Colorado Springs, Colo. (Jan 30, 2020) – USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States, is excited to announce the recipients of the 2020 College Women’s Startup Project grants. The project is sponsored by VC Ultimate.

New women’s teams from the following five colleges and universities will be a part of the program, now in its fourth year:

  • Ave Maria*
  • Berry College
  • Jacksonville State
  • Loyola Marymount (CA)
  • Texas Rio Grande Valley

*Note: Ave Maria was originally a recipient in 2019, but they were unable to gather enough players to field a team. Because there were still spots available in 2020, their benefits from being a 2019 recipient have been rolled over to the 2020 season.

There are still five spots available in the 2020 program, and we will be accepting applications through March.

The College Women’s Startup Project was launched in 2017 to help foster the growth of college women’s ultimate by incentivizing the creation of teams and facilitating the development of new women’s programs. Housed under the Season Training and Recruitment (STAR) Program, the initiative provides some of the resources needed most by developing college teams. Benefits include:

  • Free USA Ultimate college memberships over the course of three years.
  • A free team startup kit.
  • Help finding a local coach and a free coach membership.
  • Access to a women’s team alumni support network – people who have started or helped develop college women’s teams and can offer practical advice and support. 
  • Discounts on uniforms and merchandise from VC Ultimate and promotion through their social media channels.

As many as 10 teams are included in the College Women’s Startup Project in each new year. Brand new women’s college programs or teams that have not participated in the college series in the past two years are eligible to apply. 

You can view the full list of participating teams, including the 19 programs awarded grants in the College Women’s Start-Up Project’s last two years at usaultimate.org/college/star.aspx.

Sponsored by:

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