and community.

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About USA Ultimate



USA Ultimate serves as the National Governing Body for the sport of Ultimate in the United States. USA Ultimate is a non-profit organization headquartered in Boulder, Colo. and focuses foremost on the needs of its athletes while improving access to the sport and enhancing members’ overall experience. Founded in 1979 as the Ultimate Players Association, USA Ultimate is one of the first flying disc sport organizations in the world and is also the largest with more than 36,000 members and a national volunteer network. Two years ago the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) named Ultimate the fastest-growing team sport in the nation. Internationally, USA Ultimate is a member of the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF), which is an affiliate of the General Association of International Sport Federations (GAISF) and the International World Games Association (IWGA). USA Ultimate annually fields U.S. National Teams to compete at international events, including The World Games, which operates under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).