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 SSL 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 SSL 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 SSL 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 SSL 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 SSL Official.
UNIFORMS:
SSL T-Shirts are your team’s uniforms. All players must wear the appropriate color uniform with the current SSL 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 SSL 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 SSL 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 SSL.
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 SSL.
DRONES:
Drones, model planes, and any other unmanned aircraft are not permitted at any SSL 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 SSL discretion and include, but are not limited to, gift cards/vouchers to SSL partner establishments, league sponsor promotional items, and/or credits toward future SSL programs.
INCLEMENT WEATHER:
Prior to the start of the game, players and spectators should regularly check the SSL 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 SSL website.
Once the game has started, gameday coordinators will work with facilities coordinators and SSL 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 SSL will make every effort to reschedule. In the event of multiple cancellations, the SSL 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 SSL 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 SSL partner or a credit that can be used toward a future SSL 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 SSL 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 SSL 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 SSL sport or event until they are paid in full.
Game forfeiture notice must be submitted via the SSL 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 SSL expects all participants and spectators to act like it. Unsportsmanlike behavior may result in disqualification. At the request of an SSL 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 SSL leagues, tournaments, races, and social events until after having received written approval from SSL 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 SSL 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 SSL Official. This is designed to prevent a more serious violation of SSL policies that would result in disqualification.
OVERLY COMPETITIVE PLAYERS:
All SSL 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 SSL 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, SSL Officials
- Attempting to deceive SSL 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 SSL 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 SSL prior to registering.
OFFICIALS:
All games will be self-officiated, however the SSL will provide a Gameday Coordinator for each location to help direct payers, resolve disputes, etc.
EQUIPMENT:
The SSL will provide all Bocce equipment.
PLAYING ROSTER:
The maximum numbers of players on a team is four. The minimum number of players is three. The maximum number of males is two. The minimum number of females is one.
Teams may pitch in any order they choose. Any or all players may throw in a frame. A female player must participate in at least every other frame. All team players must participate in at least one frame.
If one team is short the minimum number of players by game time, that team will automatically forfeit the first game only. If that team is still short the minimum number of players 15 minutes after the originally scheduled game time, the match will be ruled a forfeit.
The minimum number of players to play an officiated exhibition game, and avoid the forfeit fine, is two.
Teams lose the ability to challenge a player’s eligibility after the second game, except in the case of a late-arriving player.
FORMAT:
Matches are played best of three games with a 60 minute time limit. The team to first reach a score of 12 points wins the game. It is not necessary to win by two points. If the time limit is reached in the middle of a frame, the frame shall be completed.
Each team plays one match per night for seven weeks. Playoffs will be played by the top four teams in the league in the seventh week.
Prior to the first game, both captains 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.
Games are broken down into frames of play. The top of a 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.
Scores shall be reported to the SSL Gameday Coordinator.
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
DYNASTY RULE:
Everyone loves a little competition, but one team dominating a league season after season can spoil the fun for everybody.
If a team retaining more than one player has won three championships in consecutive seasons for which they have been registered, the SSL will have the option to, in its discretion, request that team to form two or more separate teams to promote parity in the league or withdraw their registration. That team will then have the opportunity to form two separate teams with each subsequent roster approved by the SSL.