Plan b

Hello Ladies,

Please forward your team rosters today if possible so I can get the list of players to the gym staff tomorrow.

I don’t recall if I mentioned that the format will be the same as last year … best 2 out of 3 games to 25 time permitting. What that means is if one team wins the first 2 games, you’re welcome to play a 3rd game but it will not count for points. If each team wins one of the first 2 games, a 3rd tie breaking game will be required to decide the overall winner. Each game will be rally scoring to 25, win by 2, cap at 27. The 3rd tie breaking game will also go to 25, cap 27, if there is enough time. If there is not enough time, play the game to 15 or 20, win by 2, cap at 17 or 22 respectively. We haven’t come across the case yet where we don’t get the 3rd game to 15 so we should be okay.

Each win will count as 2 points. Important: when you send in your win/loss record (which needs to be done each week), please email who won the 1st game, who won the 2nd game, and if the 3rd was the tie breaker, who won the 3rd game. The most points either team will be awarded each week is 4.

The first 3-4 weeks we will not have refs so all calls are on the honour system. Please call your nets, over the centre line, back row hits, in/out, etc. When we do have refs, please still play the honour system. We will most likely only have 1 ref and he/she cannot see everything. To decide who plays first, please flip a coin or have captains rock-paper-scissors for serve. Remember, the winner of the "flip" wins the choice of serve or side. If the winner picks serve, the non-winner has choice of side. If the winner picks side, the non-winner can choose to serve or receive.

As for warm-up, please make sure you start warm-up at 6:30 for the early match or 8:00 for the late match. As for hitting, you can decide to hit together or separate. If you hit separate, please start at 6:35 and 8:05, allowing 4-5 mins each for hitting. If you want to then get serves in, please only take 1 min to do this. It will help tremendously if we get our matches started promptly at 6:45 and 8:15. As you know, we need to be out of the gym by 9:30 each Tuesday night. That means nets & equipment put away, curtain raised, hoops lowered, and leaving by 9:30.

I have attached the schedule for the first 7 weeks. I will try to change the schedule for the next 7 weeks and then the last 7 weeks so teams are not playing the same double headers each time (just to keep it fair). You will note on the schedule that there are 4 teams that only scorekeep once. Not to worry, I will make sure these teams do their fair share in the coming 7 weeks (that is why you will see their names on the weeks with no games scheduled so I know to schedule them in). I have tried keep the early/late ratio fair, however, some teams play more early than late or vice versa. This will again hopefully be evened out in the next two 7 week periods. All of that said, if you notice any errors or out-right inconsistencies, please let me know asap so I can correct them.

For Sherri and Erin’s teams, please forward your team name.

For everyone, please ensure all the players on your team (new and returning) are aware of the rules and know how to set up/take down the nets. This makes it easier for everyone. If you have any questions, please ask someone.

ONE FINAL NOTE, BUT IT’S A VERY IMPORTANT ONE … We will have 3 league balls – one for each court. Please use these for game balls. If you notice something wrong, please let me know. At the end of the night, one of the things that needs to be put away (from any team still there) is the league bag. Very Important: make sure you have all 3 scorecards AND all 3 league balls in the bag when you put it away. To help, I’m asking that the late game scorekeepers put the scorecard in the league bag before they leave the gym. Court 3’s scorecard and ball should be put away at the end of that game. Last year, we lost a ball because teams did not take the responsibility to ensure all 3 balls were in the bag before locking it up for the night. Part of net take down includes ensuring all the equipment (league balls included) are put away and locked up.

Thank you everyone.
Leanne