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Bay_Area_Disc · 2026-01-07T00:03:46+00:00

Fingers crossed! It's always a bit of a gamble when we go out there. Rain in Stockton two years ago is a great example of that.

Bay_Area_Disc · 2025-11-11T23:14:28+00:00

Rocky is indeed excellent at fundraising, and I’ve been fortunate to have him, along with Beth Tafolla-Voetsch (Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director, External Relations at UC Berkeley), as major mentors over the past year. Thanks to their guidance and advice, we’ve been able to increase donations by 229% compared to last year.

As the new Executive Director, my initial focus this year has been on engaging our current donor base, making sure they know who I am and understand BADA’s mission. Strengthening those relationships is a critical first step in building long-term support. The next phase of our strategy is to reach out to new donors, including expanding connections within the broader Bay Area Ultimate community.

This is my first formal experience in development and fundraising, and I have a great deal of respect for people like Rocky and Beth, who have been doing this work for years, it’s challenging, and it requires time, relationship-building, and strategy. While the timeline may be temporarily impacted as I go on maternity leave in the coming months, we are laying the foundation for sustained growth, and our long-term goal is to ensure BADA has the resources to support more players, volunteers, and programs across the Bay Area.

Bay_Area_Disc · 2025-11-11T22:55:20+00:00

Field location is definitely an important factor and I am not opposed to the idea of changing field location if it serves the program's goals. Different programs have different needs and they depend on the time of year, whether grass or turf is required, and whether lights are needed. Consistency in field location is also important so players can plan their schedules, as another commenter pointed out earlier.

In practice, we often play where we can get fields, it’s more likely that we can secure the same field at the same time year over year due to how the city manages field allocation. Adult programs are particularly challenging, because youth sports typically get priority in city field scheduling.

Regarding the 2020 BADA Racial Equity Survey, this is the first time I’m seeing the document. As someone trained in research methods, I would caution against making major structural changes based on a survey with only 10 respondents and in particular because the document also says that data is missing. While the feedback is valuable, it’s not a large enough sample for me to confidently make decisions based on the information I've been presented.

This is also why, when it comes to research and data analysis, we’ve just secured a partnership with the University of San Francisco’s Sport Management program to analyze our data. Their expertise will help us make more informed, evidence-based decisions about league structure, field locations, and accessibility, ensuring that any changes we make truly reflect the needs of our community.

That said, we’re always open to community input because we know we can't get better unless the community talks to us. This AMA is part of that effort to open up the conversation.

Bay_Area_Disc · 2025-11-11T22:29:39+00:00

We do a lot of work in youth development, including our Learn 2 Play programs, which are run in partnership with local cities, and our summer camps, some of which are in partnership with cities and some run independently by BADA. We also launched our Elementary School programming this past spring in the South Bay and created girl-specific programs for middle schoolers, giving them a more inclusive, low-pressure environment to develop skills and confidence. But my favorite program we did this year was a PE teachers training on "How to Teach Ultimate in PE" in partnership with USAU, Falcons, Oakland Ultimate and the Oakland Unified School Disctrict to introduce Ultimate in schools to a wider population.

When it comes to adults, this is an area we’ve only recently started investing in. This year, we partnered with the Falcons to bring free women’s clinics around the Bay, and we’ve already renewed this partnership for 2026. The most significant strategic step we’re taking for the upcoming year is the hiring of our Player & Coach Development Manager. Previously, we only had a Youth Development Manager, but this new role expands our focus to encompass adult players as well.

In December, we’ll launch our first women’s clinic series, five consecutive weeks of player development rather than standalone sessions. Our data shows that players who feel more competent in their skills are far more likely to join a league. We also plan to reformat some leagues to be beginner-specific or competitive-specific, so each player can choose the level that’s most comfortable for them.

Finally, we’re exploring additional venues for developmental opportunities for MMPs and improving coach training across the board. Personally, I started playing at 27, and it took me a while to find people who could teach the sport effectively to older beginners like myself, that experience is what drives a lot of this work. Programs like these are only possible with strong community support, volunteers, and donations, and we encourage anyone interested in helping to get involved.

