Worlds, Vancouver 2008 and NUFL 2007

WORLDS VANCOUVER 2008
Preliminary Information

Register here for NUFL 2007 / Selection, Vancouver 2008

Registering your interest is not a commitment at this time, but it will help the people who are planning the logistics of preparing 6 teams for worlds. Registering your interest means that you are assured of being contacted with relevant information.

1 Overview

1.1 Objective

For the World Championships in Vancouver 2008 the AFDA aims to:

1. Send competitive teams in all divisions
2. Qualify Australia for the World Games in 2009
3. Consolidate our standing in the Top 3 Ultimate countries in the world

1.2 Document Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide preliminary information to all players, administrators and potential team support crew on the proposed selection process for the teams.

It provides:
· An overview of the proposed selection process and team preparation
· An indicative timeline for events
· A call to action for players and team support crew to register interest

Also included are details on providing feedback on these plans and the process/timeline for their finalisation.

1.3 Background

The time has come to start preparing players and teams to compete at the 2008 World Championships in Vancouver, Canada. In 2004, for the first time, Australia sent teams in all 6 divisions; Open, Women, Mixed, Masters, U19 Open and U19 Women. At the end of World Championships, the Open team was our best finisher with a bronze medal, and Australia was ranked 3^rd overall, earning one of the five available spots for World Games 2005.

This was a huge step forward for Australia, with our previous best finish in any division being 6th. It was the first time we had sent a team in any division apart from Open and Women’s. We leapfrogged countries like Japan, Sweden and Finland and left former peers Great Britain and Germany in our wake.

This progress has been further built upon. Firstly, by our World Games silver medal finish in 2005, where we edged out Canada for the first time ever, and seriously challenged the USA for the title. Secondly, by our performance at Youth Worlds 2006, where the teams were also knocking on the door of the USA and Canadian domination against considerable home soil advantage.

The 2004 Worlds preparation is considered to have been pivotal in these successes. The program included; fitness training, skills training, team development, sports psychology, professional medical staff, dedicated non-playing management, coaching, active recovery and improved training techniques and facilities. The 2004 preparation was further refined for the 2005 World Games team and the 2006 World Juniors teams.

One of the major disadvantages perceived by senior players after 2004 was the lack of regular elite domestic competition in Australia. This was addressed with the creation of NUFL in 2005. This allowed all of the top players in Australia to participate in regular elite level games, comparable with European Championships and the Fall series in the US.

2 Proposed Selection Process

The selection process for 2008 will consist of 3 distinct phases, roughly equivalent to the phases followed in 2004.

Between each phase are "off periods" where it is recommended that players recharge their batteries and are selective in what competitive ultimate they play and work on their fitness base and individual skills.

2.1 Phase 1 – National Training Camp and NUFL 2007

This is a broadly inclusive phase aimed at further identifying and developing our elite Ultimate player base. It will provide an environment to establish and refine our common tactical base while also providing high level competition for developing and demonstrating individual skills, athleticism and potential.

It will consist of an initial training camp and then 2 tournament-based events. Further details on the camp, and the team formation process for the tournaments is contained in the Further Detail section of this document.

On the completion of Phase 1, Squads to attend the Phase 2 Selection camps will be announced.

Note: Although Masters players may be involved in Phase 1, there is no formal Phase 1 for the Masters team, and the Squad will be decided by the selectors based on form at tournaments.

2.2 Phase 2 – Selection Camps

Phase 2 consists of selection camps based initially around Open and Womens squads and later Mixed and Masters squads. At the completion of Phase 2, all teams will be selected and announced.

Note: For the U19 teams, Phase 1 and 2 are essentially combined and will occur early in 2008.

2.3 Phase 3 – Team Camps & NUFL 2008

Phase 3 is the final preparation of teams and players for Worlds 2008 and will include NUFL 2008. For the Men’s, Women’s and Mixed players, NUFL 2008 will focus on high-level individual competition, for the Masters and U19 teams, it is hoped that they will be able to compete in NUFL as separate teams. The NUFL events will also serve to break up the training camps in Phase 3. It is expected there will be a weekend training camp or NUFL event every 2-3 weeks in Phase 3, for about 10 weeks.

