We hope you all are having a great summer. Fall is around the corner and that means it’s dodgeball time! Here are some details to keep you in the loop:

1) S10′s League Schedule Updates: The Registration page has been updated with more specific dates regarding the season. Here are some highlights:

• Exhibition week starts from Monday, Sept. 13th to Sept. 16th
• Week 1 for everyone begins the following week
• All divisions will have a 10 week schedule, plus Exhibition Week and Playoffs
• Tiering for all divisions will occur after Week 3 and Week 8
• Gyms are closed on Thankgiving Day (Oct. 11) and Remembrance Day (Nov. 11)
• Season 10′s Playoffs dates are tentatively booked

2) Team Name, Tier and Captain Confirmation: We need all Captains to review this spreadsheet to confirm your team name, starting tier and team captain. If there are changes, including new contact information, please send them to Dave Buxton, League Scheduler, at <dbuxton (at) vdldodgeball.ca>. If there are no changes, then no action is necessary. This information is key as we’ll use it to build the schedules and nightly scoresheets. We will not accept any further changes after Saturday, Sept 4th. Please note that we need to round out the tiers so teams may not be placed in their desired tier at the beginning few weeks. Starting tiers are up to VDL’s discretion.

3) Waivers: Captains and players, please ensure you and your teammates consent before participating in any VDL activity. See the Waivers page for more information, or go directly to the online waivers.

4) Register for Exhibition Week! This includes Dodgeball 101 for new players and Vets’ Night Drop-in for returning players. Registration is done individually, not as a team.

5) Captains’ meeting is canceled this season. We are going to explore other alternatives to orientate, educate and develop our captains.

6) Dodgeball Rules and League Policies have been updated. Have a read, let us know what you think.

7) We still have a few spots open for S10. Tell your friends about how awesome Dodgeball is! Spread the word, the deadline is August 30th. Register here.

That’s all for now. See you all on the courts soon!

S10′s Exhibition is almost here! Check out the scoop below for Dodgeball 101 and Vet’s Drop In Sessions, register now!

1) Dodgeball 101, a general orientation for all new players to learn about the rules of the game and play in a supportive environment, is now available. There are 4 sessions in total; capacity for 50 people per event. All new players must attend at least 1 session before the start of the season. Teammates and Captains can attend with their new players too! Bring PE strip and water, and get ready to have some fun! To manage our numbers, registration is done individually (per player per event), not on behalf of your team. Please register 72 hours before the session and be sure to check out the VDL Rules videos for easy learning. Register here for Dodgeball 101!

Dodgeball 101 Details:

a) Monday, Sept 13th
7:30PM – 9:30PM
Fleming Elementary (1401 East 49th Avenue)

b) Tuesday, Sept 14th
7:30PM – 9:30PM
David Thompson Secondary (1755 E. 55th Ave)

c) Wednesday, Sept 15th
8:30PM – 10:00PM
Queen Elizabeth Elementary (4102 W 16th Avenue)

d) Thursday, Sept 16th
7:30PM - 9:30PM
David Thompson Secondary (1755 E. 55th Ave)

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2) We’ve also set up Vets’ Night Drop In Sessions for returning players to shake off that rust from the offseason and get back into the dodgeball groove. There are 14 sessions available; capacity for 50 people per event. We’ll also be briefly reviewing rule and league changes for this season so please be on time! To manage our numbers, registration is done individually (per player per event), not on behalf of your team. Please register 72 hours before the session. Register here for Vets’ Night Drop In Session.

Vet’s Night Details:

