NYC Social Sports Club Rules

• Remember, this is a social league! Keep a relaxed attitude, meet some new people, and have a good time!
• Referees will be judging your Sportsmanship, so be gracious whether you’re winning or losing.
• You always need your Team T-Shirts! They are our only way of identifying you!
• Our Referees are not professionals. They are people just like you, so please treat them with respect.
• Any aggressive behavior will not be tolerated and may result in suspension or expulsion from our leagues, please be respectful!
• Please be on time! We recommend showing up at least 15 minutes early to avoid any problems and the chance of forfeiting.

Number of Players

A team consists of a minimum of 10 and maximum of 14 players. Six players play on the court at a time, with at least 2 of them being women. If you only have 4 men and only one woman, you must play with 1 less player. You must have at least 4 players from your own team to start a match (not including Substitutes).

Substitutions

If a team is short the required number of players in a regular Season game, the team may invite players from other teams in their division to Substitute in for their game. Each player may only act as a Substitute in two matches per season and must be checked in by the Game Coordinator before entering a game. Substitute players should be the last one to cycle in to the game (barring gender requirement).

Substitutions from outside the division are not allowed; for more info and to register as a Substitute, CLICK HERE. Substitutions during the playoffs are not permitted.

Substitute players must check in with the Game Coordinator onsite to receive a league issued pinnie to wear in the Game.  Substitute players must leave a form of identification with the Game Coordinator in exchange for the participation pinnie. The ID will be returned to the player when the pinnie is turned in after the Game.

Game Length and Structure

In this league, teams play 2 matches per night. Each match contains 3 games.

GENERAL DODGEBALL RULES

The Opening Rush

After the warm-up period, the Referee will blow a whistle to signal that the games are about to begin. Players then place the balls along the centerline. We use five balls per game, placed with two on either side of the centerline. There are six players on the court per game per team to start, at least two of which must be women.

Players then take a position behind the backline for the start. A signal by the Referee starts the contest. Following this signal, teams may approach the centerline to retrieve the balls. Players must clear the ball in order to make it a live ball. Players may not put two feet over the centerline at any time. Any team throwing a ball before it is cleared to the backline will surrender that ball to the opposing team. Additionally, any team that is penalized with a false start will forfeit one ball to the opponent and the opening rush will be replayed with four balls.

What’s an Out?

1. Most outs require a LIVE thrown ball to be in play.
2. When a LIVE thrown ball hits a player of the opposing team below the neck, the hit player is out. Note: all clothing is considered part of the body, so if you are wearing a cape for theatrics (encouraged) or a jacket with fringes for rockin’ style and the ball hits your cape or your fringes, you will be called out.
3. When a player on the opposing team catches a LIVE thrown ball, the player who threw it is out. Note: deflections off the floors, walls, basketball backboards, or anything else that is not a person or a ball are considered "dead balls" and do not count.
4. When a live thrown ball hits a player on the opposing team and deflects off of that player and hits another player on the opposing team and then hits the ground, the wall, the ceiling, or leaves the court boundaries, both hit players are out. Note: If a teammate of the hit player(s) catches the ball before it hits the ground, the wall, the ceiling, or leaves the court boundaries, the hit players are “saved” and the person who threw the ball is out.
5. When a live thrown ball hits or could have hit a player on the opposing team anywhere above the neck, it is considered a “headshot”. Referees will have the final say whether or a throw is a headshot or not. Keep the balls low.
6. When a player on an opposing team successfully deflects a live thrown ball with another ball in his/her possession and the deflected ball is caught by a teammate before it hits the ground, the wall, the ceiling, another player, or leaves the court boundaries, it is considered a catch and the player who threw the ball is out. If a live thrown ball hits a dead ball that is being held by a player, no one is out. Note: it is legal to use a dead ball as a deflection device.
7. When a player on an opposing team attempts to deflect a live thrown ball with another ball in his/her possession and loses control of the original ball when the thrown ball hits it, the player who lost control of the ball used for deflection is out. Note: players holding onto a dead ball for deflection purposes may choose to drop the ball so as to catch the oncoming ball from the opposing team, but this must be a clear drop. In these cases, the catching player is safe and the player who threw the caught ball is out.
8. When a player on an opposing team successfully deflects a live thrown ball with another ball in his/her possession and the deflected ball hits a teammate before it becomes dead, the wall, the ceiling, another player, or leaves the court boundaries, then hits the ground, the teammate who was hit by the deflected ball is out. Note: Be careful of friendly fire! Watch out for where you are sending your deflections.
9. When a player steps over the center line with two feet during the course of play OR when a player steps over the center line with one foot during the opening rush, that player is out.
10. When a player violates the shot clock, that player will be called out.
11. When a team has too many players on the court, that team will lose the extra players they have in the game as well as one more player as a penalty.