Finally, most teams will undertake some sort of tour prior to worlds on the US west coast.

3 Further Detail

3.1 Expected costs

The total cost for the men’s team in 2004 was approximately $7500.

The expected costs for 2008 for the men’s, women’s and mixed players are:

Phase 1 (3 events) - $400-$600

Phase 2 (2 events) - $300

Phase 3 (5 events) - $600-$800

Tour - $500-$1000

Vancouver airfare - $2000

Tournament + accommodation + meals - $1000

Total = $5500

Total spent on preparation in Australia = $1500

These estimates are very rough, and will be updated by the selectors, coaches and managers as plans firm.

3.2 National Training Camp and NUFL

The first event on the preparation calendar is a training camp for men and women. It is envisaged that this camp should include all players interested in selection on the open, mixed and women’s teams. There maybe some juniors and masters at this training camp, the general principle is that players who are good enough to play NUFL are good enough to attend this first camp.

The aim of the training camp is not to introduce established tactics to the group. The aim of the training camp is to share new tactics developed in the past couple of years, and those learned from exposure to overseas teams (eg Japanese) at WUCC2006, WG2005 or other events. It will include open, women’s and mixed tactics and play.

The 2008 campaign will include 2 NUFL events in 2007, replacing the October training camp from the 2004 campaign. Playing the NUFL tournaments is the best possible environment for individuals to improve their play and for selectors to observe players under tournament conditions. The 2 NUFL events are not restricted to players interested in selection. They will be open to all elite players of a suitable standard, as they have been in the past. The major difference is that they are now official preparation events and players interested in selection are expected to attend.

As in 2004, there will be a number of players who cannot make one or more of the 3 events that precede the first selection cut (1 October 2007). This will not preclude them from selection, however as in 2004, they will be required to pay 50% of the travel and training costs associated with the 3 official preparation events.

3.2.1 NUFL 2007 Team Formation

More information about the exact process for NUFL 2007 team formation will be forthcoming.

It is envisaged that each team will consist of a solid and deep core of players from a particular centre (ie including current worlds-level players and at least 12 players of NUFL standard). It is expected there will be between 4 and 6 teams in each division, depending on interest. If fewer than 60 players are available in either division, a different structure may be considered. Bids from NUFL teams will be called for early in the process.

In addition, every team will have free agents consisting of players from outside of those centres who will be drafted onto the teams. Players from a major centre not listed in a team’s primary roster may also enter the free agent system to secure a spot in NUFL.

Eligible free agents and allocation of draft picks will be determined by a selection panel consisting of a representative from each team core. If a player is not selected via this process, they probably don’t have a realistic chance of being selected on the Men’s, Women’s or Mixed teams for Vancouver, however, the official team selectors may still include other payers in the Phase 2 squads at their discretion.

3.3 More Information to Come…..

There are still quite a few details to work out, for instance we are looking for a venue (preferably in Sydney) for the first training camp. Some work is required for you to organise your NUFL teams. The free agents have to be allocated. Nobody has airfares. As these details are worked out, announcements will be made on AFDA.COM.

4 Your Action Required

4.1 Players

To start your involvement in the process, you need to register your interest as a player for NUFL 2007 and/or for selection. This can be done online at the afda website.

Register here for NUFL 2007 / Selection, Vancouver 2008

Registering your interest is not a commitment at this time, but it will help the people who are planning the logistics of preparing 6 teams for worlds. Registering your interest means that you are assured of being contacted with relevant information.

4.2 Team Support Crew

We are also seeking registration of interest for team selectors, team coaches and squad managers. Many of these positions will involve remuneration of some kind. To register your interest in being a part of the support staff, please send an email to Jonathan Potts, AFDA CEO. This is not a call for formal applications, just a chance for us to identify gaps early and plan the application process, so please let us know if you are at all interested.

4.3 Timeline

These dates are indicative only. A sanctioned calendar will be circulated shortly.