1. Monday, Sept 13th
(a) 7:00PM – 8:30PM
(b) 8:30PM – 10:00PM
Dickens Elementary (1010 East 17th Avenue)

2. Monday, Sept 13th
(a) 7:00PM – 8:30PM
(b) 8:30PM – 10:00PM
Oppenheimer Elementary (2421 Scarboro Avenue)

3. Tuesday, Sept 14th
(a) 7:00PM – 8:30PM
(b) 8:30PM – 10:00PM
Carleton Elementary (3250 Kingsway)

4. Tuesday, Sept 14th
(a) 7:00PM – 8:30PM
(b) 8:30PM – 10:00PM
Norquay Elementary (4710 Slocan)

5. Wednesday, Sept 15th
(a) 8:30PM – 10:00PM
Carleton Elementary (3250 Kingsway)

6. Wednesday, Sept 15th
(a) 8:30PM – 10:00PM
L’ecole Bilingue (1166 14 Ave W)

7. Thursday, Sept 16th
(a) 7:00PM – 8:30PM
(b) 8:30PM – 10:00PM
Dickens Elementary (1010 East 17th Avenue)

8. Thursday, Sept 16th
(a) 7:00PM – 8:30PM
(b) 8:30PM – 10:00PM
Hastings Elementary (2625 Franklin)

- Time for all Playoffs: 1:00 – 4:30PM; gyms will be opened at 12:30PM for warm-up.

- Tuesday Division Playoffs: Saturday, Nov 27th

- Wednesday Division Playoffs: Sunday, Nov 28

- Monday Division Playoffs: Saturday, Dec 4th

- Thursday Division Playoffs: Sunday, Dec 5th

*Note: Due to facility, time and schedule restraints, VDL Playoffs are on the weekend following the last week of games. Playoffs are unfortunately not possible on the following week’s league night. Thank you for understanding.



If you’ve been looking at the Rules for the first time, or even as a refresher, then you should take note of a few new changes effective immediately!

1.  Some clarification on what to do with balls in possession when going for a catch

Catch #9

In order to make a successful catch, a player must retain possession of all their balls at the time of initial contact.

2.  Also in the realm of catching, here’s what you do when a catch is made and no players walk off

Catch #11

In the case where a catch is made and no player walks off (i.e. the player didn’t see his/her ball get caught)

1. If the catch is observed by referees but the thrower cannot be determined, the referees should pause the game and request for one of the throwers to come off of the court.  Referees can assist by indicating the side that the ball might have come from.
2. If the catch is missed by all referees entirely and no one leaves the court, there is no dispute and play continues.

- This is something that happened a few times last season and just needs a rule put in to facilitate with reffing and minimize disputes.

3.  A few points regarding Attire and Safety

Attire and Safety #1-5

1. Players must wear proper gym strip. Shirtless play is not allowed. Clothing must not endanger the safety of other players.

2. Players may not use clothing or accessories to provide unfair advantage, or unfairly inhibit or assist the movement of the ball to make a catch or throw.

3. Clothing (uniforms and accessories) is considered part of a player’s body

4. Players are not allowed to play with gloves, bare hands only.  Wraps for supporting recovering injuries are acceptable.

5. Proper exercise footwear is required at all times. Sandals, flip flops, marking shoes, dress shoes, and going barefoot are not allowed.

4.  Brush up on your Reffing Protocols guaranteed to make you a better Ref!

Reffing Protocols #8-10

8.    Since VDL plays by the honour system, referees are not to deny a player from calling themselves out, UNLESS the referee is absolutely certain that the player is “safe”.  In that case referees should inform the player to continue playing verbally and/or signaling the “safe” hand signal.

9. Referees are not to consult with any other parties (audiences/other players) on a call; however they are encouraged to consult with each other.  They can also consult any league ops execs for rules clarification.

10.  Referees have the right to restart a play if a call cannot be determined.  Referees are not to restart an entire game from the start, with the exception of an interruption during the Opening Rush (See Glossary)

- Rule #8 is in line with our honour system rule.  We want to avoid the situation where referees deny a weaker player to walk off when there is uncertainty to a play.
- Rule #9: this follows any other sports out there.  The refs’ job is to make calls and providing room for them to consult anyone other than other refs undermines our reffing system, not to mention opening up a lot more potential problems.

5.  So you just threw a headshot. What should you do according to VDL’s Code of Conduct?

Code of Conduct

~If a head shot is thrown, the thrower should immediately apologize and ensure that the apology is received.

The keyword here is that the apology should be received.

6.  We don’t only improve on the game of dodgeball, but also the lingo that goes with it

Glossary

Reset: An attempt to stop the ball count in order to prolong possession. (See “Dead ball” #7)   Any thrown balls towards the other team below 8ft are considered as fair play.