Shot Clock/Stalling

Teams in possession of of the majority of the balls have 10 seconds to throw a ball. Referees will start the shot clock in the instance of stalled play and that team is responsible for throwing before time runs out. Any violations will result in a player being called "out".

It's good to be strategic, but stalling is not a part of Dodgeball. Rolling the ball to the other team is not permitted and is a violation of the stalling rule. Violations will result in the player being called "out".

“When is it my turn to throw?”

It’s your turn to throw when…

1. Your team possesses more balls than your opponent’s team.
2. Both teams have 2 balls, but your team has the most on-court players.
3. Both teams have an equal number of players and balls, you are required to throw because both teams are required to throw.
4. It’s the 1st game & no one has thrown yet, and both Refs are calling for someone to “Throw the &%$## ball!!!” Please listen to them. In the immortal words of long-time Refs Bj & Vinnie, “This is Dodgeball, not stand around ball.”

On The Safe Side

1. NO SHOTS ABOVE THE SHOULDERS. NO HEAD SHOTS. Anyone throwing a head shot, intentional or otherwise, will be considered "out" and the person who was hit will stay in the game. If you block a headshot with your hands, you will not be out - but this must be a clearly distinguishable defensive move. We always err on the side of safety, so we’ll lean towards calling headshots even in close calls.
2. If you put two feet over the centerline at any time during the game you are out. This also goes for sliding over the line – if you slide during the opening rush, you will be “out.” If you do slide to dodge a ball, headshot rules do not apply.
3. If you are holding a ball when you get hit “out” and retaliate by throwing the ball in your possession at the other team, you be sitting on the sidelines for the next game of the match.
4. Stay on your side of the court during game play. Crossing the centerline is considered an act of aggression by our Staff and, in our organization, is like trying to start a fight. Do it and you get the boot from the building! We like you, so don’t make us turn this car around.

Boundaries

1. During play, all players must remain in bounds. This is defined as having one foot within the sidelines and behind the centerline.
2. Players may leave the boundaries to retrieve stray balls but not to dodge them. Dodging the ball by stepping out of bounds is not allowed and the player will be called out.
3. A ball thrown from outside the blue boundary is considered a dead ball. However, if it is caught, the person who threw it is out.
4. If you are retrieving a ball from outside the blue boundary and are hit with a "live" ball you are out.
5. Players that get hit can catch their own deflection outside of the blue boundary and stay in the game. This is called “Saving Yourself.” Teammates may not go out of bounds to save a teammate and are limited to catching the deflection inside the blue boundary to keep the player in the game.
6. No player may go onto the opposing team's side of the gym to get a ball that has been thrown.

Cycling In

All players must stand behind the boundary line in the middle of the gym while waiting to be cycled in. If you catch a ball thrown by your opponent, a member of your team who is “out” may return to the game. Teams have discretion over who cycles in - with these exceptions:

• There may never be more than four men on the court per team
• Substitute players from other teams will cycle in last

A team loses their right to cycle in if they fail to put a player on the court within ten seconds.

Forfeits

Teams should report to the courts at least 15 minutes before their scheduled starting time of the game.

