Rather than just answer this question for 1 team I will send info out to all of WAFC Jr about your state championship event.
I will also CC my state coordinator in case I get anything wrong

So there's this organization, the UPA:  www.upa.org
The sponsor all the elite ultimate that happens in the country. 
the people who want to play enough to travel beyond their geographic region.
They sponsor a whole national series for the college and club (adult elite) level.
Teams play in sectionals, the winners go to regionals, the winners of regionals meet at nationals and play through to a National Champion.
http://upa.org/scores/tourn.cgi?div=124&upa=1&year=2008
http://upa.org/scores/tourn.cgi?upa=1&div=122


At the youth level the season is too short to have those sorts of elimination, play in events
but the UPA does its best to pick the best teams from each state and invite them to an East Coast and West Coast Championship.
My team has gone to these sorts of events since 2003.

How do they pick the best teams?  generally based on state championships, which the UPA also sponsors.
They are good events in and of themselves: big 2 day tournaments where your team plays 3+ games Saturday and up to 3 games Sunday.
Several games of ultimate in a day can be pretty exhausting but its also great going on a road trip with your team.
Its also fun to mingle with other ultimate teams, hang out with other ulti kids.  Last year they had 14 teams at the VA event.

Here are the challenges.
VA states is in richmond so you have to convince some adults to drive/spend the night down there with you.
According to the UPA rules you need 2 (i think) adults to be with you at the fields anyway.
This is basically for medical emergency type stuff. 
The UPA also requires that all the players be registered.  They dont want kids joining in with teams that aren't your school, or sneaking on alumni or any of that hijinks when trying to crown a legitimate state champion.  So if you want to fully join the UPA (like all the kids on YHB, Urbana, WTWoodson, etc do) you have to pay 20$ but you get some stickers a magazine in addition to the tourneys.  
I think they still offer a "1 time only" membership of 5$.

In addition to the cash you need to fill out 2 forms.
1) A membership registration/waiver saying who you are, how old you are, and that you wont sue them
http://www.upa.org/files/2009MembershipWaiverForm_v2.pdf

2) A medical waiver that you give to your coach/sponsor/adult person if you are under 18.  
http://www.upa.org/files/Medical_Authorization_Form_V1.5.pdf
Basically it says=2 0who your doctor is, how to contact your parents, and that its ok to put you in an ambulence in case you get totally mauled and are unconscious.  I know it seems ridiculous but I had a kid taken away in an ambulence last year.  He was conscious, his parents were there, so it worked out ok, but if not its good to have that paper. 
 
Its a pain getting all that paperwork in
but the tournament is totally worth the work.
Both VA and MD's state events are May 16, 17th and there will be no WAFC games that day so you can go.

Lemme know what else you need to know,
Dave


-----Original Message-----
From: Ahmed Elhelbawey <ahmed_elhelbawey@...>
To: Dave Soles <davelovesbikes@...>
Sent: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 6:25 pm
Subject: Championships