William Oktavec

Grant Proposal
Due: 5/20/19

Grant Proposal

UMBC’s
Ultimate Frisbee
Summer Camps
Summary
For this project I will be forming a summer camp to teach kids about the sport of
ultimate Frisbee, as well as focusing on the importance of healthy lifestyles. This sport in
particular provides many added benefits other than just physical activity and teamwork. Within
ultimate is a set of values, known as Spirit of the Game, that are a good influence especially for
developing children. I am asking USA Ultimate, the governing body for ultimate Frisbee across
the country, for a grant of $10,000 in order to hold multiple week-long camps free of charge.
The hope is to create a better future for a younger generation both in the sense of a healthier
life and an increased involvement in the sport.
Introduction
The sport of Ultimate Frisbee is one that has built its popularity from the ground up. This
was only possible because of the strong community that makes up its player-base. In order to
continue the growth of the sport it is imperative to start with the youth in this country. Being
able to engage, inform, and inspire these young athletes will begin a ripple effect that will lead
to vast expansion of the sport. Childhood obesity and other health-related issues have been a
massive problem in the United States for many years. Ultimate Frisbee is an excellent way to
help combat these problems. A non-contact, team sport that will help to build teamwork skills
in addition to providing a good exercise.
Focusing on the youth of America to become and stay physically fit should be an
ongoing effort. However, this is not the only benefit given from the sport. Ultimate fosters a
culture of positivity, respect, and sportsmanship. Therefore providing children with a good
attitude in competition that can translate to all other areas of their lives. Having a community
that prides itself in being inclusive and open to all new members is a great way to show kids to
be accepting of people who are different.
The Ultimate team at UMBC would like to host a series of summer camps in order to
combat unhealthy behaviors in children. In this setting the kids will be amongst their peers,
learning about the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle. Ideally this will provide additional
encouragement for each of them to excel. The hope is for the young people to find an
enjoyable activity that can help physical ability, making friends, and provide a foundation for a
positive future.

Statement of Need
 As it currently stands 1 in every 5 people, ages 6 to 19, in the United States is obese, as
stated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This rate is far too high which leads to
an unhealthier lifestyle and bigger healthy concerns later in life. By starting at a young age we
can instill good habits that will last and can be passed onto others.
In addition to just trying to create more physically fit people, they will be learning and
playing a sport that does not involve a side of violence, which many American sports have. This
has been highlighted as a good thing by some because it allows children a way to release anger,
stress, and other emotions. However, this can still be accomplished in a non-violent setting.
Competition and the thrills that come with a team sport can be beneficial for children to
express themselves. The negative emotions they might have can be translated in a motivated
performance that does not involve hurting others.
Other camps dedicated to Ultimate are more focused on developing high skill players.
The most prestigious, CUT camp, provides elite level players as coaches/counselors and is
directed towards people who already play this sport. The focus for this camp is not so much to
create great players but to introduce the sport and what it means to be a part of the Ultimate
community.

Goals & Objectives

1. Provide a foundation for an active lifestyle.
a. Teach running form and how to move properly.
b. Teach basic skills of the game.
c. Inform members about why staying physically active is important.
2. Teach good values and mentality.
a. Explain Spirit of the Game and its importance.
b. Promote an attitude of positivity.
c. Encourage good teammate behavior, especially with players of opposite gender.
3. Spread the game of Ultimate.
a. Teach children a new sport they have not had exposure to yet.
b. Promote professional level teams to grow attendance and interest.
c. Inspire kids to tell their friends about Ultimate and share their new knowledge.