(Dead ball rule #7: Players cannot intentionally put balls out of bounds, or just over the center line to reset the ball count. Those balls will be deemed as dead by the referee and must be turned over to the other team.)

- We are realizing that we cannot control or make calls on horizontal resets. IE.Resetting balls below 8 ft but far away from the player sideways.  So instead of considering these plays are non-spirited, it will be considered as fair play from now on.  4 major reasons to back up why this should be considered as fair play:
1) the defending team (team with less or no balls) lost possession of their balls at some point of the game, so they would have to work for the balls again
2) If both teams have an equal number of balls, it is fair for both sides to throw it in wherever they want as long as it is towards the other team, and below 8 ft.
3) We want to open up the chance for the more speedy and more agile players to retrieve balls.
4) Our rules are set up in favor of the offense

Short and sweet folks!  To check out the rest of the rules in detail, visit our Dodgeball Rules page.  If you have any questions regarding the rules, feel free to ask your friendly neighborhood execs for clarification.

Thanks and have a fantastic season!



As we gear up for Season 10, we’re making some updates to our League Policies. Here’s the scoop:

1) Restrictions on male substitute players

(General, #7)

Male substitute players can only play for one team per night.

This rule complements Rule #6 by not allowing male players, either rostered or substitute, to sub for another team in the same division. This prevents skewed matches and score results.

2) Introducing a Captains’ Clause

(General, #11)

Captains’ Clause: a game may be played under some variation of the rules and policies agreed upon by the captains of the teams involved.
Both captains must agree to any changes on the rules and policies. In addition, pressuring another captain to change the rules and policies against his/her will is unsportsmanlike.

This rule, borrowed from Ultimate, aligns well with the honour rules and empowers Captains to jointly decide how to handle extenuating circumstances on the court. It is not an excuse to allow 7-on-7 league game match-ups, nor allow teams with constant female player absenteeism to play ‘officially’ and not default. Rather, it’s geared towards rare circumstances, especially at Playoffs. For example, let’s say Team A and Team B are in the Playoff Finals. Team A has exactly 6 players (4M, 2F). One of the female players gets injured, leaving Team A with 5 players, including only 1 female player. Under existing policies of needing at least 2 females on at all times and no substituting players at Playoffs, Team A would have to forfeit. However, let’s say Team B wanted to continue playing, and not win  the championship by default (let’s face it, there is no glory in this kind of win), and was okay with 1 female player sub or maybe even 1 female player playing. The Captains Clause allows for this exception.

3) Changes to Retiering

(Tiering & Scheduling, 2 & 3)

The first re-tier moves roughly 5-6 teams up and down, the second re-tier moves roughly 2-4 teams up and down; there is no set number.

The amount of teams moved depend on a team’s performance, players’ skill level, and the competitiveness of the tier. Ultimately, it is based on the discretion of the Division Director and the League Scheduler.

Before, the policy was 6 up, 6 down for every retier; however, we found this too restrictive and arbitrary. Instead, the approach is like an archaeologist sifting through earth: we’re going to use a large filter initially, and then a finer one later on, to match up teams and skill levels. We still have general guidelines in place for each retier, but now, it’s ultimately up to the discretion of the Division Director and the League Scheduler.

That’s all for now!  If you have any questions or concerns about these changes, post them in the comments below. Thanks and see you on the courts soon.

On behalf of the VDL team,

Kevin Bao
League Director

Thank you.

And now, here is a list of our winners.
*Note to winners: you will be contacted via email. Please check your email soon*

Retell Rivera – Wii Not Fit, Pacman Family, ADIDAD, Target Practice – $50 SportChek gift card

Julia Duong – In The Shower - $50 Futureshop gift card

Sarah McArthur – Simply the Best – $50 Earls gift card

Kmaill Chojnacki - Psych! – $50 SportChek gift card

Derek Alore – ADL Justice – $10 Starbucks gift card

Kevin Vo – Happy Go Lucky, 8Bit, Awesome8, YnD – $10 Starbucks gift card

Kaitlin Beca – Mighty Dodgers – $10 Starbucks gift card

Cyrus Guy – Throwing Ds – VDL T-shirt

Annie Reid – Duck! – VDL T-shirt

Seline Grewal - Unstoppabulls – VDL T-shirt

Michael Wideman – Throwing Double Ds – VDL T-shirt

Rick Nguyen - Balling Outta Control - VDL T-shirt

June 13th – July 31st, 2010 -

This is our open session for any teams wanting to take advantage of our early bird discount special for registration fees of just $450/team (plus taxes). Please remember to clear your entire registration fee balance before July 31st, 2010, or your account will be automatically adjusted to our regular registration fee of $500 (plus tax).

