*Please write your club name and your role in your club in the comments when signing this petition*

We, the undersigned, support having Zig Theory (women’s club from Adelaide, South Australia (SA)) attend Australian Ultimate Championships 2022 held in Nelson Bay, New South Wales (NSW) on the dates between 21 April and 24 April 2022.

Zig Theory was not considered for the AFDA Wildcard slot at Div 1 Nationals due to errors outside of the club (namely the State and National governing bodies which were outside our control). Please read on bellow for further detail and relevant background information.

Background information:

Zig Theory have tried to outline just how this anomalous situation arose so that you understand why we are asking for your support. While our passion and distress probably vibrate through this petition, the point of the details below is not to suggest blame but to show how important the situation is.

From the 2022 Australian Ultimate Championships Division I and Division II Qualification and Allocation Process (AFDA Admin, post on AFDA page 29/11/2021):

“Each State and Territory Association must indicate the number of slots they are seeking in writing, including any applications for the AFDA wildcard slot via nationaleventsmanager@afda.com.au by Friday 18 February 2022. Except for New Zealand who must accept or decline by Friday 14 January 2022.”

Note: no mention of individual club/ team requirements to submit an application for the AFDA Wildcard spot.

• Zig Theory placed 3rd at Southern Regionals, behind Ellipsis Asterix and Ellipsis Ampersand. South region was initially allocated two slots at Div 1 Nationals.
• On 16th February 2022, South Australian Flying Disc Association (SAFDA) President sent an email to the Australian Flying Disc Association (AFDA) National Events Manager Anna Haynes, stating that South Australia would "look to apply for a wildcard" for two (2) teams: Outbreak (Open) and Zig Theory (Women’s) if they did not qualify at VUC.
• On 17th February, an email reply was sent from the National Events Manager to the SAFDA president requesting a further formal application for the AFDA wildcard spot to be submitted by February 23rd, so SAFDA could await results of VUC.
• On 23rd February 2022, the National Events Manager sent a follow up email to the SAFDA president enquiring if such application will still be submitted for Zig Theory for the AFDA wildcard slot. At this time, no other SAFDA board members or Zig Theory board members or players were made aware of the outstanding Feb 23rd deadline.
• No further formal application was submitted by the deadline.
• On 01/03/2022, Zig Theory President Deborah Lee and Secretary Anna Roesler received an email from the National Events Manager, confirming that Zig Theory was not offered a spot to Div 1 nationals because no application was made by the deadline. This is the first that anyone from Zig Theory was made aware that there was an issue.
• Following this email, Lee immediately approached Secretary of SAFDA Ben Powlay. This was the first time that Powlay was made aware of this issue. He then opened up an avenue of communications between himself and the National Events Manager on behalf of SAFDA and Zig Theory, apologising for SAFDA’s part in the oversight and enquiring about any way to rectify the situation, and received the same email reply that was originally sent to Zig Theory President.
• On the morning of 02/03/2022, the Div 1 allocations were made public and teams were informed. Zig Theory were not given a spot.
• SAFDA have since submitted the AFDA wildcard slot application for Zig Theory on 02/03/2022.
• Zig Theory believes that they should be allocated a slot at Div 1 nationals for the following reasons:
  • Zig Theory has proven by their level of competition at Southern Regionals to be of Division 1 Nationals standard, placing third. Their only losses came to five-time National champions, Ellipsis Ultimate club. Hence, other clubs can be assured that Zig Theory will not lower the standard of competition.
  • Women’s Ultimate in South Australia will be particularly harshly impacted by AFDA taking away the highest level of competition, particularly after two hard years of pandemic impact on our sport and our athletes.
  • Zig Theory informed the SAFDA of their intent to attend Div 1 prior to their Regionals result, and was never aware of further requirements to provide supporting information for the application, until after the deadline had passed.

Thank you for reading this far, and I hope you support our cause.

Written by Alice Si (Board Member) on behalf of Zig Theory.

All details above are true to my understanding as of 7pm, 04/03/2022