Curious about what other teams did for Team Photo week? You can see it in our VDL Gallery.

Week 3 is Team Photo Shoot Week for all Division Nights. What does this all mean? This is your teams’ opportunity to come dressed up in your snazzy team outfits along with those awesome props. Show us those killer smiles and super model poses, and of course, strut your stuff for all of VDL!

Each team will be photographed twice; one of which will consist of a fun and silly creative pose!

If you’re looking for inspiration, check out this team photo from Season 9!

The photo schedule for Season 11 Week 3 is as follows:

• Monday Night – Feb 21st, 2011
• Tuesday Night – Feb 22nd, 2011
• Wednesday Night – Feb 23rd, 2011
• Thursday Night – Feb 24th, 2011

Regular league play will commence as usual but be sure to pay attention to your league coordinators and master photographer of the evening. Please don’t forget to remind your teammates as well!

See you all there!

VDL Goes to the Blood Bank!

At VDL, we firmly believe in the power of dodgeball to do good. Community building is an integral part of our mission, and we believe that giving back to our community is a vital part of being a socially-responsible organization and more importantly, socially-responsible individuals.

What: VDL’s Blood Donation Drive!
When: Monday Nov. 8th to Sunday Nov. 21st
Where: Canadian Blood Services Donor Clinic (4750 Oak Street, Vancouver. At Oak & 32nd) [map]
Why: People need blood. We have it. We’re healthy. And we’re awesome.
(And we like free cookies and juice and doing good while meeting dodgeball friends!)
HOW: Sign up for the Saturday Nov. 13 envoy at https://vdldodgeball.wufoo.com/forms/blood-on-the-dance-floor-2/

A blood donation drive, you say?

Yep! A drive! Starting Monday, Nov. 8th – Sunday, Nov. 21, any VDL player who donates blood not only does a good thing, but has a chance to be rewarded with VDL swag and lots of good karma!

Why Blood?
Plain and simple: we all have it and we all need it.
Over 50% of Canadians will need or know someone in need of blood products to save their lives.

One blood donation can save up to THREE LIVES, and with a community chock full of healthy, able-bodied individuals, just think of how many lives the VDL community as a whole can impact!

Get Started
We’ll have an envoy of VDL faces to kick off the party on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 2:40pm! We have 12 appointments available from 2:40-3:25 that day. If you cannot make it but want to contribute, you can call the Canadian Blood Services office at 1-888-2-DONATE to book an appointment at your convenience.

Come one, come all, bring your buddies, challenge other teams – meet other dodgers while doing something good for your community!

See if you’re eligible to donate here. [link to "Who Can Do It?"]
And sign up here! https://vdldodgeball.wufoo.com/forms/blood-on-the-dance-floor-2/

Get Rewarded
(with more than just warm fuzzy feelings)

Snap a picture of yourself donating or with the “I Gave Blood Today” sticker, and send your lovely mugs into service (at) vdldodgeball.ca.

Each entry will be entered into a draw to win a VDL T-Shirt, and all of the photos will be put into a secret VDL Community Service Good Karma project!

If the VDL logo is visible in your photo in any way (you can be creative!), one photo will count as TWO entries into the draw.

The last day to submit your picture is Sunday, November 21st.

Questions?
Trepidations? Comments? Want to sign up? Want more info? Want to donate but can’t make it within the date range? Contact Andrea at service (at) vdldodgeball.ca

Links:

• Who can do it?
• Is it safe?
• How to prepare!

Who can do it?

Basic Eligibility:
- be in general good health and feeling well on the day of your donation
- weigh at least 50kg (110lb)
- have adequate sleep and something to eat before you donate
- have sufficient hemoglobin levels (have enough iron in you)

Please wait before donating if you:
- have had dental treatment (at least 72 hrs)
- have a cold, flu, or sore throat (full recovery)
- had ear/body piercing or tattooing (6 months)

There is a thorough screening process at the time of donation to further determine eligibility. This is completely confidential and discrete, and you will have the option to leave at any time, or to continue with your donation but privately indicate on your form that you do not wish for your blood to be used in medical procedures. All blood is tested before it is deemed safe for use.

Is it safe?

Yes! Donating blood does NOT put you at risk of disease. All needles are sterile and used only once, then discarded. Only 1 unit (about half a litre, or one pint) is collected, and your body easily replaces all of the blood that you donate (on average, you have 10.5 pints).

Scared of needles? Squeamish about blood? Worried you’ll faint afterwards? Heard a bad rumour about donating blood?

That’s the beauty of going with friendly faces! While your privacy is respected during your screening process, you’ll have someone familiar to support you while you if you’re feeling faint or squeamish.
We’re already united by our love for dodgeball, and what’s even better? Being united by doing something good.

As for those bad rumours, the best way to quash those is to get educated! You cannot get a disease from donating blood.

