This idea won't solve the tour relegatoin thing, but it might help free up the calendar for more 'fun' events.
 
I've never really adjusted to the way 'you Brits' schedule the season, as opposed to the Americans.  I play way less ultimate here (I played/trained 6 days a week April-September and twice a week the rest of the year in Pittsburgh) but I'm always more worn out here.  Yeah- I know I'm older....
 
Anyway- in the States, there are two 'competive' seasons which leaves the summer for fun and summer league and training and whatever.  You play maybe three tournaments from April to Beginning of June, do what you want for the summer, and play the Nationals series September to early October.  So for six weeks in the spring and six weeks in the autum, you know you'll be playing your butt off every other weekend.  But you know that the rest of the year the pressure is off.
 
In the UK- adapting the idea to have divisional seasons might take the stress off the tournament planners.  Say three womens tournaments in the spring, every second week.  Then open season over the first half of summer(again every second week), and then mixed season (every second week) at the end of summer and autum.  With proper scheduling, you could still avoid major domestic events clashing with major foreign tournamnts.
 
Advantages:  The women's series might pick up some more players via the students, who would still be around.  More 'fun' tournaments could be run during the women's and mixed seasons but avoid the open season.  (For example, you could have 6 'fun' tournaments during the womens season.)  No one has to forsake one division for another.  Most people, except the most die-hard women, would get an 'off-season' in which to have a non-ultimate life. (I'm told this happens....)  Teams might have a better opportunity to structure training over a long lead-in period.
 
Disadvantages- during the season(s) in which you play, you really do sell you soul to the Ultimate gods- if you're not playing a tournament, you're usually training, hard.  I'm sure you can all think of others....
 
Just a suggestion.  Please discuss.
 
nancy

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