President's Opening Letter to the 2010-2011 Season - Important Changes
Date:
August 28th, 2010 Dear Teams,
The new season is upon us and there is a new order of competition and a renewed priority to register. This year there will no longer be divisions but rather all USPSA teams will be divided into conferences. The objective is to develop a means to maintain the integrity of competition while adjusting for future growth of the sport. While every effort has been made to anticipate a variety of situations and questions, as with anything that is new, we will work to deal with any unintended consequences and unforeseen issues as quickly and equitably as possible.
There will be a 12 game requirement to qualify for your Conference Cup Championship Tournament at the end of the season. This is why it is important to get registered and playing games as early as possible to meet the new required number of games.
This year for the first time, you will be able to make a choice to compete or not. You may opt out of competition at the time of registration. You can still play games however you will not be involved in a Conference Cup Championship at the end of the season.
There is also a 2 game requirement within your conference. So of the twelve games, at least two must be against another team in your conference or higher.
Team Conference alignment will be announced once registration has been completed but there is no reason to wait to start playing games. However only games played between two USPSA teams in good standing will count towards your required games. This is why it is important to register early.
Existing teams have been tentatively placed in a conference based on their results from last season. Should an existing team “opt out” of conference play, they will be moved from that conference and placed in either Non Conference Division or Affiliate Team. Should that existing team the following year decide to compete in conference competition, they will be placed in the lowest competitive conference.
Non-Conference Division is competition outside of Conference Cup competition. There is no required number of games.
The teams will not have a Cup Championship.
Games between Conference and Non-Conference teams will count towards the Conference team 12 game requirements.
Affiliate Team Membership is a recreational level of play.
Teams do not plan to travel.
Typically scrimmage amongst themselves.
No minimum number of games.
Will have access to 501c3 for fund raising.
Will have access to USPSA team insurance.
Want to support the sport and organization but do not want to compete.
Games will not count towards Conference Cup required games.
Reduced membership fee.
No voting rights
The complete Standard Operating Procedures will be posted on the website for your review.
Membership has had the opportunity to participate in the development of this new system and this is the result of that participation. Thank you to all of you for being involved in the sport and advancing it to a new level. I look forward to another great season.
Best wishes and good luck to all of you this year.
Best regards,
Dominic Russo
President
United States Power Soccer Association
