"The grass is always greener...." As the sport of Ultimate Frisbee grows at schools, pressure can arise to make the sport part of the official interscholastic program and award Varsity letters. Interestingly, each year more and more schools are moving in this direction.

What follows are some thoughts about the advantages and disadvantages of going "Varsity Ultimate."

Becoming a Varsity Team: The benefits of “Varsity” and “Club” status

I have been the coach of the NMH Ultimate Frisbee team for the past 6 years. Three of those years we were considered a club program and we are now entering our third year as a varsity team. I feel as though, having been a part of both, I have a good insight as to the benefits or pros of both.

When I first approached our school’s athletic director about changing the status of the Ultimate Frisbee “club” to a “team” he identified three specific criteria that he uses in determining whether a club program can or should become a team program. The three criteria are:

• Consistency and availability of coaching: Has there been a coach who has stuck with the program and has the willingness and qualification to take it to a higher level. Will there continue to be a coach for the program once it is started?

• Players: What is the interest in the school? Has there been a large consistent pool of players over several years who want to participate?  Is there a growing and significant interest in the sport  that will keep the sport active?

• Competition: Are there other schools, preferably those which the school already competes with, who have teams and want to schedule games and are there enough games to schedule to fill a season?

NMH in the eyes of our AD met all these criteria. This came as a result of very visible and enthusiastic players, input from parents of players and consistent dialog between myself and the AD as well as the players and the AD.

Varsity Pros:

There have been some very positive points to having Ultimate gain varsity status. First of all and not to be overlooked is the level of self-esteem it gave to the players. By becoming a varsity sport they were finally being recognized in the athletic arena as athletes. It also gave the team the sense that their sport was being legitimized.

Second, the team, as a varsity sport was given field availability for practice and for games on a full time bases for the whole season. Scheduled game and practice time was put into the school’s spring schedule. The players were given six days a week of full practice time. They no longer had to try to fit their individual schedules around other obligations. This was crucial to becoming a more competitive team.

As a varsity sport we received some “perks” as well. We were provided transportation to all games, uniforms, new practice and tournament discs yearly and support to attend Nationals as well as a web page within the school athletic website. We are now involved in the athletic admissions process. We also participate in the school’s athletic banquet and athletic award. And, last but not least, we have a manager!

Club Pros:

There were (are) certain advantages to being a club program and certain disadvantages to being a varsity program. As a club, the program was much more relaxed. We did not have any limitations on how many kids could participate. There were no “cuts”. My second year with the club we had close to 40 kids playing. That’s a lot of kids playing Ultimate! I am only allowed to take a roster of 18 on the varsity team. The first year it was only 16. It was made clear to me that even though we were now a varsity team, there would not be a JV program and there would no longer be a club. The number of faculty to support a program as well as field space and time are all factors an AD uses in determining how many resources he/she is going to put into a given program. Players of all levels played in the club program, whereas varsity status intimidates some who might evolve into strong players from even trying out. Without a JV or club program, we do not have any feeder system into the varsity program. We therefore end up with some great athletes who do not have a clue as to how to play the game or some kids with skills who can’t run and do not have the athleticism needed to compete with stronger teams we are up against.

As a club we were given field time but it was limited to 3 days a week. This in some ways could allow for more students to participate. They could be on the club team and still be in another activity such as choir, drama, debate, etc. and not have to make a choice of doing one or the other. It also allowed for different levels of “commitment”.  We could field a team or teams with players who were not only physically at different skill levels but also psychologically. It generally allowed for many more people to learn and get to know the game of Ultimate then is currently available as a varsity team. 

The varsity team is considered a “coed” team because we don’t have both a boys and girls team. Although we have never had a large number of girls on either the club team or trying out for the varsity team we would like to develop a separate boys and girls program because of availability of games for both and to allow more girls to participate. As a club the issue of not having a program where girls could readily participate was never a problem. 

As a varsity team the team members are under a code of conduct that goes beyond what happens on the field. For all NMH athletic teams (not clubs) there are “training” rules that all players must follow during the season. If a player violates a training rule then there are specific consequences for rule violations. A player would not be allowed to play in the next upcoming game, may not receive a team letter and will loose the ability to be considered for end of year awards. Club team members are not under any “training” rules.

And lastly, I am not sure if the overall interest and visibility of the game has grown since gaining varsity status. Respect yes, but is there larger community participation either on or off the field? I don’t have the answer. 

As one can see there are many factors involved for a group when considering a change from that of a “club” team or a “varsity” team.  Overall, the fact that we lobbied / requested for a change speaks to the fact that for us at NMH varsity status has generally been a positive move.  This was not an easy accomplishment.  It involved a lot of energy, effort, dedication and patience on the part of past and present players, parents and faculty.  I hope with this information each program will be able to look at these issues and others I might overlooked and make a reasonable and educated choice as they gather together their resources and energy to pursue one direction or the other.