USA Ultimate

The Ultimate Players Association is pleased to announce the 20 athletes who have been selected by Coach Greg Connelly to prepare and train for participation in the 2009 IWGA World Games as members of Team USA.

Based on rules set forth by the IWGA and the World Flying Disc Association (WFDF) , a total of seven male and six female athletes (mixed competition format) will be named by Coach Connelly to take the field at the World Games, July 19-21 in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei.

Prior to the World Games, the team will compete at the following US exhibition events/tournaments: May 24 - Team USA v College Alumni All-Stars (UPA College Championships, Columbus, OH); June 13-14 - Poultry Days (Versailles, OH); July 3-5 - Potlatch (Redmond, WA).

* Athlete selected to travel to compete in Kaohsiung and represent their teammates and the USA Ultimate community at the 2009 World Games in July.

The 2009 Team USA selection process was open to all US athletes and began with submission of an online written application by those interested. A total of 85 male and 51 female athletes submitted applications for consideration.

Applications were reviewed by members of the selection committee based on the following Team USA Mission statement established by the UPA 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 of 80 athletes were named by the selection committee to participate in one of two tryouts camps that took place February 21-22 in Los Angeles, and February 28-March 1 in Sarasota, FL.

Based on training camp performance, information contained in the online applications and historical knowledge of the participating athletes, Coach Connelly named the team of twenty. After a review by members of the selection committee and the UPA Board of Directors, athletes were personally contacted and invited to join the team.

"We strongly believe that each and every one of the athletes who was invited to the tryout camps would have been great ambassadors for our sport here in the US and internationally" stated UPA Executive Director Sandie Hammerly. "We hope that the entire Ultimate community will join with us in supporting the twenty athletes named to Team USA as they train and prepare with the dream of becoming one of the 13 members of Team USA who will take the field in Kaohsiung at the 2009 World Games."

Members of Team USA will train, practice and compete together at various sites and events within the US over the next several months in preparation for the World Games. The team of 13 to attend the 2009 World Games will be named in late April/early May.

Check the UPA web site throughout the spring and early summer for updates on events and tournaments in which the team will participate and ways that you can become a part of the team around the team.

Members of the Team USA Selection Committee include the following:
Greg Connelly, Team USA Coach
James "Tully" Beatty, Team USA 2005
Will Deaver, UPA Championships Director and Team USA 2005
Kati Halmos, Team USA 2005
Sandie Hammerly, UPA Executive Director
Kris Kelly, UPA National Mixed Director
Ron Kubalanza, Team USA 2005
Peri Kurshan, President, UPA Board of Directors
Josh Seamon, UPA Board of Directors