Rutgers Registration Exception

Posted 04/02/2008

The 2008 UPA College Series team registration deadline was March 21, 2008 at 5PM Mountain Time. During the winter and spring, registration procedures for the Series were communicated to players and teams through a number of avenues including the UPA website, UPA sectional and regional coordinators, E-news updates to UPA members, and emails to current college players and team contacts. Over 650 teams followed those procedures and registered for the Series. Unfortunately, there were also a number of teams who did not meet the registration requirements.

In the days following the registration deadline, UPA staff was informed of a situation where three college Ultimate teams from Rutgers University, who were attempting to register for the Series, were unable to meet the requirements due to misinformation provided to the teams by their school administration. This situation was investigated by UPA staff, with the help of the teams and the school’s administration.

The following was determined, based on documentation from and conversations with school officials:

1 – The teams diligently followed UPA and school registration procedures.
2 – The teams were provided information by their school administration that led them to believe the registration requirements for the Series had been or were going to be completed.
3 - Had the teams known that the information provided by their school administration was inaccurate, and that the requirements had not been or were not going to be completed, they could have communicated with UPA Series staff prior to the deadline about their registration problems.
4 – Due to the misinformation provided by the school administration, the teams were not afforded the opportunity to discuss their registration problems with the UPA prior to the deadline, nor were they afforded the opportunity to apply for a deadline extension per the 2008 College Series Guidelines.

Based on the diligence exhibited by the teams in following UPA and school procedures, and due to the documented misinformation provided to the teams by their school administration, the UPA is granting an exception to its registration deadline for the following teams, who will be permitted to participate in the 2008 UPA College Series:

Rutgers-A (Open)
Rutgers-B (Open)
Rutgers (Women)

The registration requirements for the College Series are an essential part of the largest, most competitive, and most respected series of college Ultimate tournaments in the world.  In order to provide a quality experience for participants and fans of college Ultimate, the UPA feels it is necessary to both establish clear guidelines and enforce them consistently and fairly. The UPA also remains committed to growing and developing college Ultimate and will continue to work to help build positive relationships between college teams and their schools’ administrations.

For questions or comments about this decision or the College Series in general, please contact UPA headquarters at 800-872-4384 or via email www.upa.org/upa/contacts.

Will Deaver
UPA Championship Director
Jeff Kula
National College Director
Matthew Bourland
UPA Championship Series Manager