SBUL: Frequently Asked Questions about the League

Last updated on

Table of Contents

    Information for the 2009/2010 Season

  1. When does the league play?
  2. Where does the league play?
  3. How much does the league cost?
  4. Is it hard to get into the league?

    5. General Information

  5. What do the league fees buy me?
  6. Is there a fall season and a spring season?
  7. How many games are played each night?
  8. How long is each game?
  9. How much do tournaments cost?
  10. How do I get notified about rainouts?
  11. How can I help out?

    12. Registration

  12. Do I have to be a UPA member to play in the league?
  13. Where do I check my current UPA status?
  14. Where do I send any paperwork to?
  15. Why can't I use PayPal?

    16. The Draft Process

  16. How are teams chosen?
  17. Can I play on the same team with all my friends?
  18. Why should I get on the waiting list?
  19. Why are some teams stronger than others?
  20. I missed the first draft. Can I still play?
  21. Can all my friends play on the same night every week?

    22. Team Information

  22. Do people form their own teams for tournaments?
  23. Do teams have practices or only games?
  24. How many people play on a side during a game?
  25. How many women play on a side during a game?
  26. How many players are on each team?
  27. How many women are on each team?

    28. Miscellaneous

  28. Where can I learn more about Ultimate Frisbee?
  29. How can I improve my ultimate skills?
  30. Are beginners welcome in the league?
  31. What kind of gear do I need?
  32. What rules do we play by?

