League Regulations

Team & Captain Responsibilities

Each team will designate one Captain and optionally one Assistant Captain. Captains are key members of the VUL community. They lead their team on and off the field and inspire them to better and fairer play.

Captains must read and understand VUL Rules and Regulations. A solid understanding of these guidelines will enable captains to avoid and/or resolve disputes which may occur on and off of the field, and help ensure their team has the most fun possible.

Captains also provide a vital link between VUL staff and players. Captains are expected to communicate league policies and announcements to their players, and pass players' comments and suggestions to the VUL.

The Spirit of the Game

As stated in the Rules of Ultimate:

Ultimate relies upon a spirit of sportsmanship that places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect among competitors, adherence to the agreed upon rules, or the basic joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to eliminate unsportsmanlike conduct from the Ultimate field. Such actions as taunting opposing players, dangerous aggression, belligerent intimidation, intentional infractions or other 'win-at-all-costs' behavior are contrary to the spirit of the game and must be avoided by all players.

This 'Spirit of the Game' is what Ultimate is all about: having fun, getting exercise, making new friends, and helping other players learn the game. It is not about winning at all cost. Dangerous and overly aggressive play is not only frowned upon but is in direct contradiction with the spirit of ultimate.

Every member of the VUL is responsible for promoting and upholding The Spirit of the Game (SOTG).

Captain's Clause and Spirit

As stated in the Rules of Ultimate:

A game may be played under any variation of the rules agreed upon by the captains of the teams involved.

This rule is applicable in the VUL. However, both captains must agree on any variation of the rules, and any rule change must not interfere with the games of other teams. In addition, pressuring another captain to change the rules against their will is a violation of the Spirit of the Game. To cite a common example: if your team only has 2 players of one gender, it is not 'unspirited' for the other team to record a default against you. It is your responsibility to ensure you have enough players at each game.

Rosters

Captains must ensure that all players properly Consent via the online system and are added to their team rosters. Players who have not completed the Statement of Consent are a) not elilgible for league play, b) not covered by any of the VUL's sports injury or liability insurance, and c) in no way the responsibility of the Vancouver Ultimate League Society.

Score Reporting

All scores are reported online. It is the responsibility of the team captain or administrator to register the score for your games within 48 hours after each game.

When reporting game scores, you will also enter a Spirit Score for the other team. The spirit scoring system consists of a number of yes/no questions which help track how teams participate in the Spirit of the Game.

Field Use

We cooperate with our field providers to ensure the continued use of their facilities. Please help Vancouver Ultimate maintain its high community standing by following these guidelines for field usage.

Leave no trace:
• Please remove everything that you brought in.
• Garbage especially is handled on a carry in / carry out basis.
• Please clean up after your pet.
• Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on any of the VUL fields.
• Be considerate of all the neighbors.
• Don't trash fields. If the field is too wet, stay off it.

The Park Board and School Board closely monitor the conditions of their fields. During periods of inclement weather, the Park Board may close some or all of their fields. They may also leave fields open with 'user discretion' if weather conditions are marginal or unpredictable. Park Board Staff recognize that conditions can change, and that many fields which drain well can withstand play during inclement weather, while other fields may not accommodate play under even marginal conditions. Field users are expected to make the call based on their knowledge of the fields performance during various weather conditions. Criteria used to determine if fields are NOT playable include:
• Heavy rain warning
• Standing water or large muddy areas on playing surface
• Frost or frozen playing surfaces

If fields are closed due to weather, we communicate that to our members. See our Field Closure page for information on how this is done.

Note that if a field is damaged as a result of play during inclement weather, the Park Board may not be able to provide an alternative facility for future games. In addition, the Park Board has charged user groups ($1500 - $ 3000) for extensive damage caused during a field closure. Thus, it is in everyone's interest to ensure that fields are not used when damage to the playing surface may occur.

Postponement of Games

Games can be postponed from the scheduled game time only with the agreement of both teams concerned and if dangerous conditions (lightning, unsafe field conditions etc.) exist. Teams are absolutely expected to postpone the game if dangerous conditions are present or imminent
- Teams must reschedule postponed games at their earliest convenience.
- The League Coordinator is to be informed by the teams concerned of any postponements.
- The League Coordinator may impose a date on both teams that the game is to be finished by. All rescheduled games must be completed within 48 hours after the last regularly scheduled game of any semester.

Defaulted Games

If you know that your team will not have enough players for a particular game you are required to call the captain of the other team, 24 hours or more before your scheduled game and attempt to reschedule the game - DO NOT RELY ON EMAIL UNLESS YOU GET A REPLY. You are also required to call the league coordinators at the same time and inform him/her of the postponement/cancellation.
- Default occurs when one team cannot obtain their opponent's agreement to postpone a game, dangerous conditions do not exist, and there are no overriding exceptional circumstances.
- A team must be able to field at least 6 players and satisfy the divisional co-ed rule to be considered not in default.
- Winners of defaulted games will be awarded a score of 6-0.
- A default fee of $25 per game will be imposed, payable via the online system within 48 hours of receiving notice. Failure to pay such fee will result in removal from the next schedule, or, in the caseof the last trimester or playoffs, removal from the list of returning teams for any future league registration.
- Two consecutive defaults or three overall may result in that team being eliminated from future league play, subject to consideration by the League Coordinator.
- The captain of the opposing team must have more than 24 hours notice that your team will not be present at the scheduled game. (If a message is left you must ensure that the message was received). - - You must also let the League Coordinators know of any postponed game.

Discipline and Spirit Violations

If there are 'spirit violations' originating from one or more of your team members, the league will investigate any reported incident and respond as follows:
• If, after an investigation by VUL Staff, it is found that a player or players were found to be in violation of the spirit of the game during a specified incident, that player's team will receive a first warning.
• If another violating incident occurs by a member or members of the same team, a second warning will be issued.
• If a third warning is necessary, the team in question will be suspended indefinitely from playing in the Vancouver Ultimate League.

In extreme circumstances, more than one strike may be issued for a given violation, and teams may be directed to take specific actions which will allow them to continue participation within the league.

Although violations are most often reported based on the actions of individuals, the VUL places responsibility for those actions on the team as a whole.