USA Ultimate

At-Large Candidates

Elite Athlete Candidates

• Kevin Minderhout
• Josh Seamon
• Joe Seidler
• Andrew Sieja

• Ness Fajardo
• Tyler Grant

Occupation 

Owner at NexGen Ultimate 

Relevant Experience 

I have been a member of the ultimate community for more than a decade with broad experiences at all levels of the game as player, captain, coach, league board member and business owner.  

I began playing ultimate in Portland’s mixed scene as a high school student before being selected for player and captain roles with the University of Oregon’s Ego and Portland’s Rhino. 

Since late 2010, I have worked full-­-time as an entrepreneur, bringing expanded media coverage of ultimate to the community. My work has helped me collaborate and build relationships with leagues, players, teams, organizers and fellow entrepreneurs throughout North America and worldwide. 

Why I’m Running 

I am running for the USA Ultimate Board of Directors because I am excited by the prospect of building a future for ultimate that, rather than being an imitation in a crowded sports landscape, instead embraces the opportunity to build something uniquely ours.  

I relish the opportunity to be selected by USAU members to continue contributing to the vision and direction of ultimate. 

Candidate Statement 

I support a USAU that is willing to take thoughtful risks and put trust in our community’s diverse organizations and entrepreneurs, creating a fabric of support that binds the many facets of our community together.  

If elected for the USAU Board of Directors, I would be an advocate of an inclusive definition of ultimate that pushes beyond comfort zones and encourages innovative thinking.

Occupation

Chair of a High School Mathematics Department (Williston Northampton School)

Relevant Experience

• USAU (Current): Northeast Regional Youth Director, Level 1 Coaching Instructor
• Other (Current): Director of Training and Development at Ultimate Peace
• USAU (Past): Board of Directors (2008-2010), VT SYC (2005-2010)

Why I would like to run

It has never been a more exciting time to live and work inside the world of ultimate. We are seeing unprecedented expansion of our sport with USA Ultimate leading the way. It would be my honor to help guide the course of the organization and help accelerate its expansion in deliberate and thoughtful ways, particularly in the areas of women's and youth ultimate.

Vote for me if you’re interested in growing ultimate

Over the past 22 years, I have transitioned from an ultimate life primarily focused on playing, to one centered around ultimate organization and administration. I have extensive ultimate administrative experience on the local (Valley Ultimate, VYUL), regional (BUDA), national (USAU), and international (Ultimate Peace) levels. I served for three years on the USA Ultimate Board of Directors, and in my current job, I chair a high school math department of 13 teachers. I have a deep belief in the power of ultimate to change lives and a long, well-proven track record of getting things done inside the world of ultimate. 

I believe that it is imperative for youth ultimate to continue to grow at an accelerating rate. We need our country to be flooded with kids playing ultimate in every public park, all the time. We’re moving in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go. 

I know how to grow youth ultimate

I founded the largest high school ultimate tournament in the east and have run well over 1,000 games of youth ultimate at my events since 2005. Additionally, I have also created multiple youth club programs spanning girls, mixed, and open divisions.

I believe it is absolutely crucial that we grow women’s ultimate and have as many women playing the sport as men. For this revolution to be successful, we must take concrete and purposeful steps like those we are seeing taken by the GUM program at USA Ultimate. We’re moving in the right direction, but even more time, money, and resources need to be built into the movement. 

I know how to grow women’s ultimate

I was on the first USAU women’s ultimate committee, helped build the Without Limits website, and have founded multiple youth girls’ teams, one of which became the first varsity-level program in the state of Vermont. Additionally, I have run the largest high school girls tournament in the east since 2010. In all, I have hosted over 400 games of youth girls’ ultimate since 2005. 

The ultimate community must stay focused on its core belief in Spirit of the Game. We must continually examine how SoTG best plays out across our numerous levels of play. It is not a simple analysis and must not be taken lightly. While the exact meaning of SoTG is different for everyone, I firmly believe that it must remain at the forefront of how USA Ultimate grows the sport. 

I know how to grow SoTG

For the past three years, I have worked as the Director of Training and Development for Ultimate Peace. I have leveraged the full power of SoTG to facilitate the formation of friendships and trust between completely partitioned communities. 

USA Ultimate must continue to operate with a clear vision firmly grounded in the views of the membership. Information must be continually collected from all corners of USAU and used as the building blocks in creating purposeful, meaningful, and effective strategic plans. USAU must live up to its promise and fully implement each element in every strategic plan. 

I know how to follow through on a strategic plan to grow USA Ultimate

In my three years on the USA Ultimate Board of Directors, I helped turn the first strategic plan into a reality. I chaired the World Games Committee, served on the Nominating Committee, and was a two-year member of the Executive Committee. Additionally, for the past three years, I have served as USAU’s Northeast Regional Youth Director, as well as a member of the Competition Committee.

