In keeping with some national ultimate organizations and the general sporting world, the age definition for Masters players at all WFDF Ultimate events will be raised using the following scale:

2005: 31 on December 31st
2006: 32 on December 31st
2007: 32 on December 31st
2008: 33 on December 31st

For each year, Section 105 (Classification of Players) will read as follows: (Note: Section 105 refers to Masters starting at 35 years for all disc sports other than Ultimate, and 30 for Ultimate)

“Master Division: Available to players who reach at least their 35th birthdays during the calendar year in which the tournament begins. For the year 2005, the Masters division for Ultimate is available to players who reach 31 years of age during the calendar year in which the tournament begins. For the years 2006 and 2007, the Masters division for Ultimate is available to players who reach 32 years of age during the calendar year in which the tournament begins. For the year 2008, the Masters division for Ultimate is available to players who reach 33 years of age during the calendar year in which the tournament begins.”

At the WFDF Congress and Players Congress in 2006, we will look to re-visit this issue to see if the age restriction should continue to increase and if so at what pace.

Rationale

This change is supported by the WFDF Ultimate Committee, for the following reasons.

The overall skill level of Masters Teams can be greatly affected by recruiting 30 and 31 year olds who may play Open most of the time but are enticed to play Masters for only World Championship tournaments. This is counter-productive to encouraging true Masters teams who train and stay together even in years there are not World tournaments.

An age of at least 33 better reflects the intentions of this division. It will keep the Masters division unique and attractive for players who have reached their autumn years in the sport.

Already Canada and the USA are increasing the age of their Masters divisions, in part to keep true to what it means to play in this division. In both countries the division is thriving both in terms of level of play and number of players. This is partially due to the division providing something different from Open, not just a Division where Open players who miss out on Nationals can play.

For the other divisions, we shall have to wait and see if the further maturing of the sport creates new demand for these divisions also in the Masters. For that reason, revisiting this issue again in 2006 is necessary.

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