Note: A PDF version of this document is also available. In the case of any disagreement between this version and the PDF, the PDF will be considered authoritative.

TUC Touring Program 2010

Introduction

Consistent with the organization’s purpose [1], mission [2], and vision [3], TUC introduces the revised Touring Policy for the 2010 season. TUC is involved in this program because it recognizes the value of touring to the game of Ultimate and because touring players represent a skill and knowledge base that can be used to develop Ultimate in the GTA as well as within the TUC.

Program Intent

TUC’s first priority is to its membership, but that is not to say that Touring is unimportant. We aim to establish a balance between the needs of our members (quality Ultimate experience) with those of touring players (TUC resources). Therefore we have refined our system to encourage a sharing of information and knowledge to our members from touring players in exchange for TUC resources.

The TUC Volunteers Policy offers non-touring players credits (# of points per hour, 1 point is equal to $1) for volunteer service. These credits can be redeemed at the TUC shop for apparel and disc merchandise. The touring program incorporates this point system, with touring teams redeeming their points towards TUC resources instead of the TUC Shop. TUC resources are primarily summer training fields for touring teams.

The Program

At the beginning of the season, eligible touring teams (or their administrators) must submit a proposal to TUC outlining details of their proposed TUC/Ultimate community commitment, and the respective credits they will earn towards team purchases. TUC will allocate resources (fields) accordingly and teams will be held accountable throughout the season.

TUC requires support from touring teams in the following areas. Emphasis is placed on programs particularly important to TUC player development (see point volunteer point values). Volunteer programs of higher point value will be offered fairly or pre-assigned to prevent unbalanced program participation. Point credits are attached for each hour of volunteer service:

Description of Volunteer Service	Points per Hour (per person)
Coaching services in TUC clinics & TUC summer clinic leagues *mandatory participation in at least two classes per team*	4
Coaching services to TUC League teams (Coach For A Day Program, Spirit mentors)	4
TUC Juniors League Coaching (TJSL) and TUC Juniors events (CTS, camps, etc.), as well as TUC assigned school sessions	4
Coaching services to TUC supported touring teams (via touring clinics, classroom sessions, or activities/events approved by TUC) *must be pre-approved by TUC. Not within your own team or training*	3
Volunteering on TUC administrative and/or activities committees (leagues, events, social, development, administrative, field cleanup)	3
Volunteering at TUC tournaments or appointed non-TUC events	3
Raising awareness of TUC (the TUC logo has to be a minimum 3” x 3” in size, on a visible part of the t-shirts or shorts that are worn by the players in tournaments.) *Mandatory*	*10 pts for team (total, not hourly)
Coaching services to non-TUC school sessions/teams - MUST be accompanied by a supporting letter from school head	2
Raising awareness of Ultimate through editorials in TUC touring section, Pie Plate submissions, or other TUC communications	2
Volunteer Position on TUC Board of Directors or other Committees (up to 25 points per month redeemable to touring, during the touring season (March-October))	2
Updated touring page team blurb (min 200 words) by April 15, 2010	*10 pts for team (total, not hourly)

So how can you redeem those points? Teams work with our Touring Committee by tracking and submitting their hours on a regular basis. TUC resources (fields) are worth certain point values (read further). Points may only be used once, whether to redeem resources or at the TUC shop.

TUC will focus its touring support on training fields, which is a top priority for touring teams. The support will be primarily for summer fields, but fall fields will be considered based on budget and hours accrued.

Fields

TUC will classify Sports Fields into categories: “Premier”, “A”, “B”, and “C” class fields to rank its fields according to point value. Touring teams can apply for a “class” of field, based on the quantity and type of volunteer hours (or points) they think they will achieve. Below is a table outlining the rating details and the credits required to purchase a training field for the summer season.

Class	Description	Point Value (1 day/wk)	Point Value (2 day/wk)
A	Regulation size, good condition, best location available	350 pts	525 pts
A/B	One night a week on A and one night a week on B	-	450 pts
B	Undersized, average condition, average location	250 pts	375 pts
C	Undersized, poor condition	200 pts	275 pts
Premier	Regulation size, good condition, priority location for members	N/A	N/A

An application for a specific class of field is not a guarantee, but TUC will do its best to match requests with available fields. Fields will be allotted to teams based on availability of fields, priority to member leagues, and touring team history. If a team, for example, purchases an “A” class field TUC will provide the best available “A” class field based upon the above criteria. TUC reserves the right to determine field allocation.

