TEAM ROSTERS:
Unless otherwise indicated in the gameplay rules for a sport, there is no maximum number of players allowed on a team’s roster provided all players have signed the Team Roster and Waiver Form. It is the responsibility of all team captains to ensure players are in compliance with this policy. Teams have up until the third week of the season to make changes to their roster. After the third week, rosters will be frozen. Roster changes that require additional T-Shirts will be subject to availability. All roster changes must be communicated to and approved by the league office.
WAIVERS:
To be eligible to participate in any SSC league, tournament, or social event, each player must be confirmed on his or her team’s roster and have agreed to the waiver. Team captains are responsible for ensuring that all members of their team have read and accepted the terms of the waiver policy. The waiver is included in the online registration process, including for those players invited to a team by a captain. The waiver can also be found by visiting your dashboard.
PLAYER RESTRICTIONS:
All SSC participants must be 21 years of age or older prior to their first scheduled game.
Players may only be on one roster for any given sport on a given night, regardless of if multiple divisions are offered. Violation of this rule may result in game forfeiture by both teams.
The SSC reserves the right to request a photo ID from any player at any time for any reason.
Teams that wish to challenge the eligibility of a player on their opponent’s roster must make that request with an SSC Official as early as possible. Only individual players may be challenged. Entire teams may not be challenged.
Playoff team players will automatically have their roster spots verified by an SSC Official.
UNIFORMS:
SSC T-Shirts are your team’s uniforms. All players must wear the appropriate color uniform with the current SSC front logo to participate. Past season’s uniforms are not permitted, even if they are the correct color. Any player not wearing the appropriate uniform will be sidelined for that game.
The SSC T-Shirt must be worn on the outside of any clothing worn during play with all logos and designs in tact and clearly visible.
UNIFORM ALTERATIONS:
Players are permitted to modify their uniforms in any way provided they do not cover up or obscure any of the logos printed on the shirts and the resulting garment does not pose a threat to player safety.
DIVISION PREFERENCE:
Whenever possible, the SSC will separate programs into divisions based on playing experience, ability, and competitiveness. In the event multiple divisions are not possible, all players will be placed into a single division.
Division placement for all teams will be at the sole discretion of the SSC.
Any player, or team based on the majority of their players, that is determined to be in the incorrect division may, at any point during the season, be switched to the appropriate division at the discretion of the SSC.
DRONES:
Drones, model planes, and any other unmanned aircraft are not permitted at any SSC activity.
FINALE WEEK FOR LEAGUES:
In the final week of league play, the top teams will compete in a single-elimination playoff to determine the league champion. The playoff may be held on a day or at a venue other than the normal day and venue used for regular season games.
All other eligible teams in good standing with the league will be scheduled for a final game against a team similarly ranked in the final standings.
Championship and other participation prizes will be distributed at SSC discretion and include, but are not limited to, gift cards/vouchers to SSC partner establishments, league sponsor promotional items, and/or credits toward future SSC programs.
INCLEMENT WEATHER:
Prior to the start of the game, players and spectators should regularly check the SSC Rainoutline for venue status updates. Players and spectators can also sign up for automatic updates via email and/or text message. Details are available on the SSC website.
Once the game has started, gameday coordinators will work with facilities coordinators and SSC Operations personnel to monitor weather and playing conditions in order to determine if play will need to be suspended and/or games postponed.
GAME RESCHEDULING:
In the event of inclement weather or any other event that causes games to be postponed, the SSC will make every effort to reschedule. In the event of multiple cancellations, the SSC reserves the option to shorten the regular season and/or the playoff schedule. Makeup games may be scheduled on weekdays other than those regularly scheduled. Makeup games may be scheduled at venues other than those regularly scheduled. Neither refunds nor pro-rated refunds will be given if the season is shortened due to inclement weather or due to actions taken by the venue.
FORFEITS:
If a team is short the minimum number of players to play a regulation game, the game will be ruled a forfeit.
In the case of an injured player, at the sole discretion of an SSC Official, a game may be continued if a team does not have the minimum number of players for a regulation game provided the team has a chance to win.
Teams forfeiting multiple games in a season are subject to removal from the league.
FORFEIT FINES:
If the forfeiting team is short the minimum number of players to play an exhibition game, a $50 forfeit fine will be assessed.
This fine will be converted into either a gift card/voucher redeemable at a current SSC partner or a credit that can be used toward a future SSC program and distributed to the appropriate players of the offended team who showed up with no game to play.
The offended team, provided they are in good standing and do not owe any outstanding dues or fines to the league, can collect the forfeit fine gift card, voucher, or future credit from an SSC Coordinator during the final week of the season. If the fineable forfeit occurs in the last week of the season, the offended team will receive a credit for participation in a future SSC program.
Teams must participate in the final week of the season in order to collect any forfeit fine gift cards, vouchers, or future credits they are owed. If a team does not participate in the final week, any forfeit fine gift cards, vouchers, or future credits owed are forfeited.
