SFDA Women's Committee 2026–28 — Growing Women's Ultimate in Tamil Nadu

Why we are doing this

Tamil Nadu has one of the strongest Ultimate communities in India, but the number of women joining the sport and staying in it has been falling for several years. Clubs across the state tell us the same story: fewer women at beginner sessions, fewer women staying beyond a first season, and harder roster decisions for mixed teams. The women who are in the sport are committed; there are simply not enough of them.

Without a larger base we cannot field competitive women's and mixed teams, grow a women's division, or send more Tamil Nadu women into national team pathways.

We also do not have reliable numbers on how many women play at each club, or a clear picture of why they are leaving or not joining — session timings, travel and safety, pickup dominated by men, a lack of women coaches, players dropping off after college. Each needs a different fix, so the first job is to listen.

Growing women's participation is one of the SFDA Board's top priorities for the next two years. This is not a side project. It will be a standing item at Board meetings, it will shape how we plan events, sessions and selection, and the Board will give the committee its full backing throughout its term.

What we want to achieve

Over the next two years, we want:

• More women starting Ultimate in Tamil Nadu, and more of them staying in the sport
• Regular women's sessions running in every active Ultimate community in Tamil Nadu
• A Tamil Nadu Women's Tournament before the start of the 2027–28 season
• More women trying out for Tamil Nadu and India national teams

We are deliberately not setting numbers at this stage. The committee's first responsibility will be to build a clear picture of women's participation across the state and set specific targets with the Board.

What the committee does

The committee works with the SFDA Board to plan and run all women's player initiatives for two years. It will:

• Understand why women are joining, staying and leaving, starting with a community survey
• Shape and run the initiatives set out below
• Be the first point of contact for women players, clubs and captains on these issues
• Meet the Board for a monthly review, and more often when needed
• Be consulted by the Board before decisions that affect women players — event formats, the tournament calendar, selection processes

Who is on it

Three members, all women players from the Tamil Nadu community, selected with regional spread in mind, so that the committee reflects the different Ultimate communities across Tamil Nadu. We want a mix of experience, ideally including at least one newer player who remembers what starting out felt like.

The term runs October 2026 to September 2028, with a review at the end of the first year. The committee is supported directly by the SFDA Board, and may draw on advisors such as the Tamil Nadu team captain and coaches.

What the commitment actually looks like

Being on the committee is a real commitment. Members will be expected to:

• Give regular time to the committee's work throughout the two-year term
• Attend the monthly review with the Board
• Be visible and approachable at sessions and events in their community
• Represent the views of women players honestly to the Board, including when they are uncomfortable
• Work together as a committee, and with clubs, coaches and captains across the state

Who can apply

Any woman player in Tamil Nadu can express interest through the application form.

How members are selected

1. Express interest through the form.
2. The Board holds a call with each applicant.
3. The Board selects the committee against the criteria above and announces it on 30 September 2026.

All selection decisions follow SFDA's conflict of interest practice. Board members will declare any close relationship with an applicant and step back from that decision.

The ideas we are starting from

These are the ideas the Board has discussed so far — a starting point, not a fixed plan. The committee will test them against what the community tells us, and add, change or drop them.

1. Map women's participation across the state — the committee's first task, and the baseline everything else is set against.
2. Women's upskill clinics at all levels, led by women coaches wherever possible.
3. Women-only pickup and beginner sessions, running regularly wherever Ultimate is played in Tamil Nadu.
4. School and college outreach, where most players in India first find the sport.
5. A safe and welcoming environment: a code of conduct for SFDA sessions and events, and a trusted person to approach with concerns — supported by SFDA's upcoming appointment of a Safeguarding Officer.
6. Women coaches, mentors and role models, pairing newer players with experienced ones.
7. Showcasing women players, coaches and teams on SFDA's website and social media.
8. A women's hat tournament, where players sign up individually and are placed into teams, so anyone can take part.
9. A Tamil Nadu Women's Tournament before the 2027–28 season.
10. A clear pathway to Tamil Nadu and India teams: what selectors look for, tryout preparation, and encouraging players early.
11. Working with clubs, sharing what works and supporting captains.

Keeping the community informed

The Board and the committee will share a short progress update every quarter, and a fuller update at the one-year review.

Beyond two years

The Board intends the Women's Committee to become a permanent part of SFDA. Over the next two years, the Board and the committee will work out how, including how future members are chosen and how the committee fits into SFDA's structure.

How you can help

• Women players: fill in the form, come to sessions, bring a friend.
• Clubs and captains: make growing women's participation a priority, host sessions, and encourage women who would be good committee members to apply.
• Coaches: volunteer for clinics.
• Everyone: make pickup and club sessions a place where new women players want to come back.