A team will be forced to forfeit their game if any of the following occur:

- No one from the team is present at game time

- The minimum number of players are not present (4)

- Improper conduct

Teams will receive a forfeit loss of 3-0 in the official standings, if they have not shown up by the scheduled game time.

Teams will forfeit if they have not shown up by the scheduled game time. Exceptions can be made if a team is waiting on a couple of players (e.g. transit issues) with the understanding that the delay will cut time from the end of their game, and that the final decision is subject to the Referee’s discretion.

Sportsmanship points will be deducted from teams that forfeit a game due to a 'no-show' or a 'low-show.' Teams can minimize the deduction by Contacting Us ahead of time. Teams will receive:

• 3.5 Sportsmanship points when contacting us before a forfeit of any kind.
• 3 Sportsmanship points when not contacting us before a 'low-show' forfeit.
• 2.5 Sportsmanship points when not contacting us before a 'no-show' forfeit.

Inclement Weather

In the event of heavy rain or snow that results in the conditions of a game being unsafe or travel being unsafe, NYC Social Sports Club will update the Weather Line (347.878.9032) with any postponements at least 90 minutes before game time. Any games postponed for weather will be pushed back to the following week or made up during the week if possible.

In the event the games have been started and then have to be called off due to inclement weather while underway, the games will be restarted from kickoff if they are still in the first half, or restarted at the second half, if they have completed the first half. Any games that have begun and then postponed for weather will be pushed back to the following week or made up during the week if possible.

Season Abandonment

Registered teams that miss two weeks of play will be considered to have abandoned their place in the league. Teams in this category will be contacted by a NYC Social Sports Club staff member to confirm their status. Teams failing to respond within two business days will be removed from the Season schedule and will forfeit their registration fees. Teams that do respond will be required to supply reasoning for lack of attendance and petition the league for reinstatement. Season abandonment and reactivation decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of the league management and must be resolved before returning to play in the current Season or in subsequent Seasons.

Team T-Shirts

Each player on an official team roster will receive a league-issued shirt at the start of the Season. The shirt must be worn and visible during each and every game of the Season. Players who forget their Team T-Shirt will cause their team a 0.5 point deduction (each) from that week's Sportsmanship Rating. Players who forget their Team T-Shirt or wear an illegally altered shirt (see below) to the game will be made to wear a pinnie in order to participate in the game.

Players must leave a form of identification with the Game Coordinator to receive the participation pinnie.  The ID will be returned to the player when the pinnie is turned in after the Game.

Team T-Shirts are also used by staff at the sponsor bar to determine whether a player is eligible to receive league discounts.

While shirt customization is allowed, teams/players must abide by the following rules when personalizing shirts:

• No company names or logos
• No offensive language
• No design that obscures or alters the NYC Social Sports Club logo

Names, nicknames, numbers, and team logos are all welcome additions to the Team T-Shirts. Please also feel free to bedazzle, tie-dye, or apply patches to them, if you are so inclined.

If a player's shirt no longer fits into the guidelines above, the player will be charged $10 and issued a replacement shirt.

Alcohol, Controlled Substance, and Safety Policy

Individuals (players, fans, or friends of players) will, at the discretion of NYC Social Sports Club, be ejected immediately if any of the following are true:

• found bringing alcohol, weapons, or controlled substances to any venue or sponsor bar in use by NYC Social Sports Club
• suspected of excessive pre-game alcohol consumption
• suspected of abusing a controlled substance
• deemed unruly or a danger to themselves or others at any time

Anyone who is ejected from one of our venues or sponsor bars will be required to petition the Club for reinstatement before participating in or attending any subsequent NYC Social Sports Club event. Team(s) associated with the offending player, friend, or fan will lose 2 Sportsmanship points from its Sportsmanship Rating.≈

These policies are in place for the safety, enjoyment, and continued camaraderie of all players, the sponsoring venues, sponsor bars, and the entire Club.

