Facilities

• The League rents facilities from the city of as well as private facilities to provide our leagues. Please respect the facilities so we can continue using them. If we lose our permit for any reason the season is over.
• No outdoor shoes
• No marking/black-soled shoes, or shoes that may scuff the floors.
• Leave the gym the way you found it. Please pick up your garbage.

If you do not adhere to the rules above then you will be asked to leave the gym.

Rosters

• 6 players on the floor at one time. At least 2 players on the floor must be female. There is no minimum requirement for males.
• The League recommends teams of 9-12 players to avoid defaults.  Teams are also encouraged to have subs if needed.
• Teams can add to their roster at any point. Player info for every additional member must be sent to The League prior to them being allowed to play.

Spectators

• Only people 18 years of age or older will be allowed into the facilities.
• We are dealing with fully grown adults who are running, throwing, kicking, and shooting at high speeds and the risk of injury to a minor is too high. Therefore, minors are not allowed in the facilities.

Defaults

• If a dodgeball team is not ready 10 minutes after the posted game time they will lose by default 10-0. We recommend the game be played regardless if possible.
• A minimum of 4 players need to be present at the start of the game to avoid a default. A least 1 player must be female. If the minimum requirement is not met, the team that is short players will lose the game by default 10-0.
• If a team defaults one game then they will be required to pay a default fee by e transfer before their next game. If this is not paid then all games will be updated as a default loss and the team will not be scheduled anymore games.
• If a team misses two games then another default fee will need to be paid in order to have any future games scheduled. A meeting with the league will occur to determine if this league is the right fit for your team. If a second default fee is not paid then the players on the roster will not be allowed to play in any future sports.
• If a team misses more than two games then this is not the right league for your team. You need a drop in league and the players on the roster will not be allowed to play in any future sports.
• If both captains agree, the minimum requirement rule can be waived and the game will count towards the standings. This must be decided upon before the start of the game and teams cannot change their minds once the game has started.

Officiating

• All games are self officiated.  Players are responsible to make their own calls and keep their own score. 
• This is an adult rec league and we rely on our players being honest. When you are guilty of an infraction don’t assume no one saw you. Captains should speak up and call their own players fouls if they see them.
• If a team continues to not call themselves, the League Coordinator will warn them and report this to The League. If the same player or team continues to not call their infractions then they will be asked to sit out.
•  Not calling your own infractions may also negatively affect your team’s sportsmanship rating and standings.

Objectionable Behaviour

Reckless, aggressive, threatening or unsportsmanlike behaviour will result in being ejected from the game. If this behaviour is repeated, the player may face ejection from The League. If this is a team wide issue, the entire team may be ejected from The League.
If a team or individual is found guilty of objectionable behaviour; The League Coordinator has the right to:

• Warn a player
• Ask a player to sit out
• Ask a player to leave the gym
• Recommend to The League that a player be suspended

Judgment calls made by the League Coordinators are final and protests will not be considered. Players or teams that argue with the League Coordinator will be subject to suspension or ejection from The League.
This means:

• No arguing
• No swearing towards the League Coordinator or other team.
• No complaining

The League Coordinators are not trained referees and are there to keep the game running and ensure games start and end on time. Please respect them. They have the right to make any player sit out or leave the gym. If asked to do either, you must do so immediately.


Zero Tolerance Policy

Rec League staff reserve the right to remove players immediately from any facility or league if they are involved with any of the following acts:

• Using racial, ethnic, homophobic, fatphobic, gendered, transphobic, sexist, sexual, disability or other slurs
• Instigating or retaliating in an altercation
• Intentionally pushing, shoving, or making physical contact
• Displaying disrespectful or threatening behavior
• Swearing at another person

If a player is removed for any reason, they must vacate the facility immediately, including the parking lot.


Pre – Game

• Teams should arrive at the gym no more than 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to ensure games start on time.  A game that starts late will be a short game. All games must end on time. No expectations.
• Prior to the start of the game the League Coordinator and team captains should go over any boundary lines or other rules that need to be discussed based on the gym and playing area.

