Disc Northwest
Disc Northwest (also DiscNW or Northwest Ultimate Association) is a Seattle-based Ultimate organization with the aim of increasing participation in the sport of Ultimate at all levels. DiscNW is the largest and most active Ultimate organization in the United States, supporting many teams at the club, local, high school, middle school and elementary school levels. Their mission statement is "Serve as a regional resource, promoting growth in the sport of Ultimate and instilling the spirit of sportsmanship at all levels of play."
DiscNW is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization in the state of Washington. It is primarily a volunteer organization; however, the Executive Director does draw a salary, and some volunteers receive stipends.
DiscNW was founded by Joey Gray, Tom George, Mary Lowry, Jordan Dey, Maria Langlais, Mark Friedland, Bill Penrose and Lisa Thomas in 1995 as a nonprofit repository for funds generated by the growing Potlatch tournament. Soon, DiscNW became an umbrella for the spring ultimate league founded by Mark Friedland and others in 1984 and the fall league founded by Mike King. The first independent Juniors ultimate league was started in 1993 by Mary Lowry, Joe Bisignano, Jeff Jorgenson and others. In 2014, the DiscNW Middle School Spring League had over 1000 players on 79 mixed teams. The DiscNW High School Spring League has both mixed and single gender divisions with over 30 teams total. In spring of 2007 DiscNW inaugurated what is believed to be the world's first elementary school League, with eight teams.
Today, DiscNW's major effort is the Potlatch tournament, which takes place over the July 4 weekend and is the world's largest mixed tournament, featuring some of the world's best players and teams. Potlatch is a traditional Native American word that means "feast" and "giving." Giving gifts to each opponent is an important aspect of each Potlatch tournament.
DiscNW tournaments
- Resolutions - mixed team, early January
- Slog In The Bog - mixed team, March
- Spring Reign - high school, middle school, elementary school teams, April
- Potlatch - mixed team, July 4 weekend
- Men For All Seasons - men's hat, July
- Sea Plastic - beach (5v5), mixed team, late July
- Turkey Bowl - mixed hat, November (Thanksgiving weekend)
- Chick Flick - women's hat, December
- Dangle Wrangle - men's hat, December
DiscNW leagues
- Winter Women's League - 12 teams, December-March, women's hat, highly spirited and social
- Winter League - 24 mixed teams, December–March, no scorekeeping
- Spring League - 40+ mixed teams, March–June, highly competitive
- Verns League - 12+ mixed hat, March–June, beginner friendly
- Spring High School League - Boys, Girls, and Mixed Divisions
- Spring Middle School League - 40+ mixed
- Summer League - 35+ mixed teams, June–August
- Summer Corporate League - 8+ mixed 'corporate teams', June–August
- Summer Hat League - 16 mixed hat teams, June–August, beginner friendly
- Summer Men's Hat League - 6 teams, July–August
- Summer Masters Hat League - 4 teams, July–August
- Summer Women's Hat League - 4 teams, June–August
- Fall Team League - 32+ mixed teams, September - November
- Fall Draft/Hat League - 12+ draft+hat teams, September–November, mildly competitive
- Fall High School Hat - 4 Youth hat teams, September–November