Review of Literature
This project focuses on establishing an active lifestyle for children, using ultimate
Frisbee as a catalyst. The American Heart Association recommends that children, from ages 6 -
17, engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. It is especially important to
encourage kids to stay active as they grow older, as they tend to be less active, this was found
to be more apparent in girls. Finding a physical activity that is fun is key to ensure someone will
continue to participate. The benefits that come with a more active lifestyle include having a
healthy weight, stronger bones and muscles, a healthy heart, improved brain function,
improved mental health, and a lower risk for cardiovascular diseases. (AHA, 2018)
By using ultimate Frisbee as the primary physical activity, the ideals of the sport and the
benefits of being active complement each other. The sport has always been about inclusion and
having fun. The Girl’s Ultimate Movement (GUM), a community outreach program is designed
to increase girl’s participation in ultimate. The focus is get them interested in the sport early so
that they will go on to play in college and help grow the sport. There is a desire to grow the
sport from all over the world has made an impact. The International Olympic Committee (IOC)
recognized the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) as an official sport creating the opportunity
for potential inclusion in the Olympic Games. (Fox, 2015)
In addition to the active lifestyle and inclusion Ultimate brings to the table, it also
teaches good values such as, respect, integrity, and responsibility. “One of the most unusual
elements of Ultimate is the concept of Spirit of the Game (SOTG). SOTG makes Ultimate unique
because it allows for self-officiation rather than the use of referees, as in most other sports.
While SOTG and self-officiation are often the most challenging aspects of Ultimate, they are
often the most rewarding. Indeed, they are the reason that many players choose Ultimate over
other team sports.” (Bowman, 2010) The guidelines of SOTG are broken down into: Mutual
respect between players; Adherence to the agreed-upon rules; Basic joy of playing. By learning
about and playing this sport children will grow up healthier physically and mentally.
This project will bring in children of all ages to add a positive influence to their lives.
Teaching them about the rules and spirit of the game will work their mental abilities. Then to go
on to the field, become physically active, and to apply everything they’ve learned. Once they’ve
had the joyful experience of Ultimate, they will be hooked into taking their own time to practice
and improve. Hopefully generating a long-lasting healthy lifestyle and a person who wishes to
share the sport with others.

Description of Project
A summer camp that is run by current UMBC ultimate players for the benefit of children
in the DMV area to be taught and exposed to the sport of ultimate Frisbee. The plan would be
to host a camp, Monday through Friday, over 8 weeks each at a different location in Maryland,
Virginia, or D.C. By having the camp in new location each week allows for a greater reach
throughout the area. The project would also like to be able to provide a healthy lunch and
snacks to the members of the camps, as another factor in promoting healthy lifestyles.
 The camp would start out the first day by teaching everyone the basics of throwing,
proper forms for running and cutting, and about the importance of Spirit of the Game. The
following days would build upon previous days as well as teaching the rules and how to play an
organized game. By the end of the camp these children will be able to play with a wealth of
knowledge about the sport and enough skill to teach others.

Materials

 Field Space
 Discs x100
 Cones x50
 Portable Canopy x2
 Water Coolers x4
 Food/Snacks

Budget
For each camp location athletic fields will need to be rented out, aside from one that will
be held at UMBC. It has been estimated that the cost of each camps field space will be
approximately $750. The cost for 100 UltraStar discs estimates to be $750. The total cones
required costs about $20. A reliable portable canopy costs approximately $250. All of the water
coolers can be purchased for about $100. The remaining budget will be allocated towards healthy
lunch items and snacks for the attendees, about $3,630. The total project cost will be $10,000.

Assessment of Project
There are many takeaways of this project that can be considered while determining its
effectiveness. First and most importantly, if everyone who attends the camp has a good
experience and continues to play ultimate Frisbee then the project would be a massive success.
The next factor of consideration is how well they apply an active lifestyle. Even if ultimate is not
a part of their future, maintaining a healthy lifestyle via good food choices, exercise, and mental
strength. The values that will be taught should be universal to all circumstances and be beneficial
for the rest of their lives. If at least one of these situations comes true then I would deem the
project a success.

Timeline
The project would begin during the second week of June, ideally when most public schools have
ended. All the materials, except the food, would be purchased when the funds are available. Each
subsequent week a camp will be held at a different location throughout the region, ending after
the second week of August.

Works Cited
American Heart Association (2018, April 17). How Can I Help My Child Be More Physically Active?
Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-
physical-activity-in-children

Fox, Christian (2015, November 28). The Ultimate Future of Ultimate Frisbee. Retrieved from
https://theultimatereport.wordpress.com/2015/11/18/the-ultimate-future-of-ultimate-frisbee/

Bowman, Elisabeth (2010, December 5). Teaching Spirit of the Game. Retrieved from
http://www.usaultimate.org/assets/1/Page/USAU_Resource_Guide_P4-Teaching_SOTG_08-09-10.pdf