Game Play

• Games will be 55 minutes long with a 5-minute warm up.  Teams will play as many matches as they can within the allotted time.  Whichever team wins the most matches within the allotted time gets the win and 2 points in the standings.
• If the game is tied at the end of the allotted time then the final score will be recorded as a tie in all regular season games.
• At the end of the allotted time if a game is still being played then the team with the most players left gets the win.
• The captains should confirm the score after each match.
• 6 balls are used during the game.
• The game will start by placing 3 balls five feet from both sides of the center line.  Teams will stand at the back wall or back line when the gym does not have an acceptable wall to use.  Teams will take turns starting the game by calling out loud “1, 2, 3 dodgeball” or “Ready Set Go” or “Ready Set Dodgeball” etc.
• Once the game starts balls are dead until they have touched the back wall or crossed over the back line. Once they have touched the back wall/line they are live.

Throwing

• No squeezing the balls.  If the League Coordinator sees a player squeezing a ball, that player will be called out. If the League Coordinator sees a player continuously squeezing balls, that player will be asked to sit out the remainder of the night.
• Throwing the ball excessively hard and high is considered reckless and aggressive behaviour. This will not be tolerated.
• Players must throw the ball from behind the center line.
• The ball must completely come out of the players hand before crossing the center line.  If the player's momentum carries them over the center line, the throw is legal only if the ball was thrown before they crossed the center line. If the ball was not completely out of their hands, they are out. 
  • If a player continually throws the ball from the wrong side of the attack line they will be asked to sit out.
• Any ball that does not cross the center line when leaving a player’s possession is considered a dropped ball and the player is out. You must throw the ball forwards over the center line.
• You have 10 seconds to throw the ball.  If you do not throw the ball in 10 seconds you must give the ball to the other team.  There is no clock, so players must use the honour system.

Catching

• If a player catches a ball, the thrower is out and the team that caught the ball can have another player re-enter the game.  Players re-enter the game in the same order they were eliminated from the game: First Out - First In.
• When re-entering the court from a caught ball, you must touch the back wall to signify that you are back in.
• The player that catches the ball does not have to catch the ball clean. They can fumble with the ball as long as they have full control before the ball touches the floor, another player, another ball, the wall, or any other boundary surface.
• The ball is dead upon hitting another player, the wall, the floor, the roof, etc.
  • You cannot save a player by catching the ball after the player was hit.
• If a player drops a ball to catch another ball, they are out.
  • Once you are in possession of a ball you cannot drop the ball.  You must throw the ball and ensure that it lands on the other side of the center line.

Passing

• Players may pass a ball to a teammate by throwing it. The teammate must catch the ball, if they drop the ball they are out.
• You are allowed to stop or kick a ball with your feet, or push a ball with another ball to a teammate.

Headshots

• If a player throws the ball and hits another player above the shoulders, the thrower is out and not the player that got hit.
  • If a player hits another player above the shoulders twice, they will be asked to sit out for the remainder of the night. No exceptions - Players are responsible for their throws.
• If a player that is ducking gets hit in the head, then the player that got hit is out.
  • Ducking is any movement that deviates from and upright position (Kneeling, bending over, crouching, etc.).
• If a ball hits a player below the shoulders and then bounces and hits the player above the shoulders, is not considered a headshot.

General Game Rules

• Once a player is hit with a ball they are out except for hits above the shoulders.
• When a match is down to 1 player vs 1 player, there is no time limit.
• Players are not allowed to cross the center line, but may lean across to get a ball as long as they do not touch the floor on the other side of the line with any part of their body.  If any part of their body touches the ground on the opposite side of the center line they are out.
• Players are not allowed to hold more than 1 ball at any time.  If you hold more than 1 ball at any time you are out.
• You cannot hoard or stockpile balls on your side of the center line.  Teams are encouraged to keep the balls flowing by having someone move the balls throughout the court if they are stockpiling on one side of the court.
• Once a team is down to their last player, the opposing team has one minute to get that player out.  If the team with one player is still in the game after one minute, a second player can join the game. 
  • The team with the single player is not allowed to stockpile balls in an attempt to run the clock down.  If the player does this, they are automatically out. 
  • Teams are responsible to count down the minute. ​
• A player holding a ball can use that ball to deflect thrown balls. However, if that player fumbles and drops the ball they are holding when deflecting another ball, they are out.
• Players are responsible to call when they are out.  Raise your hand and let everyone know you have been hit and leave the playing area immediately.  If any part of your body from the shoulders and below gets hit by a live ball you are out.  This includes a ball that brushes your shirt or pants.
• A ball is dead once it hits the floor, ceiling, wall, curtain, another player or another ball or any other obstruction on or near the playing court. 
• The result of any “all in” games (when everyone on the team plays the last game) does not count toward the game’s final score.

