casual ultimate » chicago league angst

There’s been a lot of back-and-forth on the upcoming CUSL planning meeting on the c.u. forum over the past few days. CUSL, after reviewing the league survey results and talking with “previous UC leaders” is proposing format changes that fall into the following general categories (from CUSL website):

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Competition/skill appropriate play
Many people have stressed a desire to play in more or less intense environments from how some of the current leagues are formatted. As a result, we would like to add a “tiered league” system across all seasons. This is already happening in Spring with the two divisions. In summer, it will likely involve adding a “competitive” league to run concurrently with the standard CUSL league. In the fall, it may mean dividing teams into and A and B division.

4/3 gender play
All leagues will play a maximum of 4 men and a minimum of 3 women. The large majority of survey respondents preferred a 4/3 split to other options. This will likely mean that some men will not be able to get into some leagues unless they bring a female player. If there is a large enough pool of people unable to get into a league, we may try to organize and open league or individuals league for those players.
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Does this 4/3 rule mean that the number of women in the league will magically double from previous years, or does it simply mean that hundreds of men will be forced out of the league, even if it is stratified? Will it spur formation of an all-men’s league? If so, what will be the consequences?

Yours truly thinks that everyone should be free to play or not play in whatever capacity they wish, but having the option of a men’s league will suck the majority of the male talent out of the co-ed league, leaving it full of mediocre players (um, myself included) and, possibly worse, a lot of women who we’re conned into playing so that the guys they know could get into the league – I’m worried these women won’t show up at games. what about keeping it 5/2 and stratifying based on skill level instead of making both those changes at once?

Moreover, women already end up playing savage in league *all the time* - wouldn’t making it 4/3 instead of 5/2 make that worse? My attendance at leagues has always been good, but the times I don’t show up to games it’s because it’s hot out, I’m tired from playing earlier in the week, and I know I’ll be playing savage (again). If the quality of play in the co-ed league is degraded, where will that leave the good ladies? Will they opt out of the league, too?

What’s the best way to build ultimate in Chicago, either as a recreational activity or a competitive sport? Can a citywide league accommodate only one of these goals?

I just got the following email from the godfather of CUSL himself:

“Dividing CUSL into two division is a very bad idea. It will suck the talent from the league and will keep the new players from learning. It will eliminate the party together concept that we enjoy. Women will move adding to an existing problem. The elite players and those who play the Fall Series should enjoy CUSL as a casual alternative before the competitive season.”

casual or serious? will league format make the decision for us? Throw down your thoughts in the forum if you’d like, and show up at the blackrock (3614 n. damen) at 4 pm this Sunday for the league discussion.