New Age-Based Competition Divisions Starting in 2018 | Professional Disc Golf Association

In a move aimed at making the sport of disc golf more organized and inclusive, the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is introducing several key changes for 2018. One of the most significant updates is the introduction of four new age-based divisions for adult players: Masters Women 40+, Masters Women 50+, Masters Women 55+, and Masters Women 65+.

In addition to these new women's divisions, the PDGA is also adding two new mixed (men and women) divisions for both amateur and professional players. These divisions will replace the previous Grandmasters and Senior Grandmasters categories, which are being split into four distinct age-based groups: 50, 55, 60, and 65.

The decision to create these new divisions was made in order to better align with physiological age breaks used in other sports, such as the National Senior Games. The PDGA is also introducing a new naming convention for its age-based divisions, which will feature the word "Masters" followed by the minimum PDGA competition age (e.g., MA40 for amateur men's Masters 40+).

For junior players, the PDGA is dropping the term "Boys" from the Junior Boys divisions and simply referring to them as Junior divisions. This change reflects the fact that all junior divisions are considered mixed (men and women) and will feature a maximum PDGA competition age.

The new division codes and names may take some getting used to, but they offer a clear and logical system for organizing players by age and skill level. The PDGA is confident that these changes will help to promote fairness and inclusivity in the sport, while also providing more opportunities for players of all ages and backgrounds to compete.

To determine your PDGA competition age, simply look at your birth year – not your full birthdate. For example, a player born in 1963 would be considered a Master 55+ in 2018, despite not turning 55 until October.

The introduction of these new divisions and rules may raise questions about the impact on existing events. The PDGA notes that while some events may struggle to fill certain age-based divisions, others will continue to thrive with the changes. Tournament Directors are encouraged to offer all age-based divisions at their events, but ultimately have the discretion to decide which divisions to hold.

In terms of competition, players can still choose to compete in any division they are eligible for, regardless of their PDGA competition age or skill level. This means that a player with a PDGA competition age of 60 can still compete in MA60, MA55, MA50, or MA40, as well as non-age-based amateur divisions.

Finally, the introduction of these new rules and divisions will have an impact on several upcoming events, including the 2018 Am Worlds and 2018 Pro Masters Worlds. The 55 and 65 age-based divisions will not be offered at these events, but players can still earn points towards invites in those divisions for future competitions.

Overall, the PDGA's introduction of new age-based divisions and rules is a positive step forward for the sport of disc golf. By providing more opportunities for players of all ages and backgrounds to compete, the PDGA is helping to promote inclusivity and fairness in the game.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/new-age-based-competition-divisions-starting-2018