I am thrilled at the opportunity to expand my service for USA Ultimate.

For more information about my candidacy, please visit JoshSeamon2014.com.

Occupation 

• 2008-present: Internet Marketing Consultant
• 1993-2008: Software Marketing Consultant
• 1984-1993: CEO and VP Marketing of Software Companies
• <1993: Partner in Software Company

Candidate Statement

My wife and I saw our first ultimate game in 1993 when my son’s college team was playing near our home. We became avid fans almost immediately, and I have stayed very involved in trying to help the sport ever since, including being on the BoD for three years. In addition to a love of the sport, I will bring important business experience and long-range thinking to the BoD, both of which, in my opinion, have become a requirement for the success of our growing organization.

Affiliations with Ultimate

• 1996-2004: Attended over 12 College and Club National and World Championships plus numerous other tournaments.
• 1996-2005: Santa Barbara Ultimate webmaster 
• 1999-present: Matza Balls webmaster 
• 2002-2004: UPA BoD member (VP and acting Treasurer)
• 2005: Publisher of "ULTIMATE – The First Four Decades"
• 2005-present: Ultimate History webmaster 
• 2009-2010: USAU Friends & Family Parent Liaison

My Goals As a BoD Member

The dramatic changes over the past few years brought about by the BoD’s strategic plans are, in my opinion, just the beginning of bigger things to come. I want to help develop and prepare for the future strategic plans to broaden and improve the playing experience for all ultimate players in the U.S. 

I would also like to focus on improving the website to:

1. Make it a better tool for members to get questions answered and for conducting research on the sport (player and team stats, etc.)

2. Expand the history of ultimate on the website, including online video and photos.

The Biggest Question Facing USA Ultimate

Is the current USA Ultimate organizational structure the best way to govern the sport for the next 10-20 years? Specifically, is it still effective to have the BoD make all of the strategic decisions (the way it has since the UPA began in 1979)? BoD members are part-time volunteers and some are only on the Board for three years. Does that give them enough time and experience to make the best decisions for a sport that is growing and changing dramatically? 

The current organizational structure is typical for a philanthropic, public interest, non-profit, but USA Ultimate has never been a typical non-profit. It is a large, broad-based, geographically disbursed membership organization. Would the NFL or NBA elect mostly players to its BoD and ask them to make all of the long-range decisions for the league, while only participating on the BoD on a part-time basis? Or would they want full-time people with a great deal of experience in managing sports organizations leading the ship?

The BoD (including player members) is ideal for approving recommendations from an experienced full-time management, but I’m not sure it is still the best way to ‘create’ the long-range plans and move the sport and USA Ultimate forward.

Candidate Statement

I have been playing ultimate since I was 17 years old and am now in my 18th year of playing. For over half my life, I have witnessed the sport evolve and grow in many ways, including talent, athleticism, exposure, membership, and respect. While I have been participating in events during this time, I have just recently begun getting involved in the growth and grassroots efforts of the sport. While working in our local ultimate community to direct tournaments, assist in recreational summer and winter leagues, and captaining our men's team, I came to recognize that my future in this sport may not always be on the field, but assisting in the efforts of USA Ultimate to showcase this sport through the Olympic games, continuing its successful partnership with ESPN, as well as growing the sport through youth movements, college, and club regular seasons, championships and the Triple Crown Tour.

My current occupation is as an attorney with a mid-sized law firm where I focus my practice on business and corporate law, probate, estate planning, civil litigation, and transactional work. I began my practice in Dallas, Texas, but came to Huntsville, Alabama in January of 2009 where I began, among other things, working with and representing both large and small corporations, non-profits, and limited liability companies in their formation, drafting of bylaws and articles of incorporation, negotiating mergers, stock buy-outs, acquisitions, assignments, and dissolution. I believe that my education, practice, and legal background could lend itself well to USA Ultimate's movement towards Olympic status, its continuing efforts to promote the sport through strategic media partnerships, mitigating legal risks, and providing advice regarding future legal issues for USA Ultimate and its members.

While I have not always agreed with all decisions of USA Ultimate, I have never doubted its good intent to gain recognition for the sport and protect its members. One area of focus that I would like to promote is USA Ultimate's commitment to the non-elite club and college programs. Having elite programs and clubs that display this beautiful game to the casual viewer or non-player is vital to the long-term success of ultimate, but I would submit that the largest constituency of members also require continued advocacy. The promotion of elite programs will aid in the success of USA Ultimate national teams as well as gain media exposure, but one of the greatest aspects of the sport of ultimate is its accessibility. Children can play it cheaply and safely. School systems can afford to support ultimate teams. Older women and men can continue to play in recreational or sanctioned leagues, and continue their ultimate careers in the masters and grandmasters divisions. Athletes that are all but elite or close to elite continue to invest their time, money, and talents to this sport which also grows the sport – albeit in a more traditional fashion.  It is my firm belief that USA Ultimate must do all that it can to aid the growth of this sport in all of these ways.