Please note the following stipulations:

• Monday and Wednesday evenings will be considered based on field availability, however Tuesdays and Thursdays are the primary days for field allotment.
• Summer season for touring fields runs from May 17 - August 26, 2010.
• In the event that TUC cannot provide a specific field or class of field, TUC will provide the best available option to the touring teams. Items to consider are field availability (dependent on city permits), standard of league play (quality of experience to members), and transit viability (quality of experience to members).
• Most TDSB and TCDSB school fields will be designated as category “B’ fields.
• Teams who fail to meet point requirements will be downgraded to lower field classifications during the actual season. Please see “Monitoring” for further details.
• If TUC has not obtained permits for indicated fields then these fields are not eligible for consideration
• Teams can pool resources (points) if they wish to share a field space.
• Players can only contribute their points towards one team that they play for.
• A minimum 80% of team players should also be members of the Toronto Ultimate Club. Teams must provide a team roster (with their TUC Member ID) to TUC with their submission –team rosters can be created on Leaguerunner (optional).
• A minimum 70% of any team points claimed must be allocated to non-touring (community-focused) activities.
• Activities taking place during a team’s practice session cannot qualify towards volunteer points.
• Services/activities provided for a team/player(s) cannot be on teams for which you are a player.

Monitoring

The TUC Touring Committee will work directly with the captains or representatives of each team to manage the program. Each team should identify a team liaison to work with the committee to track and report activities and to lead communication to the team to coordinate volunteer activities.

Touring team captains/liaison will be expected to track their own community support activities and provide a recap of the activities to the committee. (ie. Description of services rendered and/or note from the event director or other leader present for the community service). TUC reserves the right to request specific documentation for proof of volunteer hours served. TUC also reserves the right to deny volunteer hours that it does not deem acceptable.

Teams who do not meet their promised community service points will be addressed in the following manner:

Adjustments

Deadline # 1: June 30, 2010

Training fields will be assigned to teams until July 8. Teams who do not submit their updated hours, or fulfill 50% of their promised commitment by the deadline of June 30, will either be downgraded to a lower practice field category or removed from TUC fields altogether, at the discretion of TUC.

Teams who submit their updated hours and fulfill 50% of their promised commitment by the deadline of June 30 will be reassigned to the same field or a comparable field for the remainder of the summer touring season and will be required to fulfill the remainder of their commitment to TUC.

Deadline # 2: September 3, 2010

Teams who do not fulfill 100% of their promised commitment will be penalized in 2011 in the form of additional points added to their minimum commitment, or lower class field assignment for 2011.

BONUS POINTS

Teams who fulfill excess volunteer hours (and therefore accumulate extra points) can forward up to 50 points to the following year. This will encourage volunteering in the fall and winter (i.e. off-season clinics) and provide flexibility to touring teams.

Disbursement

Summer Training field support will be provided in full starting May 20 (depending on practice field permit availability) and will last throughout the 2010 season (fields conclude August 26).

Submissions

All teams must complete the submission form and send to the TUC General Manager and the Touring Committee outlining their proposed commitment and a guideline for the team to achieve its point goals. Proposals must be realistic and TUC reserves the right to request revisions to any proposal. Submissions must be provided by the Deadline of May 7th 2010.

Submissions will be approved by the General Manager and Touring Committee on the basis of the support requested and the community service proposed. Submissions should include:

• proposed volunteer hours and services = total points (be realistic)
• proposal of how your team will use its point credits
• listing of preferred practice nights and field category
• field space that TUC offered you last year
• number of tournaments your team will participate in this year
• team summary and contact information

Program Timeline

Deadlines for Team Program submissions	May 7, 2010
TUC & Ultimate Community Service Delivery	Spring / Summer 2010
Adjustment Deadline # 1 (50% program delivery)	June 30, 2010
Adjustment Deadline # 2 (100%)	September 30, 2010
Program Evaluation	Nov. ’10 – Jan. ’11
Program Reconciliation & Penalty/Bonus Adjustments	March 2011

Updated March 1, 2010