Amherst Regional High School 2011 Ultimate Invitational

Thank you to all players, coaches, and spectators who helped to make this tournament a success. A special thank you to the ARHS staff and our amazing community volunteers who made it all happen!
 
Tournament Results
Girls First Place: ARHS Girls Varsity
  Second Place: Watchung Hills High School
  Girls: all games
  Spirit: St Johnsbury
   
Open A First Place: ARHS Boys Varsity
  Second Place: Columbia High School
  Open A: all games
  Spirit: John Jay
   
Open B First Place: Phillips Andover
  Second Place: Andover High School
  Open B: all games
  Spirit: Phillips Andover
Saturday, May 07, and Sunday, May 08, 2011
 
questions: send an email to Jim Pistrang

last year's web page

Selected Teams

Frequently Asked Questions

Tournament Format and Schedules

How to Submit a Bid                 Received Bids

Field Maps                  Directions                  Ultimate Links

 

Open A

Open B

 
B Division teams must provide a Certificate of Insurance to Hampshire College.
Please follow the instructions here
Open Wait List

Girls

Girls Wait List

 

About the Tournament

This spring we will be celebrating the 20th Annual Amherst Invitational Tournament. The tournament will once again be divided into three separate groups: Open Division A, Open Division B, and Girls Division.

Selection Notes

We have the difficult task of selecting 30 teams to play at the tournament out of a pool of 40+ applicants. We hate to do this, but our resources are limited and we cannot expand the tournament.

Here are things that will help your chances of being selected:

Here are things that will hurt your chances of being selected:

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Tournament Frequently Asked Questions

When is the tournament?

The tournament will take place on Saturday, May 07, and Sunday, May 08, 2011.

Who is allowed to play in the tournament?

We will (for the most part) be using the USA Ultimate Youth Competition Guidelines to determine if your team and players are eligible to attend our tournament. The Guidelines state that ALL members of a team must attend the same high school.

Do we need to be USA Ultimate members?

All players on all teams must be USA Ultimate members to play in the Amherst Invitational. The UPA is strongly committed to the growth of high school Ultimate, and becoming a member will support their efforts. You can sign up on the USA Ultimate web page. (note: make sure you are signing up for a 2011 membership.)

Do the teams need Certificates of Insurance?

Teams playing in the Open B Division will need Certificates of Insurance.

Who is in charge of this tournament?

The tri-directors (TDs) of the Amherst Invitational are Tiina Booth (coach, ARHS Boys Varsity), Jim Pistrang (coach, Amherst Regional Middle School) and Josh Nugent (coach, ARHS Girls Varsity). Contact information for Jim and Tiina and Josh is listed below. All decisions regarding eligibility, acceptance of bids, seeding, and rules will be made by the TDs.

How do you decide which bids to accept?

We expect to receive well over 40 bids, and we only have room for 23 teams (not counting the Amherst teams). We will use the following criteria:
  • Open Division A: we will give preference to the most competitive teams who apply from around the country.
  • Open Division B: we will give strong preference to teams who apply from the Northeast Region, particularly New England.
    • Important: For all divisions, we want a sense of how you have contributed to the growth of juniors ultimate in your school, town, or area.

    Are there good parties at the Amherst Invitational?

    We are quite sure that you will have a wonderful time at the tournament. However, all drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are strictly forbidden, both on and off the field. In addition, teams staying with a host family must abide by all rules and curfews that are set by the host. Failure to follow these rules will result in the expulsion of your team from the tournament (and we won't want you back next year either).

    Where is the tournament?

    To be determined.

    How much does it cost?

    The entry fee for the tournament is $400.

    What do we get for our money?

    Some of the money goes for things that you will see: trophies, team boxes, Saturday lunches, Saturday night pizza, the printing of the program, port-a-johns, and an on-field trainer. We also have unseen costs such as custodial fees and field fees.

    Where will we stay in Amherst?

    Housing will be provided for all teams that travel a distance to the tournament and need to stay overnight. Your hosts will be Amherst Ultimate team members and their families. Teams must indicate in their Registration Form whether or not they need housing, and how many people are on the team. Some teams will be able to stay together at one house, others may be split between two houses. Visiting teams must bring sleeping bags, pillows, etc. Most likely you will be sleeping on a floor. After you are accepted into the Tournament you will be contacted by our Housing Director.

