Team UP Policies
Team UP is a yearly commitment running from September through August, with the regular season starting in September and the post-season concluding towards the end of June (March for Tier 2).
All competitions listed on our Team Schedule are required and take priority over any other ninja-related activities or events. Please sign up for all competitions on our schedule promptly to avoid missing out due to full registrations. Any scheduling conflicts or potential absences should be communicated as soon as possible.
We will have a system in place to log and track competition participation, partly to make it easier for coaches to prepare weekend schedules, as well as to keep track of results.
We recommend staying close to our Team competition schedule during off weekends, as we will host various activities throughout the season, especially on weekends, to maximize our team's performance and growth. Please limit each team member’s overall competition participation to no more than 12-15 competitions to prevent burnout unless approved by Coach Thomas.
Competitive Fee covers both travel costs & coaching fees for Team coaches. Tier 1 Regular season - $150, Tier 2 Regular season, $75, Tier 1 & 2 regular season - $175. This also includes one Team T-shirt, additional options will be available through the online store. The competitive fee is not refundable. We understand that some families may find fundraisers to be a lot of work and time that doesn't suit their current situation. If you would like to opt out of Team fundraisers that lower the yearly Team fee, and would rather just pay the full fee, please contact the Coaching staff directly through email at up@urbanplayground.ninja. Please note that if there is no communication or submission for the fundraiser, the full fee will be due to ensure a fair Team effort. Regionals & Worlds (Dates TBD) will be a separate amount. *Note that a $30 membership fee will not be included this year in the competitive fee, a one-time fee will be charged (one per family) along with every active member on December 31st, 2024 and this fee will last all of 2025.
Practice is 2 days a week, 1.5 hours practice at $150 a month tuition. Athletes should arrive on time and be ready to work. Note that our gym will be very busy this school year both outside in the parking lot but also inside in the seating areas and we strongly encourage the Team to be dropped off and then picked up for practice, especially during peak hours (est. 5:15-6:30 pm). If drop-off is not possible please limit one car per family. Team will not have makeup classes unless a class is canceled due to an emergency. However, we will provide a code for Open Gym that can be used as a makeup for classes missed due to illness. This code is limited to one monthly use and should be used for illness-related absences only. The cancelation fee for Team is a flat $150 and must be made before the next month’s tuition is charged (the last day of each month).
Water Bottle Policy: All drinks should be kept in or on top of cubbies and should never be brought out onto the floor. Please do not hand athletes drinks over the fence, they should leave the gym area completely before having a drink.
Chalk Policy: We will supply hand chalk during class, but athletes must receive permission from a coach before using it. For Open Gyms, athletes may bring their personal chalk, which should be clearly labeled with their name. Chalk can only be used in designated areas set up by the coaching staff. At all times, athletes should make an effort to avoid making a mess and are responsible for cleaning up after themselves when they are finished or immediately if they create a mess that could spread through the gym. This includes bucket spills on the sideline! Following this policy ensures a safe and clean environment for everyone.
Thomas, A.J., and Jasper will be our core Team coaches this season for both practice and competition. We also have several backup coaches to assist with any scheduling conflicts, illness, or emergencies throughout the year, including Josiah, Zac, John, Laura, Kristen, and potentially some new hires down the road.
Only UP-approved coaches are permitted to coach Team athletes in any official UP or WNL event. While WNL coaching certification is required to coach at these events, it alone does not meet all of our requirements. We prefer a trained coach from our team or one hand-selected from another team to guide our athletes. Please communicate directly with Coach Thomas is you have any questions!
Side-line coaching is not permitted at any time. This includes before, during, and after practice, open gym, and competitions. Please be especially considerate of team athletes who are not your own.
Athletes need permission to enter or exit the gym area at all times. They should not be going to the fences or outside of the fences to talk to parents, guardians, or siblings.
We will offer extra skill classes, including competition prep sessions, throughout the season. While these are not required, they are strongly encouraged and should still take priority over any other ninja-related activities or events.
Open Gym is half-price for all team members using a code provided at the beginning of the school year session. This code is intended for use by Team members only and their immediate family members who are currently enrolled in classes at UP.
Private Lessons are available to schedule with Thomas, A.J., and other coaches. Pricing and scheduling for these lessons will be variable, depending on coach availability and the specific needs of the athlete. Please reach out directly to coordinate a time that works best.
Team practice will continue through the summer (June through August). Pricing and payment structures will be adjusted accordingly. The total cost will be reduced to account for WNL Worlds, family vacations, and the adjusted schedule for July and August post-Worlds. This will be a one-time fee for the entire summer instead of a monthly fee. Please note that the Team-only camp will have a separate cost, all available Team members are expected to attend.
Updated 9/7/2024