2015 PDGA International Program Guide Prepared by Brian Hoeniger #4022, International Director FINAL – 22 December 2014 Photo Credit: Urs Handte 0 Table of Contents Part 1: Information for All Countries 1. Introduction 2 2. Program Goals 2 3. Affiliated Countries 2 4. Country Coordinators 4 5. International Memberships and Events Protocol 6 6. Player Classifications 8 7. 2015 PDGA World Championships 10 8. 2015 International Major Events 11 9. PDGA International Tour Events 12 10. PDGA Rules of Play & Competition Manual 15 11. International Disciplinary Procedures 15 12. Marco Polo Program 15 Part 2: PDGA Europe 13. PDGA Europe Committee 16 14. PDGA EuroTour Series 16 15. PDGA Europe Awards 22 16. PDGA Europe Disciplinary Procedures 23 Part 3: Appendices A. PDGA International Demographics 25 B. PDGA International Member Benefits 26 C. Country Payments Tracking Form 28 D. PDGA Disciplinary Action Form 29 E. PDGA Europe Player of the Year Calculation 30 1 Part 1: Information for All Countries 1. Introduction Since 2005, when the PDGA International Program was launched, PDGA activity has grown exponentially beyond the USA and Canada. By 2014 there were 3100+ current PDGA International members and 360+ PDGA Tour events in Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. All told the PDGA, through the International Program, now partners with more than 25 national disc golf and disc sports associations across Europe, and in eastern Asia and Oceania. See Appendix 1 on PDGA International Demographics. For more information please visit www.pdga.com/international and www.pdga-europe.com . Elsewhere, in Latin America & the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and other corners of the globe where disc golf is beginning to take flight, the PDGA serves as a resource base for building the game at the grassroots level. Funding support is also available to new countries and regions through the Marco Polo Program which was launched in 2012. For more information please see: http://www.pdga.com/marco-polo-program . Today the PDGA is recognized as the official body for the sport of disc golf as an institutional member of the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF). In 2014 WFDF and PDGA signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding “the mutual governance of disc golf internationally, … and the sanctioning of World Championships events” and established a joint Global Disc Golf Committee. The PDGA International Program is steered by the International Director and by the European and Asia/Oceania Country Representatives, as appointed by each participating country’s national disc sports or disc golf governing body. The Program is also supported by the PDGA Executive Director and the USA office staff, and through www.pdga.com, and the PDGA’s global database, in activities that include player ratings calculation, social media, problem solving, sponsorship of and on-site support at International Major and Championship events, financial accounts management, and the Marco Polo Program. This Guide is designed to serve as the principal resource on the International Program and how it works, the roles of and the relations between the International countries and the PDGA, the basic services provided by PDGA to the countries, and the standards that apply to PDGA International memberships and Tour events. Please send any questions regarding the Guide to the PDGA International Director 2. Program Goals Strengthen and support the growth of disc golf around the world Assist in the introduction and development of disc golf in new countries and areas Set player standards for classification of PDGA members into universal Professional and Amateur divisions Set tour standards for classification of PDGA International events into appropriate tiers Support the translation of PDGA documents into other languages, including the PDGA Rules of Play and Competition Manual, the Official’s Exam, Introduction to Disc Golf brochures, etc Support the growth of national disc golf associations and disc sports bodies through affiliation with PDGA Strengthen the PDGA brand as the global players association and leader in organized competitive disc golf Working with WFDF and the countries, to gain recognition and sanctioning of disc golf events by International and national sports bodies such as the IOC, SportAccord, the World Games, national Olympic Committees and Government Sports-Funding bodies 3. Affiliated Countries The International Program is based on partnerships between the PDGA and the national association(s). At the country or national level, the National Associations retain responsibility for all domestic/in-country issues, including the application of the standards discussed in this document. Ongoing PDGA relations focus mainly on the processing and maintenance of memberships, event listings, event results, and the associated finances. 