Sportsmanship Score

A Sportsmanship score (SP) is given to every team after every game, and is factored into overall league ranking. Teams (and their fans) begin with a ‘5.0’ and are deducted for policy infractions, poor attitudes, low attendance, or absence as described below.

Any team receiving a score below 3.5 must email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to explain their actions and receive official approval prior to participating in future Club games, leagues, or hosted events.

• 5.0 – Exemplary Conduct - Always cooperative with Gamestaff and other players. Rule interpretation and call discussions always polite. Captain has full control of players & fans.
• 4.5 – Good, Not Great - Minor taunting, running up the score, excessive celebration, or other actions which diminish overall fun.
• 4.0 – Passable Conduct - Team complains about Gamestaff decisions and/or shows minor dissent.
• 3.5 – Needs Improvement, Without Penalty - Team frequently complains or is unpleasant, but no penalties are assessed. Teams alerting the office by 3pm the day of a forfeit (Friday for weekend games) will receive a ‘3.5’.
• 3.0 – Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalty - Team verbally argues or is disrespectful. Captain helps control team. Teams not providing timely notice prior to 'low-show' forfeits receive a ‘3.0’.
• 2.5 – Two Penalties, No Ejection - No more than two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Captain attempts to help. Teams not providing timely notice prior to no-show forfeits receive a ‘2.5’.
• 2.0 – Single Ejection - Team has multiple unsportsmanlike penalties and/or player gets ejected.
• 1.5 – Single Ejection (Involving Captain) - Captain is ejected or is part of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
• 1.0 – Multiple Ejections - Captain has no control of team and/or is unwilling to work with staff. Team receives a forfeit loss.
• 0.5 – Multiple Ejections (Involving Captain) - Captain has no control of self or team. Team receives a forfeit loss.
• 0.0 – Game Discontinued - Physical confrontation, multiple ejections, or poor behavior resulting in discontinuation of game.

Note: players must wear appropriate colored, league-issued Team T-Shirts during games. Half a point (.5) will be deducted from a team’s Sportsmanship Rating for each missing Shirt.

Ejected Participants

Any ejected individual must get approval by NYC Social Sports Club prior to attending or participating in future Club games, leagues, or hosted events, including Post-Game Parties. Attempted participation without approval is subject to further penalties. Rulings may include, but are not limited to, probation, game/league suspension, or permanent expulsion.

PLAYOFFS

Regular Season team standings are determined by 1) number of wins, 2) Sportsmanship, and 3) point differential.

Teams not advancing to the Playoffs will be awarded a Consolation Game.

Top teams will advance to the Playoffs – typically a single elimination tournament – where they will compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and prizes. Please note: Spirit and Bar Awards are given to deserving teams, regardless of ranking.

To be eligible for Playoffs, teams must have an average Sportsmanship rating of at least ‘4.0’ and cannot have forfeited more than one game during the regular Season. Sorry, no Substitute players are allowed in the Playoffs. Any team receiving less than ‘3.5’ Sportsmanship in a Playoff game forfeits its spot in the bracket, plus they must receive approval from NYC Social Sports Club prior to participating in future Club games, leagues, or hosted events.

MOST IMPORTANTLY!

THIS IS A SOCIAL LEAGUE: Have fun and make new friends. The game may or may not go your way, but the beer is still cold and cheap afterwards!

Drop-In Dodgeball FAQs

Drop-In Dodgeball is our series of pickup games in between regular Seasons. You can find more information about upcoming times/locations HERE.

Q: Not a lot of people RSVP'd for this week's Drop-In on the Meetup page. Does this mean that the games are cancelled?

A: Definitely not! Many people come to Drop-In without RSVP'ing on Meetup. We also often have regular league games during or before the Drop-In games. Drop-In always runs as scheduled.

Q: Do I get a Team T-Shirt at Drop-In?

A: Team T-Shirts are only given to our members who register for an entire Season. Since teams are formed on-site for Drop-In, there is no way for us to coordinate Team T-Shirts.

Q: Do I get the post-game bar specials?

A: Of course! We would love for you to join us at the bar afterward for drink specials!