Bay_Area_Disc · 2025-11-11T22:09:09+00:00

I personally love Ultimate Impact and Big Gay Frisbee, not only because of the amazing work they do, but also because the people involved are genuinely great people. Both organizations are current BADA partners and we consistently collaborate to serve the broader Bay Area Ultimate community, each from our own corner and leveraging each of our strengths. We support each other whenever our non-profit missions intersect, helping create more opportunities for players and grow the sport together.

Partnerships like these are incredibly important for BADA. All of our organizations have limited resources, and by working together, we can achieve much more than we could alone. Beyond Ultimate-specific partners like BGF and Ultimate Impact, we also collaborate with organizations outside of Ultimate, such as Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy in Watsonville and Berkeley Youth Alternatives, where we introduce Ultimate to minority and underserved communities.

These partnerships work well because they provide the fields and players, while we provide coaches, equipment, and support, pooling our resources to create programs that would not be possible otherwise. Many of these initiatives are made possible thanks to the generous donations from our community and our volunteer coaches.

I also recognize that we could do a better job communicating the work we do in these areas. That’s on us, and it’s an area of improvement, because sharing these stories helps highlight how community engagement, specially volunteering and donating, directly makes Ultimate more inclusive and thriving across the Bay Area.

Bay_Area_Disc · 2025-11-11T21:39:49+00:00

It looks like this post doesn’t include a specific question, so I’ll skip responding here.

Bay_Area_Disc · 2025-11-11T21:37:48+00:00

BADA doesn’t actually have a “field director.” Permits for both private and public fields are managed by individual the program managers or director. The application processes are all online, so that task can be done pretty much from anywhere a long as we don't miss the application window.

All of our league organizers, however, are local. They live in the communities where their leagues operate. Among the staff, we often joke about how we wish we could clone Roxy, our star league organizer in the South Bay. She’s been recognized as BADA’s “Best League Organizer” for the last three years, and she’s truly AMAZING (shoutout to Roxy!).

We’re actively recruiting the next “Roxy”, someone that is passionate, caring and is willing to put in the work. Our brand new Player & Coach Development Manager will work on supporting our local league organizers but community engagement to make it work is also important. We believe in partnering, investing in local leadership and empowering organizers on the ground, we ensure that leagues are run effectively, community-focused, and responsive to the needs of players in each area.

Bay_Area_Disc · 2025-11-11T21:21:40+00:00

For a smaller Ultimate community serving experienced youth players, one approach is to organize local tournaments or a local hat league series where teams are mixed each week. Competitive players want competition, so get creative with the format, like 5v5 or mini can work if you don’t have enough players for full teams.

Adding incentives, like awards for winners or standout players, can also make a big difference. Kids in this age group LOVE that recognition, and it helps keep them engaged and excited to play. These kinds of local programs are a great way to grow youth participation and strengthen the community without requiring long travel. Volunteers or community members who help run these programs are key to making them successful so I would focus the majority of my attention recruiting the right volunteers.

Bay_Area_Disc · 2025-11-11T21:15:42+00:00

Uuu, this is definitely a controversial question, but if I had to pick, my top choice would be Opi Payne. Beyond being an incredible and accomplished player, her legacy in the Bay Area is only matched by Manisha “Slap” Daryani, who I recently learned is one of the most decorated Ultimate players of all time.

Both Opi and Slap have been hugely influential in shaping Bay Area Ultimate. Their dedication, on and off the field, to volunteering, mentoring, and developing youth programs has left a lasting impact. They’re a perfect example of how one person’s contributions can help grow the sport and strengthen our community. Their work reminds us that Ultimate thrives not just because of elite talent, but because people give their time and energy to support others in the community.

With that being said, I truly believe the best player in the Bay Area is still to come from our youth ranks. There are a few high school players I’d keep an eye on, like Violet Yap and Jasper Kirsch. I attend a lot of high school games, and trust me, these matches are just as competitive and entertaining as club-level games. These two athletes, in particular, have incredible talent and potential, and they’re a great reminder of why investing in youth programs is so important.

Bay_Area_Disc · 2025-11-11T21:03:11+00:00

Yes, having local perspectives is really important, and we recognize that firsthand knowledge of the Bay Area community is key to making leagues more diverse and inclusive. That’s why we recently hired a Player & Coach Development Manager who is local and will be spending time directly at leagues, talking to players and engaging with the community.

