Spirit is of utmost importance at VDL. Unsportsmanlike conduct, spirit breaches and actions detrimental to the league will not be tolerated. This includes:
- Headshots and regular high throws. *see Dangerous Play Policy below*
- Foul language, racial slurs, verbal abuse and slander.
- Unnecessary roughness and physical abuse.
- Slamming down or kicking balls in anger when hit.
- Abuse of the honour system.
- Excessive or unruly complaining, arguing and negativity to other players, referees or league execs.
- Biased refereeing to favor or disfavor other teams.
To protect league players, VDL reserves the right to give official warnings and suspensions for any of the above violations, and may ask the instigator to leave the court or premise immediately if the violation is severe.
Multiple official warnings, or a single severe violation will lead to a ban from the league for the rest of the season including playoffs.
Dangerous Play /Headshot Policy
A headshot occurs when a thrown ball makes direct contact to any part of a player’s head or neck before touching any other body part, blocking ball, object, or another player, while the player is in an upright athletic ready position or is actively moving.
An upright athletic ready position includes a player who is standing with knees slightly bent. An active movement includes but is not limited to jumping, lateral movement, or forward/backward movement. A player does not need to be stationary for a headshot to be called.
If a player deflects a ball with their arms or hands that was clearly on a trajectory to strike their head while in an upright athletic ready position, the play shall still be ruled a headshot.
If a ball makes contact with a player’s face and/or neck and is cleanly caught by that player while in an upright athletic ready position or is actively moving, the catch shall be considered valid and the player shall remain safe. The play shall still be ruled a headshot.
A headshot will not be called if:
- The ball contacts another body part, blocking ball, object, or another player before contacting the head or neck; or
- The player is crouching, kneeling, sliding, or otherwise dropping below an upright athletic ready position.
Headshot Result:
When a headshot is called, the player who was struck shall be declared out, except in the case of a valid catch as outlined above, and the thrower shall be declared out and issued a headshot warning in accordance with VDL headshot penalty rules.
In all borderline or judgment calls, rulings shall favour player safety. When a headshot is suspected, the thrower shall be ruled out.
If the last remaining player is hit out by headshot, it will be ruled a 1 in 1 out. The thrower will be out. The hit player will also be out, but the next player in their queue will be able to activate themselves. We always want to err on the side of caution and safety towards our players.
Players observed conducting themselves in the manner mentioned above will be subject to official warnings, which could lead to suspension or expulsion. If the following occurs in one night during the regular season:
| 1st headshot | The throwing player is out, but is eligible to be caught back into the game. |
| 2nd headshot | The throwing player is out and will sit the greater of 3 games or the remainder of the series. For warnings given at the end of a series the player will sit off the following series. |
| 3rd headshot | The throwing player is out and will not be eligible to play for the remainder of the night.* |
*If this infraction occurs in the player’s final game of the night, the player will not be eligible to play the following week. In the event the 3rd headshot occurs in the final game of the final week of regular season play, that player will sit out the first series of the playoffs after just one dangerous play during the playoffs. This scenario will be regarded as a player on Probation. If a third headshot occurs during the playoffs, the player will be ineligible to play for the remainder of the playoffs and could face further suspension that can affect other nights of play if the player plays on multiple teams.
If a player has received their 3rd dangerous play infraction on separate occasions throughout the season, that player will face a suspension and possible expulsion from the league.
Player Etiquette
- Understand, appreciate and abide by the rules of the game
- Respect your opponents and congratulate them in a courteous manner following each match whether in victory or defeat
- Respect the integrity and judgment of game referees; side reffing (calling out missed-calls or voicing opinions on a call) is discouraged
- Be responsible for your actions and maintain self-control