Forfeit fines must be paid online within 72 hours. Unpaid forfeit fines may result in additional forfeits and/or suspension from the league. Teams with outstanding fines from past seasons will be barred from future registration in any SSC sport or event until they are paid in full.
Game forfeiture notice must be submitted via the SSC website by 5:00 PM on the preceding day (Friday for weekend games) in order to avoid the forfeit fine.
The minimum number of players required to play an officiated exhibition game is noted in the “Roster” section of each sport’s respective rules document.
SPORTSMANSHIP:
We are all adults, and the SSC expects all participants and spectators to act like it. Unsportsmanlike behavior may result in disqualification. At the request of an SSC Official, disqualified players or spectators must leave the playing area.
Repeated or egregious unsportsmanlike behavior, including refusal to leave the playing area, will result in an extended suspension term.
Suspended players are not permitted to attend any current or future SSC leagues, tournaments, races, and social events until after having received written approval from SSC Player Services. Violation of this policy may result in a team forfeit and additional suspension.
LET’S KEEP IT SOCIAL:
You may hear this from an SSC Official if someone is on the verge of committing an act not in accordance with the spirit of our programs. It is simply a reminder for everyone to calm down, play the game, and keep it social!
TAKE A BREAK:
If a player is exhibiting overly aggressive or unsportsmanlike behavior or is otherwise posing an unnecessary risk to themselves or others, he or she may be directed to “take a break” by an SSC Official. This is designed to prevent a more serious violation of SSC policies that would result in disqualification.
OVERLY COMPETITIVE PLAYERS:
All SSC sports are intended to be recreational. Any player or team who is deemed to be excessively competitive and/or overly aggressive may be removed from competition at the discretion of any SSC Official or gameday coordinator.
Overly competitive actions include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- Running up the score
- Refusing to include teammates in gameplay
- Repeatedly targeting weaker players
- Aggressive shouting (even if it is to yourself or a teammate)
- Being too Physical
- Arguing with, or directing negative comments toward, other players
- Arguing with, or directing negative comments toward, SSC Officials
- Attempting to deceive SSC Officials
DYNASTIES AND COMPETITION:
Everyone loves a little competition, but one team dominating a league season after season can spoil the fun for everybody.
If a group of players has dominated multiple seasons, the SSC will have the option to, in its sole discretion, request those players to form two or more separate teams to promote parity in the league or withdraw their registration entirely. All subsequent registrations must then be approved by the SSC prior to registering.
OFFICIALS:
All games will be self-officiated, however the SSC will provide a Game Coordinator for each location to help direct payers, resolve disputes, etc. Scores shall be reported to the SSC Game Coordinator.
EQUIPMENT:
The SSC will provide all Bocce equipment.
PLAYING ROSTER:
The maximum numbers of players on on the court is four. The minimum number of players is two.
The minimum number of players to play an officiated exhibition game, and avoid the forfeit fine, is two.
Teams may pitch in any order they choose. Teams may substitute at-will between frames. Except in the case of injury, the player who starts a frame must finish that frame. The same player may not participate in consecutive frames. All present team players must participate in at least one frame.
Teams lose the ability to challenge a player’s eligibility after the eighth frame, except in the case of a late-arriving player.
FORMAT:
Each game consists of 16 frames or as many as can be played in the time allotted, whichever is fewer. No new frame shall begin after 50 minutes. The team with the highest score wins the game. It is not necessary to win by two points.
Each team plays one game per night for seven weeks.
Prior to the start of the game, both teams will meet to determine initial pitching order with a game of rock, paper, scissors. Subsequent pitching order is determined by scoring in each frame. The team that has last scored points shall pitch first in the following frame. .
All games are doubles play. One member of each team will pitch from one side of the court during a frame. Another member of each team will pitch from the opposite side of the court in the next frame.
Games are broken down into frames of play. The frame begins with one team throwing the pallina (the smaller ball) to a point in the playing area past the center line and not past the end line. That team will then throw their first bocce ball. The opposing team will then throw their first bocce ball.
The frame continues with the team throwing who does not have the ball in play closest to the pallina. The frame is completed when all bocce balls have been thrown.
THROWING:
All throws must be underhand and made from behind the endling opposite the target endline.
All throws must remain in the playing area in order to count. If a thrown ball contacts anything outside of the playing area prior to contacting the pallina or another thrown ball, it is dead, shall be removed, and any subsequently displaced balls returned to their approximate initial position.
SCORING:
Cancellation scoring shall be used without “skunks” or “busts”. At the conclusion of a frame, only the team with bocce balls closer to the pallina than any of their opponent’s bocce balls scores points. One point is awarded for each bocce ball the scoring team has closer to the pallina than the opponent’s closest bocce ball.
Any rules not specifically mentioned here follow those of the Bocce Standards Association.
STANDINGS:
Teams earn three points for a win, one point for a tie, and zero points for a loss. Teams are ranked in order based on the following criteria:.
- Total Standings Points.
- Head to Head.
- Total Games Allowed.
- Total Game Differential.