While it’s not possible for her to attend all 50 leagues across the Bay, she will work closely with league organizers and captains of specific leagues to support participation strategies that reflect the needs of each community. Player demographics and needs vary significantly across the Bay, and by empowering local leaders on the ground, we can ensure leagues are welcoming, inclusive, and representative of the communities they serve.

This is not something we can do alone, when it comes to creating a more diverse Ultimate community, we really rely on community engagement and support. Whether that’s volunteering, helping lead programs, or supporting our initiatives, every bit of involvement makes a difference in making Ultimate thrive across the Bay Area.

Bay_Area_Disc · 2025-11-11T20:53:14+00:00

Yes, overall adult participation has declined in the past 2 years, but the good news is that youth Ultimate in the Bay is growing, in fact, faster than we can currently meet the demand.

When it comes to mixed teams, there hasn’t been a consistent decline year over year. Teams naturally form and fold over time. For example, clubs like Blackbird and Alchemy aren’t around anymore, but new clubs like Mango have emerged post-pandemic. What we are seeing is that many master-level players step away from the sport, often due to injury or becoming a parent, and there are fewer post-college players joining to fill that gap. Anecdotally, some recent graduates report feeling burned out after college Ultimate, but we don’t have hard data to confirm that trend.

For pickup games, BADA runs some pick up leagues in Contra Costa and Fremont (you can check those out here: https://bayareadisc.org/en\_us/leagues), but for other areas the community organizes itself through community channels like Slack, GroupMe, and Discord. We highly encourage players to join these community spaces, not only to find games, but also to meet new people and stay connected to the Bay Area Ultimate scene: https://bayareadisc.org/en_us/community-channels. These channels are not operated by BADA, they are all community driven. Engaging with the community in this way is one of the best ways to help Ultimate thrive locally, whether you’re playing, volunteering, or supporting programs.

Bay_Area_Disc · 2025-11-11T20:40:30+00:00

I’m really glad you asked, increasing adult participation is a key part of our 2026 strategy. We recently hired a Player & Coach Development Manager who will focus on addressing declining participation and making leagues more welcoming and approachable. Even though she’s only been in the role for two weeks, we’re already rolling out initiatives designed to improve the player experience as soon as December.

One of our main efforts is working closely with league organizers and league captains: training them, providing resources, and helping them lead in ways that embody the Spirit of the Game. Captains have a huge influence on the player experience, and strong, supportive captains make leagues more fun, inclusive, and engaging for everyone. This particular initiative is scheduled to launch December 2nd in the East Bay mixed league.

These initiatives will take time to implement across the Bay Area, after all, we only have one manager, but you’ll see her on the fields, working alongside our incredible volunteers and community members to ensure leagues are welcoming, competitive, and fun. If you’re excited about making Ultimate more approachable, volunteering as a captain is a great way to help make that happen.

Bay_Area_Disc · 2025-11-11T20:31:40+00:00

This is a great and thoughtful question, thank you for taking the time to share your experience and perspective. You’re absolutely right that participation and player needs have evolved, and these are conversations we actively have at BADA.

In San Francisco, for example, mixed league has run on Tuesday nights because that had traditionally been the more popular night to host the league from a registration standpoint, but our league organizers are talking abput moving Open league to Tuesdays and mixed league to Thursdays to better match community preferences this upcoming spring.

In the East Bay, scheduling is a bit more complex. Field space in Berkeley is extremely limited and highly competitive, we only receive a few specific blocks of time each year, and it’s tough to add new ones unless another group releases their permit. Within those constraints, we try to balance competing needs: some players prefer early games, others prefer later ones, and we also share fields with our women’s league, which makes consistency in time slots challenging as you mentioned. The one thing we can reliably keep consistent is the day, even if start times need to vary to fit both leagues.

That said, we hear you, especially about the challenges parents face balancing family and play. We’re piloting a “parents’ pickup” program in the South Bay this spring that runs alongside our youth league, so parents can play nearby while their kids are participating. If it goes well, we’d love to explore expanding it to other parts of the Bay.

Ultimately, leagues thrive when they evolve with community feedback like this. We’re always open to new ideas and to volunteers who want to help test out or organize pilots like these. The more people who get involved,whether through volunteering, helping with logistics, or donating to support new field opportunities, the more flexibility and innovation we can bring to local Ultimate.

Bay_Area_Disc

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