Health care professionals will be performing all of the screening and blood withdrawals with sterile equipment and new needles. More information can be found on the CBS website (http://www.blood.ca) or send us your questions!

So meet some new friends over a different kind of pint, and come out with us to donate! (Feel free to bring friends!)

How to prepare!

Please make sure you’ve eaten at least 2 hours before donating
Please make sure you are well hydrated by drinking lots of water the day of your donation
Bring photo ID to the clinic
The entire process takes about an hour and a half, so please make sure you’ve scheduled enough time for donating within your busy day!

If you don’t want to be lonely during your donation or are a little nervous and would like some support:
• bring teammates!
• bring friends!
• challenge other teams!
• post your desired dates/times on FB & Twitter (vdldodgeball will RT you) to meet/go with other great dodgers!
• everyone else too chicken? email us and we’ll see if we can send someone fun to keep you company while you both donate!

We hope to see many familiar faces at the blood clinic! We’ll be there! Will you..?

Halloween is coming! It’s that time again to dress up, bring that Halloween spirit, and party it up like it’s 2012 (VDL style)! During October 25-28, come dressed as your favourite celebrity, fictional character or even in your very own Gaga-like costume (think meat dress). Your team can also show their team spirit by dressing up in the same theme (ex: Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons). Dress to impress your teammates, intimidate your opponents, and rock out on the dodgeball court!

A special prize will be awarded for the BEST DRESSED player for each night. As well, treats will be handed out to EVERYONE, so be sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and get sugar high before the games begin. Remember, if you’re planning to dress as Lindsay Lohan this year, we ask that you come sober.

We’re still looking for love! If we haven’t convinced you yet, perhaps these clips pulled from the VDL Video vault will sweep you off your feet and into our open arms!

Videos
Boy seeks love
Girl seeks love

Looking for love:

Dodgeball fanatic with big family seeking passionate, fun individual of either gender. Like me, you possess a strong sense of community, enjoy meeting new people, and look ridiculously good in knee-pads.

Preferably someone with talents (public speaking, computer skills, and even drawing abilities, etc.) that can help me spread those 4 D’s – dodge, duck, dip, and dive – and that is able to commit to this relationship. Interested? Check out my list of matching soul mates below. I know you’re out there.

xoxo

Love,
VDL

Currently looking for individuals to commit to these relationships.

• League Ops Dept.: League Coordinators on ALL nights  – application form
• Supply Dept.: General Coordinator – application form
• IT Dept.: Web Developer – application form
• MarCom Dept.: Designer  / Sponsorship Lead – application form

If you fit or are interested in any of these potential relationships, I encourage you to fill out the corresponding application form that best suits you. Fill it up and I will contact you, should you catch my eye!

Thank you to all interested applicants!

*muah*

p.s.
To learn more about each department, please visit our Department pages.

p.p.s.
Application deadline is June 20.

UPDATE (5/03):
Click HERE for Pics

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate Season 9 together!

Some Highlights:

- Over too many beers and burgers, we enjoyed the Canucks rocking the Blackhawks
- Random dancing, including surprise booty shakers to “Baby Got Back”
- Great congo line to “I Got A Feeling”
- Lots of  prizes
- Happy Birthday song to May 1st babies
- Our biggest turn out ever!!!

We hope that you had a blast for the 5 year Anniversary.

On that note, thanks for being a part of the Vancouver Dodgeball League.

Go Canucks Go!!!

UPDATE (4/26):
Are YOU ready to PARTY?! We are so excited to see all of you lovely dodgeball players at the VDL Pub Night/5th Anniversary this Saturday at BCIT Pub: Professor Mugs!

Hopefully by now you’ve:

• reserved your spots and your $10 burger/fries/deal online
• convinced all of your teammates and friends to attend with you
• figured out how to get home from pub night – carpool, call a cab, ride a camel…(remember, VDL discourages drinking and driving!)
• successfully given your palms a workout with all those high-fives you’ve been giving and receiving
• and gotten completely hyped up about the insanity that will be VDL Pub Night!

If you haven’t registered yet, it’s not too late to do so! Please note that there is a capacity of 300 people at Professor Mugs, and although signing up online gives us a better idea of how many people and burgers to expect, there is no guarantee that if you come late we won’t run out of room and kitchen supplies. Please aim to arrive before 7pm to secure your spot, since everyone will be wanting in on the action!

You definitely do not want to miss out on the free appies and beer, fantastic entertainment, and fabulous prizes! You could end up winning a BBQ worth $400 home (just in time for summer!) with our raffle draw, or some special limited-edition anniversary t-shirts!

Oh, did we mention we’ll be selling new VDL swag? Bring some extra cash and get your new gear on!

• VDL Black Hoodie – $38
• VDL Black Sweat Pants – $38
• VDL T-Shirt – $15
• VDL Toque – $15
• VDL Towel – $12

Don’t go home cold that night! We can’t wait to see everyone there! Hope you’re as excited as we are!

