Following the brilliant response to our announcement of the GB Futures Programme we’re delighted to be able to announce our initial plans for the programme.  There has been interest from all over the UK and we received more than 500 player applications and 60 coach/coordinator applications. A huge thank you to everyone who has applied, it’s been fantastic to see so much interest in both a playing and volunteering capacity.

To read about hub locations and appointments please read more here.

In January, the World Flying Disc Federation,(WFDF), announced that their events in 2021 were all being cancelled.  The international calendar 2021 also includes the European Ultimate Federation (EUF) European Youth Ultimate Championships (EYUC):

• U20s in Malmö in Sweden, 17-24 July;
• U17s in Hollabrunn in Austria, 7-14 August.  

The EUF has said that they will publish their go/no-go decision regarding these events in early April. 

With great sadness, we have decided that we will not send Great Britain youth teams to either of the EYUC events in 2021 regardless of whether or not the events go ahead.  The UK Ultimate staff and volunteers involved recognise the complexity of the decision: it's impact on all of the players and the local organisers, and indeed the potential financial implications to some of the teams that were affected by the cancellation of WJUC 2020.  The decision was not made lightly.

On Thursday 14th January WFDF realeased two statements regarding the 2021 and 2022 international calendar of Ultimate events.

https://wfdf.sport/2021/01/wfdf-announces-major-changes-to-the-2021-events-schedule/

https://wfdf.sport/2021/01/wfdf_announces_tentative_2022_events_schedule/

We are now recruiting for national team manager and coach positions across the following GB squads:

• Lead Coach, Team Manager and Assistant Coach for the GBJ teams: U17W, U17O, U20W, U20O.

• U24 Manager (across all three teams), Squad Coach/Manager for each of the three U24 teams: Mixed, Open and Women.

The deadline for all applications is Sunday 20th December, and we will be aiming to finalise appointments by early January. For more information, including application forms, please see our full annoucement here.

We recently announced the GB Futures Programme. The announcement outlines our plans for U24, U20 and U17 squads: building a regional talent pathway structure for competitive ultimate training for these age-groups on the assumption that their events are quite likely to be cancelled, whilst leaving us in the best position to compete if they go ahead.   

We're currently looking to gauge interest from players and from those who may wish to fill the coach and coordinator roles at the regional hubs. If that sounds like something you could be interested in, then please read the full announcement and if you know someone who might be interested (again as either a player, coach or coordinator) please share it with them as well! 

In the last few weeks WFDF and EUF have made a number of announcements about plans for international events in 2021:

• WFDF announcement re WUGC, WU24 and WBUC
• EUF announcements U20 and U17

We welcome announcements about potential international ultimate in 2021, but the view of the UK Ultimate board is that we should prioritise planning for the significant possibility that at least some of those events may not go ahead.  

This announcement outlines our plans for U24, U20 and U17 squads: building a regional talent pathway structure for competitive ultimate training for these age-groups on the assumption that their events are quite likely to be cancelled, whilst leaving us in the best position to compete if they go ahead.   

Whilst we understand that WFDF and EUF are just announcing plans to go ahead with the events if possible, we have seen that many players tend to interpret such announcements as meaning that the events will definitely go ahead.  One reason for making this announcement now is to try to set realistic expectations about what might be possible in 2021.

We’ve teamed up with Lookfly to offer a 2020 GB supporter jersey where the proceeds will be used to build up a small fund to support GB players who lost money this year.  Our 2019-21 teams are playing in Red and White jerseys; this one is for the fans!

In 2020, we had teams heading to WUGC, WJUC and WMUC and these events were either cancelled or postponed.  Some of the players lost money on accommodation deposits, and those heading to WUGC 2021 face an increase in the player fee.  This isn’t going to cover everything, so we will work with the teams to find the best way to target this support to the people who need it most.

So, if you fancy some stylish GB supporter gear, please head over to the Lookfly store to order the jersey and give a helping-hand to some of the affected players.  (Order deadline: 20th August.)  

This morning, WFDF announced a decision to cancel or postpone all three of the WFDF World Ultimate Championships to be held over the next six months. This will at least affect the following: