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Received this in my email today.
PDGA Survey
Theme 1: Player Experience
Tournaments and sanctioning are a large part of what the PDGA does. By the numbers: Tournament fees account for 23% of the organization's income, 17% of its expenses and 20% of the staff's time. The organization is the primary (inter)national sanctioning body for organized disc golf competition. In 2012 it sanctioned 1,688 tournaments/leagues and is on track to do more than 2,000 this year. Inconsistency of member experience across PDGA sanctioned events, such as variations in registration, format, payout, standards, enforcement of rules, etc., was identified as an organizational weakness in the strategic planning process. Potential areas of focus include:
> Grow tournament purses across the board by re-evaluating how PDGA tournaments are run. Potential areas to address include fee structures, reducing 1-day fee amount, re-evaluating pro/am payout models and requiring greater sponsorship contribution to the purse by the host.
> The PDGA has prioritized investment in its top events as a means to raise awareness of the sport and spends over $100K/year on Worlds/Majors and NTs. The PDGA should continue investing in and improving these events as the top showcase of the sport.
> Tournament standards and rules enforcement are poorly regulated. Possible actions include reviewing, defining and enforcing tournament standards across all tiers; embracing an initiative to educate the playing population on the rules and supporting TD's in enforcing the rules of play.
> Increase the emphasis on areas other than the competition itself such as enriching the online statistics/data and offering social networking for competitors.
> Continue to broaden the definition of 'Player Experience' beyond singles competition including increasing league participation and sanctioning alternative competitive formats including doubles, teams, etc. Embracing, supporting and collaborating with local clubs.
> Continue to raise the profile sport by pursuing inclusion in international competitions including embracing WADA drug testing standards.
> Embrace and grow the amateur prize-based payout model that provides positive economic impact to the locale through the margin realized on the prize merchandise.
> De-emphasize the amateur prize-based payout model in favor of offering trophy only similar to other sporting competitions.
> Provide greater recognition and support to local tournament directors.
1. Please rank the areas of focus above (paraphrased below) in order from 1 to 9 on their potential impact on improving player experience with 1 having the greatest potential: (1 = Greatest)
__Grow tournament purses
__Continue investing and growing Worlds/Majors/NTs
__Revisit and enforce standards and rules
__Increase online player experience/social networking at pdga.com
__Broaden competition formats, i.e. doubles, teams, etc.
__Escalate the international profile of the sport through top competitions
__Embrace the amateur prize pay-out model
__De-emphasize the amateur prize pay-out model
__Provide greater recognition and support to tournament directors
2. The role of the PDGA in the World Championships has increased significantly in the past years and the leadership is considering the future direction for this event. Please select the statement that you most agree with:
(a)The PDGA World Championships is the traditional gathering of the disc golf family. The PDGA should embrace the hugeness and all-inclusiveness of the event - encouraging combined pro/am worlds when possible. Offering courses suited for a range of skills and emphasizing extra-curricular activities throughout the event.
(b)The PDGA World Championships should evolve to be the showcase/media event of disc golf. With the PDGA taking full control in running the event, locating a showcase venue that is TV-friendly, focusing on a limited field/divisions, and playing on courses designed to specifically challenge the top players of the game. For disc golf it would seek to set the bar for other top events to emulate.
a or b
3. PDGA Amateur Payouts where 100%+ of registration fees are expected to be awarded back to the field as prizes is somewhat unique to disc golf. The organization has taken exploratory steps to change this by making the 2013 Amateur World Championships trophy only. Please select the statement that you most agree with:
(a)The payout prize structure should be embraced and endorsed by the PDGA. The model provides local positive economic impact and rewards a greater number of players with product that benefits the manufacturers. While not perfect it's a model that works for all.