    Do we need an adult chaperone?

    Absolutely. You must have an adult chaperone if you want to play in the tournament, and the chaperone must be with your team for the entire weekend. Failure to have a chaperone may result in expulsion from the tournament.

    How do I know if my team belongs in the A Division or the B Division?

    The Registration Form includes a place where you can describe your team and give us some info from your seasons last fall and spring. The Tournament Directors will put together a seeding based on this info.
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    Tournament Format and Schedule

    Tournament Format

    View the schedules here:

    Here are links to the USAU tournament sites:

    Girls G Division:

    The Girls Division has 10 teams, which will be divided into two pools of 5. After pool play, the top two teams from each pool will advance to semi-finals, while the bottom three teams will play consolation games. Consolation games are required, not optional. The two top-seeded teams will play four pool games on Saturday and have a bye early Sunday morning. The other eight teams will play three pool games on Saturday and a fourth pool game early Sunday morning. Semis, finals, and consolation games will follow the final pool round on Sunday. All teams will play a total of five or six games.

    Open A Division:

    The Open A Division has 10 teams, which will be divided into two pools of 5. The two top-seeded teams will play four pool games on Saturday and have a bye early Sunday morning. The other eight teams will play three pool games on Saturday and a fourth pool game on Sunday morning. After pool play, the top four teams from each pool will advance to quarter-finals, while the bottom team from each pool will play a consolation game. Quarter-final losers will play consolation games, and the quarter-final winners will advance to the semi-finals. All teams will play a total of five or six or seven games. The 9/10 consolation game is required, all others are optional.

    Open B Division:

    The Open B Division will also consist of 10 teams, with the same format at as the Girls Division.

    Tournament Seeding

    Placement within the Divisions will be determined by the Tournament Directors in February, after the bids have been accepted. Tournament seeding within your division will be determined by the Tournament Directors at the end of April. For accurate seeding please report all spring scores to the USA Ultimate Score Reporting Page as soon as they occur.
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    How do I submit a bid to the Tournament?

    Bids will be accepted as of December 1, 2010.

    In order to be considered, you must submit a bid to the tournament directors. The bid consists of a completed Registration Form and a check for $400, made out to 'ARHS Ultimate'. The deadline for receiving bids is January 31, 2011. Teams will be notified by February 9, 2011 if they have been accepted into the tournament. A submitted bid does NOT guarantee acceptance into the Tournament. In fact, we expect to receive more bids than there are openings. Teams that are not accepted will have their entire check returned.

    The Registration Form must be downloaded, filled out, and mailed to us with a check.

    Please note: If it takes a long time for your school to cut you a check, send in your application early anyway. Please note on the app that the check will follow shortly AND give us a contact name and number for the person who is responsible for cutting the check from the school.

    Click on the link below to download the Registration Form in MS Word format. If you would like a Registration Form mailed to you, send an email to Jim Pistrang. The Registration Form must be mailed to:

    Tiina Booth
    Invitational Registration
    21 Deepwoods Drive
    Amherst, MA 01002
    .
    Click below to download the Registration Form
    Microsoft Word Document

    trouble downloading? send me an email

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    Who submitted a bid?

    This is a list of the teams that have submitted complete registration forms.

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    Field Maps

    Directions

    Directions from the East via the Mass Pike to Amherst Regional High School


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    Directions from Route 91 (northbound) to Amherst Regional High School


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    Directions from Route 91 (southbound) to Amherst Regional High School


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    Directions to the Amherst Middle School:
    The Middle School is located behind the High School. Assuming that you are facing the high school, go to the right side of the school (away from the fields), and turn left on the driveway that goes along the side of the school. Cross the street at the end of the driveway and you will be in the middle school parking lot. The two middle school fields are located on the far side of the parking lot, near the tennis courts.

    Directions from Amherst Regional High School to Hampshire College


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    Directions from the Mass Pike to Hampshire College


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    Ultimate Links:

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    this page last updated by Jim Pistrang

    on April 20, 2011