Questions and Answers

  1. When does the league play?
    League games are played on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Your team will play on one of these nights each week, with approximately a 50/50 split.
    Back to Table of Contents
  2. Where does the league play?
    Our main playing fields are at Ortega Park in Sunnyvale and Calabazas Park in San Jose.
    Back to Table of Contents
  3. How much does the league cost?
    This year's league fee is $69 plus your UPA dues.
    Back to Table of Contents
  4. Is it hard to get into the league?
    Every year is different but it is generally VERY hard for men to get into the league. Priority is first-come, first-served for the most part. If you don't fill out your application and get your waiver/check postmarked on the first day, your chances are not too good.
    Back to Table of Contents
  5. What do the league fees buy me?
    Your league fee pays for the following:
    • 5 months of lighted, evening ultimate (roughly 50 hours of lights per person).
    • An official SBUL t-shirt (which you receive at the beginning of the season)
    • An official SBUL disc (which you receive at the end of the season)
    • 3 tournaments
    • A big ol' BBQ
    Back to Table of Contents
  6. Is there a fall season and a spring season?
    The 5-month SBUL season is not divided into fall and spring seasons.
    Back to Table of Contents
  7. How many games are played each night?
    4 teams attend each evening. Each team plays two games.
    Back to Table of Contents
  8. How long is each game?
    The games are 75 minutes in length this season. Depending on attendance and how much time you spend messing around in between games it can be shorter. Each game is divided into 2 part; a 35 minute period during which the score is NOT kept, followed by a game to 7. The lights are on for 3 hours from 7 to 10 PM which provides ample time to warm up before playing, move around between games and gather your stuff before leaving.
    Back to Table of Contents
  9. How much do tournaments cost?
    Tournaments are completely covered by your league fee. See What do the league fees buy me? for more info.
    Back to Table of Contents
  10. How do I get notified about rainouts?
    There are three ways to determine the rainout status of the league. First, your team manager should contact you via email to let you know what the status is. Second, the home page gets updated with the latest status (and weather reports). Finally, there is a Sunnyvale Parks and Rec phone hotline (408-730-7585) you can call to hear a recorded message about the field conditions.
    Back to Table of Contents
  11. How can I help out?
    The league is organized on a volunteer basis. There is much to be done and generally few people to do the work. If you are willing to volunteer time to do things
    • Assist in organizing tournaments
    • Help with logistics (ferrying discs, shirts, food around)
    • Work on the fields (buy dirt, help fill in the ruts)
    • etc.
    Please let us know. Your assistance is invaluable! You can volunteer by checking the I want to Help box on your application or by sending email to us.
    Back to Table of Contents
  12. Do I have to be a UPA member to play in the league?
    Yes, you must be a member of the Ultimate Players Association because they supply our liability insurance. If you are not familiar with this organization or the procedure to join it, the league application process will explain your options. DO NOT go to the UPA website to join, the league will handle this for you. UPA membership is either $10 or $40 per year depending on various options.
    Back to Table of Contents
  13. Where do I check my current UPA status?
    Go to the UPA members login page.
    Back to Table of Contents
  14. Where do I send any papers to? 
    South Bay Ultimate League
c/o Ali Zuckerbrow
861 Park Court - C
Mountain View, CA 94040
    Back to Table of Contents
  15. Why can't I use PayPal?
    It's easier for the treasurer to process the registration with a paper check. Since the UPA uses actual paper waivers, you have to mail us an envelope anyway. If the UPA ever implements an online waiver, we will go paperless as well.
    Back to Table of Contents
  16. How are teams chosen?
    Teams are chosen by blind draft in an attempt to generate an outcome that is as fair as possible. The SBUL uses a software program that generates the teams based on gender, skill, experience, worst night, baggage and attendance. This is a very difficult task. However, in the past years the teams have been reasonably even.
    Back to Table of Contents
  17. Can I play on the same team with all my friends?
    You can play on the same team with 1 other friend. Fair teams are drawn by blind draft (see How are teams chosen? for more info). It is hard to keep the teams fair if there are large groups of players who wish to play on the same team. With that in mind, we are limiting the size of friend groups (called baggage) to 2 players. If you and a friend choose each other as baggage, you are guaranteed to play on the same team (provided you both choose the same worst night). However, you may not choose more than one other player.
    Back to Table of Contents
  18. Why should I get on the waiting list?
    If you get on the waiting list you have a chance of getting into the league because people do tend to quit during the season. We will still charge you the full amount even if we accept you late, although we may pro-rate your dues if you are placed on a team after February 1st.
    Back to Table of Contents
  19. Why are some teams stronger than others?
    Since the blind draft is based on self assigned ratings, if players do not rate themselves accurately then team strength may be uneven. The success of one team over another usually comes down to who shows up on a particular night.
    Back to Table of Contents
  20. I missed the first draft. Can I still play?
    Some years we do not fill the league right away so we do a secondary draft. This year we will be running one in late January. We do not give priority to baggage requests in the secondary draft but we will try to accomodate where possible. You should still send in an application because you can get on the waiting list. (see Why should I get on the waiting list? for more info).
    Back to Table of Contents
  21. Can all my friends play on the same night every week?
    If all your friends pair off and form many two-player baggage groups, you can all specify the same worst night. This means that in any given week the odds are 50% that you'll play on the same night. Note that if everybody does this, drafting even teams becomes much more difficult (for example, what if 200 players in the league chose the same worst night?). You'll meet all new friends in the league, be adventurous.
    Back to Table of Contents
  22. Do people form their own teams for tournaments?
    No. You play with your league team for tournaments. The second tournament may be a hat tournament, like we did last year (It's fun to mix up the teams a little bit, and play with other people).
    Back to Table of Contents
  23. Do teams have practices or only games?
    Usually only games. However, it is up to you and your team captain to schedule practices. The SBUL will schedule around 40 games for your team but in prior years many teams have set up their own practice schedule so that they can play together and improve.
    Back to Table of Contents
  24. How many people play on a side during a game?
    We play by the official UPA rules which call for 7 players per team. See Where can I learn more about Ultimate Frisbee? for more info.
    Back to Table of Contents
  25. How many women play on a side during a game?
    This varies depending on the number of women in the league and the number of women on each team. In the past we have tried to play 2 women at all times. This is not rigidly enforced.
    Back to Table of Contents
  26. How many players are on each team?
    Each team will have 18 players on it at the beginning of the season. We're planning a supplementary draft early February to add up to 4 more players per team. This seems like a lot but historically it generally works out to about 13 players attending per evening.
    Back to Table of Contents
  27. How many women are on each team?
    The women in the league are distributed as evenly as possible to all the teams. In the past we've had 4-6 women per team.
    Back to Table of Contents
  28. Where can I learn more about Ultimate Frisbee?
    You can learn a great deal about Ultimate at the Ultimate Players Association website. Of particular interest is the UPA FAQ.
    Back to Table of Contents
  29. How can I improve my ultimate skills?
    We will try to organize an ultimate clinic this year (as we have done in prior years) so that new players can benefit from the wisdom of more experienced players. The clinic is usually run by an experienced ultimate player and is designed to teach basic skills, game concepts and strategies to new players. This will occur during the first week of the season. For extra practice, check out local pick-up games.
    Back to Table of Contents
  30. Are beginners welcome in the league?
    Yes! The SBUL is all about improving grass roots ultimate. We encourage new players to come out and participate. Each team has a field captain who will help new players learn the game and participate on the team. There will also be an ultimate clinic at the beginning of the season (see How can I improve my ultimate skills?).
    Back to Table of Contents
  31. What kind of gear do I need?
    Winter ultimate involves lots of running around on potentially muddy ground so sneakers will generally not be good enough. Cleated shoes, such as soccer shoes, football shoes or turf shoes are strongly recommended. It's chilly in the evenings so you'll want to bring warm clothes to wear before and after playing. Some people find that wearing baseball batter's gloves helps them to catch the disc and keep their hands warm. You'll also want to bring water and maybe a powerbar or two to keep your energy up while playing. Don't forget your disc!
    Back to Table of Contents
  32. What rules do we play by?
    The UPA's 11th Edition Rules are in effect. The only exception is the "back corner" rule for dropped pulls. Talk to your captain/manager to learn about this rule.
    Back to Table of Contents
Contact the Webmaster