(b)The payout prize structure is holding the sport back from being a true amateur competitive sport and should be de-emphasized by the PDGA. Trophy-only events offer the opportunity to lower entry fees to increase participation with a local positive economic impact achieved through the margins on players packages if desired.
a or b
PDGA Survey
Theme 1: Player Experience
Tournaments and sanctioning are a large part of what the PDGA does. By the numbers: Tournament fees account for 23% of the organization's income, 17% of its expenses and 20% of the staff's time. The organization is the primary (inter)national sanctioning body for organized disc golf competition. In 2012 it sanctioned 1,688 tournaments/leagues and is on track to do more than 2,000 this year. Inconsistency of member experience across PDGA sanctioned events, such as variations in registration, format, payout, standards, enforcement of rules, etc., was identified as an organizational weakness in the strategic planning process. Potential areas of focus include:
> Grow tournament purses across the board by re-evaluating how PDGA tournaments are run. Potential areas to address include fee structures, reducing 1-day fee amount, re-evaluating pro/am payout models and requiring greater sponsorship contribution to the purse by the host.
> The PDGA has prioritized investment in its top events as a means to raise awareness of the sport and spends over $100K/year on Worlds/Majors and NTs. The PDGA should continue investing in and improving these events as the top showcase of the sport.
> Tournament standards and rules enforcement are poorly regulated. Possible actions include reviewing, defining and enforcing tournament standards across all tiers; embracing an initiative to educate the playing population on the rules and supporting TD's in enforcing the rules of play.
> Increase the emphasis on areas other than the competition itself such as enriching the online statistics/data and offering social networking for competitors.
> Continue to broaden the definition of 'Player Experience' beyond singles competition including increasing league participation and sanctioning alternative competitive formats including doubles, teams, etc. Embracing, supporting and collaborating with local clubs.
> Continue to raise the profile sport by pursuing inclusion in international competitions including embracing WADA drug testing standards.
> Embrace and grow the amateur prize-based payout model that provides positive economic impact to the locale through the margin realized on the prize merchandise.
> De-emphasize the amateur prize-based payout model in favor of offering trophy only similar to other sporting competitions.
> Provide greater recognition and support to local tournament directors.
1. Please rank the areas of focus above (paraphrased below) in order from 1 to 9 on their potential impact on improving player experience with 1 having the greatest potential: (1 = Greatest)
__Grow tournament purses
__Continue investing and growing Worlds/Majors/NTs
__Revisit and enforce standards and rules
__Increase online player experience/social networking at pdga.com
__Broaden competition formats, i.e. doubles, teams, etc.
__Escalate the international profile of the sport through top competitions
__Embrace the amateur prize pay-out model
__De-emphasize the amateur prize pay-out model
__Provide greater recognition and support to tournament directors
2. The role of the PDGA in the World Championships has increased significantly in the past years and the leadership is considering the future direction for this event. Please select the statement that you most agree with:
(a)The PDGA World Championships is the traditional gathering of the disc golf family. The PDGA should embrace the hugeness and all-inclusiveness of the event - encouraging combined pro/am worlds when possible. Offering courses suited for a range of skills and emphasizing extra-curricular activities throughout the event.
(b)The PDGA World Championships should evolve to be the showcase/media event of disc golf. With the PDGA taking full control in running the event, locating a showcase venue that is TV-friendly, focusing on a limited field/divisions, and playing on courses designed to specifically challenge the top players of the game. For disc golf it would seek to set the bar for other top events to emulate.
a or b
3. PDGA Amateur Payouts where 100%+ of registration fees are expected to be awarded back to the field as prizes is somewhat unique to disc golf. The organization has taken exploratory steps to change this by making the 2013 Amateur World Championships trophy only. Please select the statement that you most agree with:
(a)The payout prize structure should be embraced and endorsed by the PDGA. The model provides local positive economic impact and rewards a greater number of players with product that benefits the manufacturers. While not perfect it's a model that works for all.
(b)The payout prize structure is holding the sport back from being a true amateur competitive sport and should be de-emphasized by the PDGA. Trophy-only events offer the opportunity to lower entry fees to increase participation with a local positive economic impact achieved through the margins on players packages if desired.
a or b
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