Finally, I will be the first to admit that there are calls on the field that I have made that were less than great. I have had my fair share of arguments on and off the field. But, I strongly stand by Spirit of the Game as being integral.  Not only does it allow the costs of playing to remain low, it is what separates this sport from so many others and will likely be important in any bid to gain Olympic status.  Spirit of the Game is one of the first things that drew me to the sport, and I remain hopeful that it is here to stay.

Relevant Experience

Current captain of Fury (team member since 2009); Competitive club player since 2004

Candidate Statement

I would like to run for the Board of Directors for various reasons. First and foremost, I am a die-hard ultimate player, and I am passionate about the direction of the sport. I have spent thousands of hours thinking about ultimate -- about the way it's played and the way it's governed. Being an active and competitive member of the game has made me realize that there's so much more to ultimate than just tossing the Frisbee. Our sport is growing fast, and I've been witnessing how that's changed the game over the last 10 years. I think I have a unique perspective and can help USAU navigate through these precious growth years.

I also want to mention that playing this sport has influenced my life in so many ways. It's important to me to be able to give something back to the community that has made me a better player, a better teammate, and a better person.

Candidate Statement

At this point, 14 years into my ultimate career, it’s time for me to get involved and to help shape the future of our sport.  I've seen and played at almost every level in the U.S. in both the mixed and open divisions. I’ve also played internationally, at both the Worlds and non-Worlds level.  During this time, I have been fortunate enough to win multiple USA Ultimate national championships and taken gold at Worlds.  I believe my wide range of experience, as a player, as a competitor, and as a long time USAU member, can help guide our governing body in the best direction possible.  To that end, I would like your vote in my run for the Elite Athlete position on the USA Ultimate Board of Directors.

I've seen, at no matter what level I’m playing, how incredibly enthusiastic people are just to get on the field. In fact, it’s this enthusiasm that keeps me coming back for more.  It's amazing to be a part of that, and it’s amazing that this exists in the ultimate community.  Encouraging this joy in playing is exactly why I am running for the board.  I want to ensure that USA Ultimate can continue to provide this same hook for the next generation.

I genuinely enjoy discussing the nuances of what makes this sport great and in which areas we can improve.  USA Ultimate can bring people in or drive people away with their decisions, and I want to be involved in working towards solutions that make sense for everyone, and most specifically for you, the Elite Athlete.  My plan is to actively listen to you and to convey your thoughts directly to the board.

As for my positions, the next few paragraphs should give you a better idea of where I stand on some important issues.

Growth

I very much agree that we want to grow our sport and that it must be done with a focus on youth ultimate.  I believe that as these young players mature, they need leaders and role models within the ultimate community and a reason to stay so focused on, and so dedicated to, our sport.  We are the athletes to lead this – let’s show the next generation of ultimate players that it’s fun to train hard and to become good at something.  We must work to provide the best college and club seasons possible so that we keep our skilled athletes in the game.  We will, in turn, help the younger players understand why we love this game.

Observers vs Refs

I've played with both observers and referees, and I feel that there are definitely some good things about referees that we should consider implementing into our observer system.  For instance, having a third party making up, down, in, out and travel calls can add a lot of value to the game; however, I believe that foul calls should remain self-regulated given the difficulty in seeing everything that may affect a throw or catch.  In short, we should continue to train our observers to a high standard and consider increasing their role on the field.

ESPN and the Olympics

USAU has done a good job televising and legitimizing our sport, but I want to make sure that it doesn't come at the expense of the majority of our top club players.  For top athletes, competing at the highest level possible with media exposure is a great reward.  However, others at nearly the same level simply want to compete as best they can within the limits of their body and budget.  I want to ensure that we don't squeeze out players and teams through forced travel and tournament attendance during the regular season.  As I mentioned earlier, it is important that all regional- and national-level players look forward to playing and come away satisfied with their experiences.

Bid Allocations

The algorithm for Nationals bid allocation can, and must, be improved.  I plan to work with those involved to ensure that we can allocate bids fairly, while providing a clear and accessible explanation of that process.

Thanks for reading this and for considering my candidacy.  It is my intention to serve all of the top club players out there to make the experience of playing our sport as accessible and enjoyable as possible.