2 At the continental level, decisions become the responsibility of a collective Committee, for example the PDGA Europe Committee, and the focus is on issues of collective interest and responsibility. This includes setting standards for continental Championship events or Series such as the PDGA EuroTour, the review of disciplinary related issues that occurred in the country, and the ongoing exploration of ways to improve and increase continental collaboration as disc golf continues to grow. Table of PDGA Affiliated Countries and Partner Associations Updated December 2014 Affiliated Country Partner Association Website EUROPE Austria Österreichischer Discgolfverband www.discgolf.at Belgium Belgian Disc Golf Commission www.belgiandiscgolf.net Croatia Croatian Flying Disc Association http://www.hfds.hr Czech Republic Česká Asociace DiscGolfu www.DiscGolf.cz Denmark Dansk Disc Golf Union www.ddgu.dk Estonia Eesti Disc Golf Liit www.discgolfiliit.ee Finland Suomen Frisbeegolfliitto www.frisbeeliitto.com France Commission Nationale Disc-Golf (CNDG) www.disc-golf.fr/ Germany Deutscher Frisbeesport Verband www.discgolf.de Hungary Hungarian National Flying Disc Association www.disc-golf.hu Iceland Íslendska Frisbígolf samband www.folf.is Israel Disc Golf Israel www.frisbee.co.il Italy Disc Golf Italia www.discgolf.it Latvia Latvian Flying Disc Federation www.diskgolfs.info Lithuania Vilnius Disc Golf Club www.discgolf.lt Netherlands Nederlandse Frisbee Bond (NFB) www.frisbeesport.nl Norway Disksport Norge www.disksport.no Poland Disc Golf Poland www.discgolfpoland.pl/ Russia Russian Disc Golf Association http://www.rdga.ru Slovakia Slovak Association of Frisbee www.discgolf.sk Spain Asociación Española de Disc Golf https://www.facebook.com/discgolfspain Sweden Svenska Frisbeesportförbundet www.frisbeesport.se Switzerland Swiss Discgolf www.discgolf.ch United Kingdom British Disc Golf Association www.bdga.org.uk ASIA/OCEANIA Australia Australian Disc Golf www.australiandiscgolf.com Japan Japan Disc Golf Association www.jpdga.jp New Zealand New Zealand Disc Golf www.discgolf.co.nz South Korea Korea Professional Disc Golf Association www.kpdga.kr 3 The basic criteria for being a PDGA affiliated country are: Ten (10) or more current PDGA members One (1) or more sanctioned PDGA events, hosted in country, following International event standards PDGA support and benefits to the affiliated country includes: Global organization, governance and related standards, including the Rules of Play, Competition Manual, & Technical Standards sanctioning and promotion of events as part of the global PDGA Tour individual membership benefits, including player ratings searchable database of player, event, and country statistics at www.pdga.com Financial assistance with the translation of key PDGA texts, including the “PDGA’s Official Rules of Disc Golf & Competition Manual”, Officials Test, and the “What is Disc Golf” brochure, into local languages rights to use PDGA-affiliated names and logos including PDGA Tour & PDGA Major, provision of related promotional materials including PDGA logo banners Countries interested in becoming PDGA affiliated can contact the International Director for more information. 4. Country Coordinators PDGA Country Coordinators are appointed by the national disc golf association or disc sports body. The roles and responsibilities of PDGA Country Coordinators include: Representation of the country to PDGA and on PDGA Committees, including the handling of PDGA related requests from their Association and from TDs and members in their country to PDGA, and vice versa. Coordination of PDGA activity and promotion in country, including the distribution of PDGA information to TDs and members (International Program Guide, International Event Report form, on-line membership and event instructions, officials tests, etc.). Ensuring that their country’s memberships, event dates and results are submitted to PDGA following the prescribed methods and timeframes, either by the individual members and event TDs in question, or by the Country Association Maintaining the accounting of country membership and events fees owed to PDGA, in consultation with the PDGA Office Manager, and settlement of accounts Facilitation of new and updated information on country disc golf courses in the PDGA Course Directory PDGA Europe Country Coordinators Credit: PDGA Media 4 PDGA International Country Coordinators & Contacts Updated December 2014 PDGA International Director Brian Hoeniger [email protected] Office Manager Toni Giusto [email protected] Tour Manager Andrew Sweeton [email protected] Memberships Manager Sara Nicholson [email protected] Marco Polo