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Happy Birthday to VDL!
It’s the league’s 5th year anniversary, and we are combining this great occasion with our biggest and best social event of the season: VDL Pub Night! Munch on free beer and appetizers, mingle with the people you’ve so far only thrown balls at, and marvel at the entertainment and surprises in store!

When: Saturday, May 1st, 2010 – 6pm to close (1am)
Where: BCIT’s Pub: Professor Mugs (4200 Willingdon Ave., Burnaby, BC)

Please note that we will not be selling tickets in advance this year; instead, we ask that you reserve a spot online here. So hurry and secure your spot in the fun and excitement! Professor Mugs has a capacity of 300, and there is no limit to the number of spots you can reserve, but to make sure you can get in please aim to arrive before 7pm!

VDL has arranged to keep you people happily fed with the burger, fries, and beer deal for $10, to be purchased directly at the pub. As we will not be selling tickets during gym nights this year, please indicate when you sign up online whether you will be purchasing this deal as supplies are limited!

We like our players safe and healthy and strongly discourage drinking and driving. Please take public transit, arrange carpools and rides with a designated driver, or call a cab home!

VDL would not be what it is today without your spirit, enthusiasm, and support. To celebrate the anniversary and remind ourselves what dodgeball is all about, we are implementing something called High-5-for-5-Years-with-VDL: For the next few weeks leading up to Pub Night, after each game when you congratulate your opponents, reach up for a high-five. Jump if you want, but no low-fives allowed…please! What’s more, just because the Olympics are over doesn’t mean random high-fives can’t happen! High-five your teammates, your opponents, the execs, random person on the other side of the gym whom you see make a fantastic catch…encourage each other, make new friends, display your fantastic sportsmanship! Keep the spirit alive; show it with your high-five!

Throughout the next few weeks, we’ll be tweeting out random VDL Fun Facts, so follow us on Twitter to find out what they are!

Now, you wouldn’t let a 5-year old down by missing out on its birthday party, right? See you all at Pub Night, partying it up like only dodgeballers know how!

Also, a big THANK YOU to our pub night Sponsors:

UPDATE (5/04)
Our Saturday, May 8th Skills Clinic is officially sold out now. If you still want to register for our skills clinic, please register for our May 10th edition.  Click on the link provided below to sign up!

UPDATE (4/26)
The wait is over! We’re opening our registration doors to our SECOND and THIRD skills clinic training camp! Don’t miss this last chance of the season!

Do you suffer from consistent blows to the head? Does your arm hurt after a night of playing? Feeling unconfident because you can’t seem to catch anyone’s eye (because you can’t catch any balls)? Well, we’ve got the answer for you!

Come out to our Season 9 Skills Clinic Training Camp, where you’ll learn how to throw, catch, block, and plenty more! Not only that, but with the package comes our own well-trained and experienced Execs (experts in their field, of course) on hand to teach you individual and team strategy, give demonstration and tips on proper technique, and even some practice time!

Not only that, you get to try out your new skills with some games and hopefully new friends! It is time to leave your muscle inflammation remedies at home, so register now and we’ll even teach you about injury prevention!

Season 9 Skills Clinic Training Camp (Part 2) – Learn How to be a Hero
Date: Saturday, May 8, 2010
Time: 6 – 9pm
Location: Kensington Community Centre (map)
Who is eligible? Any Season 9 VDL Player
Max capacity: 35 players/clinic
Cost: $6/person (please pay at the door, cash only)
Registration: Sign up here

Season 9 Skills Clinic Training Camp (Part 3) – Learn How to be a Hero (some more!)
Date: Monday, May 10, 2010
Time: 7 – 10pm
Location: Waverly Elementary School (map)
Who is eligible? Any Season 9 VDL Player
Max capacity: 35 players/clinic
Cost: $6/person (please pay at the door, cash only)
Registration: Sign up here

This is really going to be the last skills clinic of the season. As you may already know, our first one sold like hot cakes, so don’t wait too long — act quick!

We have all the resources you need to get your team together. If you already have your full team roster, simply just register your team here and make the necessary team fee payments and you’ll be all set!  If you’re interested in playing with new players and just meeting new people, you can register as a single registrant, and we will do our best to find a team for you that best suits your level of play and night preference.  Also, you can always have a look at our Facebook group page and try to recruit yourself to a team!

We’re looking forward to another sold-out season! Register now and be a part of VDL history!

We hope you guys are having a wonderful New Year. Throughout Season 8, we have seen players loving their teammates and the bonding time, being inspired by great athletic moments, and enjoying the spirited time playing with other teams. To capture that experience, we have put together a video for you cool people — we hope you all enjoy it!

(by the way, it is also available in the top right corner of our website)