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ULTIMATE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION
4730 Table Mesa Dr.
Suite J-200
Boulder, CO 80305
800-872-4384
303-447-3472
303-447-3483 fax
Volunteer Certification Program
Level I Coach Certification | Level II Coach Certification | Volunteer Certification | Recertification | Clinic Dates, Locations & Registration | Clinic Instructors | UPA Coaching Ethics Code | UPA Spirit of Coaching | Coach Certification Requirements | Coaches Home

Volunteer Certification

The UPA Volunteer Certification Program was designed by Joe Bisignano, Tiina Booth, Michael Baccarini, Barbara Denison, John Sandahl, and Kyle Weisbrod as a companion to the Coaching Certification Program. The Volunteer Certification is intended to standardize Ultimate outreach to new players and create a pool of trained volunteers that can serve in teaching the sport to new groups.

Certified Volunteers will be trained to do introductory Ultimate clinics for:

  • Middle and High School PE Classes
  • Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts
  • Youth Groups
  • Church Groups
  • The Boys and Girls Club of America
  • Intro level adult Ultimate Players
The UPA will also keep a database of Certified Volunteers and will contact Certified Volunteers for local clinic opportunities that may arise.

The Volunteer portion of the program will cover:

  • How to promote the sport and get new players hooked
  • How to teach the game and basic skills to new players
  • How to behave professionally while coaching
  • The UPA approved Introductory Clinic Progression
The minimum age for Certified Volunteers is 16, so this is an ideal program for high school students and college students looking to get involved in their local community and spread the sport of Ultimate.

Volunteer Clinic attendees will also receive the UPA Volunteer guide, a UPA Coaching Corps disc, a Five Ultimate Ambient Jersey, and a copy of the UPA's Coaching Ethics Code.


Coaches and volunteers who seek certification from the UPA must consent to a background check at the time of their application. The background check is conducted by a third party, Intellicorp Records, Inc. using the “Criminal SuperSearch” search. The results of the search are provided to the UPA for screening purposes only. The UPA reserves the right to deny certification to coaches or volunteers when the background check or other information indicates felonies, any crimes involving children, any violent crimes, any crimes of a sexual nature or any other conduct or information causing the UPA to deny certification.


The UPA Coach Certification is a statement only that the coach has successfully completed a program that teaches skills, tactics, strategy, rules and the Spirit of the Game. The UPA is not in any way certifying the moral character of any coach or volunteer. The background check performed for the UPA should not be relied on or used as a replacement for purposes of your own background check or investigation and/or complying with any requirement that might be imposed by a school district, sports league, etc.  The UPA's background check is current as of the time the coach or volunteer applies for certification.

Last updated 11/19/2007 - 14:54