A story about USA Ultimate’s Youth Growth Grants, funded by The Ultimate Foundation.
At The Ultimate Foundation, we see passion for ultimate frisbee flourishing in communities across the nation. It’s often the dedication of local leaders, coaches, and organizers that brings the sport to life for young people. Our mission is to amplify their efforts, providing resources that empower these grassroots initiatives to thrive and expand. Triangle Ultimate‘s “Take the Field” program, a recipient of a USA Ultimate Youth Growth Grant supported by The Ultimate Foundation, is a testament to this partnership in action.
Triangle Ultimate, serving the ultimate community in the Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Durham region of North Carolina, identified a need: strategically growing girls’ ultimate at local public high schools. They recognized that sustained growth requires more than just getting discs into hands; it demands built environments where girls feel valued, seen, and empowered to lead. As their grant application highlighted, “Girls face significant societal barriers to athletic participation and retention when compared to boys. Girls who feel uninvolved or undervalued in sport are unlikely to commit to the sport long term.”
This understanding fueled “Take the Field,” a youth leadership clinic series for middle and high school Girl-Matching-Players of all gender expressions. This series focuses on fostering team development, relationship building, and addressing challenges in recruitment and retention. It aims to build a bridge between rising middle school players and their local high school teams, with high school girls taking leadership roles in events like Triangle Ultimate’s Middle School Girls Day of Play.
However, moving from concept to implementation often requires upfront investment. That’s where the USA Ultimate Youth Growth Grant, supported by The Ultimate Foundation, became the necessary spark.
“The USA Ultimate Youth Growth Grant was a true catalyst for Take the Field,” shared Lauren Fayn, Executive Director of Triangle Ultimate. “It enabled us to move from planning into program implementation—recruiting and compensating clinic facilitators, securing field space, developing curriculum, and purchasing program gear. These elements simply wouldn’t have been possible without this support.”
The response from the community and participants has been incredibly positive and supportive. “We’ve been fortunate to work with amazing facilitators,” Lauren shared. “Take the Field participants have been excited to connect with high-level players, community coaches, and organizers. The enthusiasm is palpable when World Championship athletes like Dawn Culton, Bridget Mizener, or Alex Barnett join sessions to share their experiences in girls’ Ultimate. The involvement of familiar, trusted local coaches who are deeply invested in delivering this girls-focused leadership program has strengthened the connection and impact.”
Even in its early stages, “Take the Field” has created impact. “As an organizer, one of the valuable outcomes has been establishing lines of communication with girls in our community,” Lauren noted. “We’ve gained an understanding of their experiences, such as the challenges of playing on mixed teams at the middle school level and the barriers to forming girls teams at their schools. By inviting them into program planning conversations, including high school season listening sessions, we’ve been able to incorporate their insights and ideas into our strategy. Their voices have been instrumental in shaping a responsive approach to growing girls’ Ultimate at Triangle Ultimate.” This insight is crucial for fostering a supportive environment.
This program embodies the advice Lauren offers to other community members working to grow girls’ ultimate:
“Creating spaces where girls feel seen, safe, and celebrated requires time, intention, and sustained commitment. My advice is to keep showing up, be consistent, be patient, and take a long-term view. Growing girls’ ultimate isn’t just about launching a single season; it’s about cultivating a lasting and inclusive culture that girls want to be a part of. Even if you’re starting small—running a girls practice or Learn to Play for only 6 players —what matters most is being intentional about the environment you’re creating. Every effort counts, and small starts can lead to meaningful, lasting impact.”
This program embodies the advice Lauren offers to other community members working to grow girls’ ultimate: “Creating spaces where girls feel seen, safe, and celebrated requires time, intention, and sustained commitment. My advice is to keep showing up. Be consistent, be patient, and take a long-term view. Growing girls’ ultimate isn’t just about launching a single season; it’s about cultivating a lasting and inclusive culture that girls want to be a part of. Even if you’re starting small—running a girls practice or Learn to Play for only 6 players —what matters most is being intentional about the environment you’re creating. Every effort counts, and small starts can lead to meaningful, lasting impact.”
“Your support goes far beyond discs and jerseys. It builds confidence, leadership, and lifelong community for kids who might not otherwise have found their place in sport,” emphasizes Lauren Fayn, directly addressing those who might consider donating to The Ultimate Foundation. “A donation to The Ultimate Foundation helps lower barriers and create opportunities where they’re needed most. We’ve seen firsthand how one clinic, one coach, or one supportive team can change a young person’s trajectory. If you want to make a tangible, lasting difference in the lives of youth through the sport of ultimate, this is a way to do it.”
The “Take the Field” program is an example of how investment in community-led initiatives can create a positive impact. By supporting The Ultimate Foundation, you empower more programs like “Take the Field” to cultivate inclusive environments, develop future leaders, and help young people find their place in the ultimate community.