These rules are in place to ensure that everyone has a good time playing this game.  This is dodgeball and everyone should expect to get hit with a ball. However, players should respect the fun first mentality as well as their opponents and avoid taking actions that may affect another player in a negative way.

Boundaries

• Players are not allowed to hide behind any doorways, curtains, stands, etc.
• When a ball goes out of bounds, the player closest to where the ball left the playing surface, can leave to get the ball.  They must go directly to the ball and return.
• The player that leaves the playing area to get the ball is out of play and cannot be hit or hit someone else.  The player should let it be known that they are getting the ball by raising their hand and verbally letting the other team know.
• If there are subs on the sidelines, they may place the ball in the playing area where it exited.  They cannot pass a ball to a teammate.
• If a ball enters another games playing surface, leave the ball until the other game passes the ball over.  The League Coordinator will assist in retrieving the ball.
• When a player is out of bounds any result of their play does not count in the game.
  • E.g. If a player catches a ball out of bounds the thrower is not out. If a player throws a ball from out of bounds any player hit is not out. If you are out of bounds collecting a ball, that ball is not in play again until you bring it back in bounds.
• When re-entering the court from a caught ball, you must touch the back wall to signify that you are back in.

Playoffs

• All teams will get two playoff games regardless of where they finish in the standings or the score of their first playoff game.
• In the playoffs once, there is 10 minutes left in the allotted time, if the game is tied the next game is sudden death match.  There will be one sudden death match.

Alcohol Consumption

• The League and the facilities do not allow open alcohol at any public venue.
• Any player or team found to be under the influence of alcohol, or other controlled substance, will be automatically ejected from The League without refund.
• All fines will be the responsibility of the teams. Teams will lose every scheduled game and will not be scheduled any other games until all fines are paid.

Rescheduling

• Gym time is very limited. The League will not reschedule games for any reason.
• Should you cancel or not show up for your game you will lose by default.

Sportsmanship

This is a rec league and we expect all players and teams to have a fun first attitude. To help enforce this style of play we ask all teams to report the sportsmanship rating of the opposing team after every game.

2 – Good, fun spirited team, respected their opposition and made the game enjoyable. Played within the rules and made their own calls. Clear understanding of rules.
1 – Was not unsportsmanlike, but didn’t go out of their way to make the game enjoyable. Missed some obvious calls and was not clear on all the rules
0 – Was not a fun team to play. They made the game less enjoyable and did not respect the opposition. Did not know the rules. Did not follow the rules. Rude or aggressive behaviour.

If a team gets two 0 ratings in one season The League will decide whether the team is fit for this league and may remove them from the schedule.
Any complaints about the opposing team should brought to the attention of the League Coordinator and be done in a respectful and polite way at the end of the game.
Throwing the ball excessively hard or high will result in poor sportsmanship.
Not calling yourself out is the ultimate in poor sportsmanship.
Any issues throughout the game should be brought to the attention of your captain and The League Coordinator. The League Coordinator will then bring both captains together to discuss a solution. No one other then the captain should discuss these issues with the opposition.

Scores

• Captains are responsible for reporting scores and sportsmanship rating to the League Coordinator following games.
• Teams should confirm scores after each point.
• Scores can be emailed to scores@saskatoonrecleague.com

Refunds

Registration fees are fully refundable, minus a $20 processing fee, up to 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the season. After this, the league assumes you have committed and all fees are non-refundable. We require this time frame in order to create teams and to complete scheduling.