Ashbridges Bay Beach Volleyball

Welcome to the general information page for the OVA adult leagues at Ashbridges Bay.

Here is a summary of some of the key differences from previous leagues and also some additional features:

DIVISIONS:
We offer Recreational, Intermediate, Competitive, and Elite divisions.

We place a great deal of importance on teams registering for the correct division, as this makes for a good match on the court. Please refer to the Skill Level Description document for more information.

CO-ED 6’s will remain a minimum of 2 females playing at all times
CO-ED 4’s will remain a minimum of 2 females playing at all times
MIXED 4’s will require only a minimum of 1 female playing at all times
(We created this division to accommodate the many teams that would like to play 4’s but cannot find a second female.)

3-MATCH FORMAT:
Teams will continue to play 90 minutes each week. *Fall session will be 2-match format, due to limited daylight hours*
Teams will play 3 matches a night that will last 30 minutes each.

TIERING:
We will be tiering the league after several weeks of play to ensure the most enjoyable and competitive matches. This allows us to more effectively ensure that teams are playing other teams of similar skill levels more frequently. Teams will still be able to advance or decline based on their wins and losses.

START DATES: The Spring League starts  in May and the Summer League starts in July.

PLAYOFFS:
The playoffs will continue to be the final week of the season and all teams will participate in the playoffs.

AT THE BEACH:
(1) Format:
- The start time for the leagues is 6:45pm and will finish at approximately 8:30pm (there are no lights)
- Weekly playing schedules will be listed at the volleyball administration area at the beach.
- The schedules are not posted on the website and all teams are expected to be ready to play at the start time.
- Teams play 3 matches each week of the regular season. (Playoffs are a different format and all teams qualify for the playoffs in the final week.)
- Matches are 30 minutes each and all games are rally point scoring.
- First game to 21 points wins by 2 with a cap of 23 and second game is played until time expires. There will be a 3-5 minute break between matches for court switches.
- At the end of the final set of game, teams are responsible for taking down and returning the nets and lines.

(2) Equipment:
- Teams must pick up their court lines, volleyballs and score sheets prior to the Round 1 matches from the Equipment Shed located just North of the Boardwalk near court # 41.
- Try to have at least 1 person arrive early to get the equipment.
- Court Sizes: The lines are adjustable and the 6s and 4s/2s will play with slightly different sizes
6s : 9m (metres) x 9m (metres) (fully extended)
4s & 2s : 8m x 8m slide the guides on the corners and middles to the 8m marking)
- Volleyballs are available for your teams nightly use. The league will be using Mikasa balls. Please pick them up and return them to the hut at beginning and end of the night.
- You will have to leave a drivers license or ID as a deposit for the ball. Lost balls will have a replacement cost of $50.

(3) Individual Waivers:
- Are available online at www.ashbridgesvolleyball.com/registration or are available in hard copy at the beach. They must be completed in full by all participants and returned to the league coordinators (please remember to complete your team info).
-You must be at least 18 years of age to participate in the leagues.

(4) Team Rosters:
- Must be completed online at www.ashbridgesvolleyball.com
-Please ensure that all your team members are properly registered online as a part of your team roster. To be eligible to participate in the playoffs an individual must be on your team roster and have played 3 nights with your team.
- The maximum roster sizes are as follows:
2s: 4 people
4s: 8 people
6s: 12 people
- If your team needs an extra player or more we do have a forum on our website of individuals looking for teams and teams looking for players. If you want to post or recruit visit http://www.ashbridgesvolleyball.com/players-needing-a-team/

(5) Results:
- Record your results on the score sheets after each match and have both captains sign or initial and return to administration area. Scores not reported that evening will go down as losses.
- Results are posted online a week after play so as to allow for late & incorrect submissions. Note:  Previous weeks results will also be available at the beach.

(6) Cleanliness:
- Please leave the Beach clean and kindly put your garbage and recycling in the proper containers.
- Please make an effort to not use disposable drinking containers.
- Please bring your own refillable water bottles to the park.
- Water bottles can also be filled at water fountains.

(7) Parking:
- As a City of Toronto Park, there is a $3 charge to park after 5pm on weekdays.
- There are bike racks at the beach.

(8) Other:
- No alcohol is allowed on Woodbine Beach or in the Ashbridges Bay Park.
- There are washrooms and change rooms available for the players at the Bathing station; see map for location: www.ashbridgesvolleyball.com/contact
- We welcome feedback and suggestions to improve our services. Please contact any of the following if you have any comments or questions.

PHILOSOPHY OF ADULT LEAGUES:
People play in Recreational leagues for many reasons; to get outside and socialize with their friends and meet new people, to get some exercise, and to get the adrenaline rush from competition. There is no right or wrong reason.
The OVA and Beach Blast want participants in our leagues to enjoy the experience.

Play Hard
If you want to get some exercise you have to move around and be ready to hustle, even if you don’t touch the ball every time you move! Backing up teammates is a good thing.

Play Happy and Smile
Everyone makes errors, successful athletes learn from them. In sports one of the keys to succeeding is reducing your own unforced errors. If everyone on the team does it, you usually play up to your potential, which is a good feeling whether you win or lose.

Play to win but not at all costs
Respect the game and the rules and the other participants. If you violate a rule don’t be afraid to say so, even at game point! There will be always be different interpretations on rules and calls (with or without referees), please discuss disputes in a friendly manner and with respect. If you cannot agree on a quick resolution, re-serve the point. You are paying to play not to debate! You should be able to shake hands with your teammates and the opponents after a match without being ashamed of your behavior on the court.

Play safely
Be aware of your surroundings and teammates. Don’t dive into wooden poles or onto neighboring courts or underneath the net and try to be a hero, it is just a game and making 1 great play and potentially injuring yourself or others isn’t worth a single point.
Making one great save and then being unable to play again for a week or for a month or longer is not an equal trade.
If there is a wide discrepancy of skill level between teams don’t pound spikes at their weakest players.

This is a sport so be aware of the ball
Volleyball does have hard spikes and serves. Some players are able to accurately control their spikes/serves and some players cannot. Some teams position players on defense at places on the court that are bound to get a lot of hits. If you hit someone with a hard spike unintentionally, there is nothing wrong with saying sorry (I actually know a couple that met that way and ended up getting married, but I am not promising the same final result).

Encourage your teammates; your opponents
There is nothing wrong with complimenting a teammate or an opponent on a good effort or a successful play. It doesn’t mean you don’t want to win, it means that you are a good sport.

Promote rallies when you play
It isn’t much fun if the other team misses every serve and cannot return any of our serves. If there is a huge discrepancy of skill level between teams, be flexible and try to get more rallies

There are rules – we give you the flexibility to enforce them
If you are scheduled to play a team and they are shorthanded but there is a team on a nearby court that has extra players and the shorthanded team asks for some subs what should you do? That of course is up to you, we have a rule for that. What I would do is let them find subs, better or worse than their regular players, doesn’t matter. I came to play and I enjoy the competition, not recording on a piece paper that I won a game by default.
On the flip side if you are the team in violation don’t assume anything, clarify it before you proceed.