August 1st – August30th , 2010

Our regular registration kicks in during this period of time. Registration team fees will be $500/team (plus tax). We still have a few spots left for each division night. So whether you’re looking to join us for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or even Thursday night, we have room for you!

Why wait? Take me to register for VDL’s S10 of Dodgeball now!

Also, don’t forget..!

Speak your mind and win prizes!

If you haven’t already done so, we want to invite any Season 9 player to take our survey.  VDL is serious about being the best dodgeball league in not just Vancouver, but in the world! We can only get better with your feedback so please fill out this short survey to share your thoughts and tell your teammates to participate (it’ll take you 5 minutes).

Deadline for entry is Sunday, June 27th. Update: The survey is now closed.

We got prizes for your feedback! Up for grabs are: FOUR $50.00 Sports Chek, Futureshop or Earl’s gift cards, THREE $10.00 Starbucks gift cards, and VDL Swag for FIVE lucky participants!

Your comments and ideas will help VDL get better and better. Thank you once again for participating in Season 9, and we look forward to seeing you in the Fall season.

It started off as a beautiful, sunny, calm, maybe even serene day. Who knew that such great turmoil was brewing. A day long event it was filled with ups and downs, tribulations and triumphs, anguish and exuberance, victory and defeat as history was made.

With spirited play, good cheer, and friendly competition, “I Love You‘ succeeded in garnering their second “Hootie the Spirit Owl” in as many seasons of play. Congratulations. The best dressed award was given to ‘Whip n Dip‘ for their simple, and yet appealing, blue uniforms. Well Dressed.

The dodgeball playing itself was started off by a hearwrenching rendition of ‘Oh Canada’ by our lovely Marie Hui and the day only got better from there. Everyone stepped up their game for playoffs and it was easy to see why Thursday Division is considered the most competitive night as spectacular after spectacular play was done by one and all. However, as with most wonderful things, it had to come to an end As the dust settled, championships were found and lost, and great games were had and seen by all.

The first champions to seize their prize were the Tier C Champs the ‘Atomic Balls‘. Showing energy on par with a nuclear reactor they energized themselves to Victory through the tried and true method of winning all their sets and not leaving anything up to chance. The valiant runner up was ‘Somebody’s gonna get hurt real bad‘. While they put up one hell of a fight they were, sadly, the ones to be hurt in the end.

‘The Hit List’ was the second champion to be recognized, taking the Tier B title from the red hot ‘Dodge it Like it’s Hot‘. While ‘Dodge it Like it’s Hot‘ did the impressive feat of storming back into the finals from deep inside the back door bracket, they were unable to sustain their momentum and fell to the tune of ‘The Hit List‘.

For the second straight season the ‘Spartans‘ stormed their way straight into the finals, taking no prisoners in a fiery display of overpowering throws. However, for the second straight season they saw their championship slip away from them as the team that came through the back door took them two sets in the final. This season the winner’s of Tier A are non-other than ‘Young and Dangerous‘. With key players stepping up at the right time and doing the right things, they were able to show the resilience of their youth and how dangerous they are on the dodgeball court as they won the Tier A title. With multiple players stepping up and playing amazing, the MVP was not a clear cut decision. However, in respect to how much the man stepped it up at the right time in the finals, the MVP trophy was awarded to Kevin Vo.

That sums up the final portion of an epic season of Dodgeball, but this is not really an ending as there are always more great stories yet to come.

Winners: Young & Dangerous

Runner’s Up: Spartans

In case you missed all of the excitement this past Saturday, here are some highlights of the Monday Division’s season 9 playoffs!

