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Date: Tue, 08 Jun 1999 20:39:11 +0100
From: Chris Gibbs <chris.gibbs@sunderland.ac.uk>
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To: British Ultimate Federation <buf@ultimateweb.co.uk>
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Subject: Re: Ultimate growth
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I'm not going to claim that I express the opinions of anyone but myself, but it
might happen that the BUF's proposals go ahead without any opinion being
expressed at all. Please don't take my questions/opinions as being
belligerent...if they spark further discussion then I'll be happy.
Apologies in advance for the length (the quotes are from the BUF email if you
need context)

> ..... Perhaps because of its academic roots, the way
> it is run has not changed much from the ‘President – Secretary – Treasurer’
> university sports club management style. This has kept the sport going for
> many years but is now beginning to let us down.

Who is this 'management style' letting down? If, as you say later on, that
university clubs represent the largest division of the BUF, then are you really
expecting to change the way uni societies/clubs are run?

> PLAYER: How could the BUF ever afford to pay salaries?
>
> BUF: By becoming an association with individual membership just like other
> countries (e.g. the UPA in America.)
>

Why is there a connection being made between the way the BUF is structured and
its ability to pay salaries? Surely the ability to pay salaries is dependent
only on income.

>
> ... Individual membership would increase the work of the administrator but
> the benefits of having proper contact with every player in the country would
> make it worthwhile. The organisation would be able to communicate properly
> with all players and the opportunities for starting new teams and helping
> special interest groups (e.g. women or juniors) would be huge. Rostering of
> teams would become a lot easier with a proper national database of players.

....similarly, is it not possible to keep a database of players and keep in
contact with them without changing to individual membership?

> PLAYER: What would we get for our money?
>
> BUF: Most important of all is a regular newsletter posted to all members.
> Other individual benefits could include individual personal accident
> insurance and cheap discs.
>

I actually think that this is similar to a very important question: What do
players actually *want* from the BUF (or whatever it might become)?
Personally, I could happily live without a printed copy of Ultimatum. I have no
need for insurance (famous last words?!), and discs aren't that expensive are
they?
The one thing that I would want from the BUF is information:
Details of tournaments and details of other players (nothing too personal!).
The cost of maintaining the information base and publishing it (using emails and
www to keep it low?) is perhaps where our money should go.

> ... Clearly the association would have to make sure that players at
> official tournaments were all fully paid members. With the increasing
> requirement for team rosters at tournaments it would be difficult for people
> to slip the net. In any case, we think most players would want to become
> members in order to receive the benefits mentioned above.

I personally think that this is a little naive. If you fancy playing for a team
at a tournament, would there really be anything stopping you from doing so?

>
> PLAYER: What about students and junior players who cannot afford individual
> membership?
>
> BUF: It may be best to let these groups continue under the current team
> affiliation set-up. Apart from anything else, trying to keep in contact with
> individual student members would be very difficult. One idea might be to
> give these groups a bit more autonomy from the main national organisation.
> This is beginning to happen quite naturally now anyway as student ultimate
> becomes larger and more organised whilst the non-student teams are playing
> at a higher level.

Are we not at risk of introducing more complication if there is a different
administration style for junior/student teams to that for other teams....and
what if you're a (cliched) 'poor student' and you want to play for an open team?



Finally, with regard to paying fees, isn't it logical that you pay according to
how much involvement you have. Some players may only play in say two/three
tournaments a year. Would £25 for this (and the newsletter telling them about
tournaments they didn't go to) appeal?

Here's a suggestion: the BUF runs the info service, and represents Ultimate to
outsiders. Players wanting to be registered pay a nominal charge. This service
should be well-advertised to students who have played at uni and are moving
on...
...and if you don't believe it can be done for a nominal fee, then check out the
sixdegrees website (www.sixdegrees.com) for an example of free information
exchange...its reliant on advertising and the input of its members (it even has
an Ultimate discussion group). Just think what companies might want to advertise
to young, athletic graduates.
A newsletter could be published online if popular enough...find a friend with a
printer for hard copies.

If you attend a tournament, you (and your team members) pay the entry fees, and
the organisers cover their costs. If the BUF is partly responsible for a
tournament, then it gets a part of the cash raised. Student/junior teams (with
official school/university recognition) get a reduced rate?

OK, I've gone on for way too long, but if you've read this far, then you're
probably a player who actually gives a toss. As usual, all opinions are my
own...blah, blah etc.

chris

ex-Petroleum
now looking for folks in Newcastle/Sunderland who want to play this
summer....and with no idea if there's anyone out there.

ps cheers to all responsible for organising tour III in edinburgh