Ever wonder why you fill out those spirit little ballots every night? Well, you finally got to find out at the playoffs. Voted by your own peers…well points given by your very self, the team that redeemed the highest average of spirit points this season goes to Wii Not Fit. This team not only displayed their talent and team work on the court but they always ensured that it was an enjoyable experience for not only themselves but the teams that faced them. Congratulations to Wii Not Fit for taking home Hootie the Spirit Owl.

It was amazing to see so many teams show their commitment to the game of dodgeball by coming out with uniforms this season. This one team was no stranger to the Best Dressed award as they had won this title in season 8 as The Fighting Uruk-Hai. Their spicy uniform and sexy headbands really stood out. Congratulations to Terror Fiesta for winning the Best Dressed award!

There could not have been a better day to hold Monday’s playoffs. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and people were hungry for a championship. Intense matches between Dodge My Durians and Team China +1 had everyone at the edge of their seats. Taking home the first ever Monday Tier C championship was Team China +1…talk about x-factor!

The tier B finals were nothing short of an epic battle. Veteran team Unstoppabulls really gave Got Ballz? a run for their money. In the end Got Ballz? had balls and won the Tier B title. Unstoppabulls were very gracious and just as happy with a handshake and a fist pound!

The tier A finals had everyone biting their nails. Crazy throws and amazing catches highlighted the battle between Purple Monkey Dishwashers and Dodgeball, I Choose You. Purple Monkey Dishwashers were on fire all day and seemed unstoppable. In the end Dodgeball, I Choose You was determined to get another Monday Division title. Their dreams came true on that beautiful Saturday afternoon and did indeed win their 2nd Monday Division Tier A title.

Finally, the day ended with the crowning of the playoffs’ MVP. It was unanimous and no one would even come close to how amazing this player proved to be. Congratulations to Carson Ha of Purple Monkey Dishwashers for being the Most Valuable Player at the Monday Playoffs.

Winners: Dodgeball, I Choose You

Runner’s Up: Purple Monkey Dishwashers

Tier B

Winners: Got Ballz?

Runner’s Up: Unstoppabulls

Tier C

Winners: Team China +1

Runner’s Up: Dodge My Durians

Awards

Tournament MVP: Carson Ha

Most Spirited Team: Wii Not Fit

Overall Best Dressed Team: Terror Fiesta

Click to see more pictures from Playoffs!

Click to see videos from Playoffs!

Thanks for such an amazing season! If you happened to miss bits and pieces of the playoffs (or you entirely missed it GRRR), here’s the scoop on the Wednesday Season 9 Playoffs:

Over The Hill starts off the day by taking BOTH Hootie the Spirit Owl for the Most Spirited Team title and also the Best Dressed award. They are the first team EVER to win BOTH Hootie the Spirit Owl and the Best Dressed Award. They came decked out in their signature team uniforms and even gave us a YABBADABBADOO and a tail waggle!

The games began and as the day went on, the games got more intense. There were some HUGE CLUTCH catches – and if you’re lucky, they just might appear on Facebook!

In Tier B, Natural Selectors from the winners bracket faces Villians who are the winners in the loser bracket. Natural Selectors win the first 2 games but the Villains storm back and take the next 3 games to extend the series. In the final match, Natural Selectors once again came out strong and took the first 2 games but again the Villains fought hard to tie the game at 2. Final game in the match with the games tied at 2-2, Natural Selectors stepped up their game and defeated the Villians to come out as our Tier B Champions.

In Tier A, In Dodge We Trust smooth sailed all the way to the finals and were matched with Awesome 8. The tired Awesome 8 came from the back door and took the first series, leading both teams in to the deciding match for the title. During a critical point in the final match, a player on In Dodge We Trust gets injured. She toughs it out and stays in the game. Awesome 8 put up a fight but In Dodge We Trust pulled it together – perhaps inspired from the willpower of their injured teammate – and took the title, becoming our Season 10 Tier A Champions.

Winners:  In Dodge We Trust

Runner’s Up: Awesome 8

Tier B

Winners: Natural Selectors

Runner’s Up: Villains

Awards

Tournament MVP: Geoff Hamilton

Most Spirited Team & Overall Best Dressed Team: Over The Hill

Click to see more pictures from Playoffs!

Click to see videos from Playoffs!