Category: Policy & Rules

Written records of Quorum calls, Votes, Rule Changes, Policy Releases, and the Like.

Public Service Announcement

There are 75 days until Nationals. More importantly, there are 68 days until the week before Nationals. Many of you (not all) know the week before Nationals as the only time throughout the year you actively care about the rule book. The week before Nationals has a long and storied history as the week people freak out and suggest a bunch of new rules. It would be great if rule proposals could be brought up and discussed before this infamous week. So if you have an idea for a new rule or rule change, please begin to bring it up and we can discuss it prior to the week before Nationals. That is all.

 

~(The following has been included per the request of Zigmas Maloni)~

Deadline for Rulebook and Policy Proposals: 2017-04-01
Submission: Post in Facecool Captains’ Club or Email to the League (ncdadodgeball@gmail.com)
Criteria: Rulebook stuff is a rule proposal. Policy stuff is everything else. The Exec Board will sort it out. Additionally, there are no limits to the amount of proposals that can be submitted per team.

Continue reading “Public Service Announcement”

NCDA moves to the Gonzalez System

CHICAGO – Office of the Director of Officiating (and Records): The NCDA Executive Board has voted to move to a new ranking system. This new system is closely based on the earlier “Gonzalez System” and the new Gonzalez System will replace a combination of four different systems, which was used in seeding the Tournament Bracket for Nationals 2014, 2015, and 2016. The vote concluded on 2016-10-24; the motion carried 3-1, with one abstention, plus Director of Nationals assent.

For the full detail of the Gonzalez System, see its Policy documentation. See below for a short and simple explanation of the system. Continue reading “NCDA moves to the Gonzalez System”

Rule Clarification – Contact on the Opening Rush

Had a couple people bring it up, so a memo announcement for rule clarification.

If two players make contact on the Opening Rush, they are not explicitly out. Incidental contact is permitted.

If the contact is more than incidental, the Official may deem it as Unnecessary roughness or Excessive Physical Contact, and issue the relevant yellow card to the offending player(s) [2016: 3.7.3.2.2].

Players are also discouraged from wrestling for a ball under the Possession Contention clause. This can happen at any time during the game, but is more prevalent on the Opening Rush.

[2016: 3.4.3.2.1] Possession Contention – If two players pick up a ball at the same time and neither player secures possession after two seconds, an Official shall instruct both players to drop the ball and back away towards the Baseline, then place the ball where it was located prior to the players’ contesting possession.

So, a player is not out on the opening rush unless they are hit by a thrown ball, caught out, or makes a boundary violation… normal stuff that occurs at any time in the Match. Contact with the opposing team doesn’t make either player out. Rougher contact can warrant a yellow card at the Referee’s discretion.  Continue reading “Rule Clarification – Contact on the Opening Rush”

Final on Clean Blocking Rule

Good people, after many conversations with multiple people and the rest of the Executive Board, we have reached a final interpretation of the Clean Blocking rule.

As it might appear in the Rulebook

1. Blocking – A Target can use a dodgeball to block any direct throw. However, the blocking dodgeball(s) must remain secure after being hit, and the ricochet must not hit the blocking Target’s body.

1.1 Knockout – If a blocking ball becomes dislodged, the Target must regain possession before the dislodged ball becomes dead. Failure results in a Loss of Possession [3.4.3.1] and the Target is ruled out.

1.2 Dirty Block – If the ricochet hits the blocking Target, a catch must be made on the ricochet before the ball becomes dead. Failure will result in the Target being ruled out.

1.2.1 Block Assisted Personal Catch – If the blocking Target catches the ricochet, it counts as a Personal Catch (new phrase for a Direct Catch). A player from the Target’s jail comes back into play. The Thrower is out.
Note: The play must be isolated to the blocking Target. Once the ricochet hits a teammate, it is only eligible for a Team Catch.
1.2.2 Block Assisted Team Catch – If a teammate of the Target catches the ricocheted ball before it becomes dead, it is deemed a Block Assisted Team Catch. A player from the Target’s jail comes back into play. Neither the Target nor the Thrower are out.  Continue reading “Final on Clean Blocking Rule”

2017 Proposals Ballot Results

CHICAGO – Office of the Director of Officiating.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Below are the results of the preferential election for the 2016/2017 NCDA Rulebook and select Policies. The Rulebook is scheduled to be released prior to the start of the 2017 Season. Extra special thanks to the 22 Member Teams that submitted ballots, with only one Member Team missing.

Rule Proposals

R.4) Early Overtime – If a point is scored with less than 4 minutes remaining in the second half, and the resulting Score is tied, should Overtime go into effect?
A. Yes, add a condition to call Early Overtime. [NEW]

R.5) Blocking – If a ball deflects off the blocking ball, can the ricochet cause an out?
[Final Decision] B. A block must be clean for the blocking player. If a ricochet still hits the blocking player, the blocking player is out. [NEW]

R.6) LAZ – Should the Legitimate Attempt Zone (LAZ) be a tighter zone?
A. The LAZ should be the Target’s full body reach in any of the 3 dimensions. For a 6 foot tall player, this is about 7 feet from left to right. [NEW]

R.7) Attack Line – How far should the Attack Line be?
C. 30 feet from the baseline. [Current]

R.8) Rosters – Should rosters have fewer players?
C. Roster size is 10-20. Active players are 10-15. [Current]

R.11) What happens when the Score becomes a 4 point differential?
A. The lower scoring team must consent to call the Match. If no consent, gameplay continues and all future points count. If the match is called, the Score is final but teams may play out the remaining time on a running clock, unbound by the rules. [NEW]

R.13) Burden Throw – Should a team relieve a Burden to reset the Shot Clock?
B. No, just one Legitimate Attempt Throw resets the Shot Clock for the Throwing team.. Each team has a Shot Clock. [Current]

Policy Proposals

P.1) Should there be a required break between multiple matches?
A. For safety precautions, a team must take a minimum 30 minute break after playing 3 consecutive matches. [NEW]

P.2) Limits on Captains’ Meeting proposals
B. The deadline to submit proposals is one week prior to Nationals. There are no limits to the amount of proposals. [Current]
Note: This initial result was a tie. The Executive Board votes to break the tie. Vote Result: 4 of 5 voted to keep the current policy, no limits (P2B). However, the one week prior to Nationals deadline will be enforced this year.

P.3) Lowering the required number of matches on Saturday for scheduling flexibility.
B. Participants will play a minimum of 3 matches on Saturday, but will be scheduled for more if time allows. [Current]

P.5) Should the League purchase two trophies?
B. No, not at this time.

P.7) Should the Executive Board be given a vote whenever Member Teams vote?
B. No, only Member Teams. [Current]

See a more extensive report after the jump.  Continue reading “2017 Proposals Ballot Results”

Board Meets to Amend Bylaws

The NCDA Executive Board met on August 10, 2016, called by the President, to discuss change in the NCDA. This change consideration is allowed by Article 10.1.1 of the NCDA Bylaws. In accordance to Article 10.18.1 of the NCDA Bylaws, all five voting members of the Board agreed to consider change to be made prior to the three year provisions timeline outlined in article 10.18 of the NCDA Bylaws.

During this meeting, a BILL to amend the Organization’s voting process on preseason (e.g. this July vote) rulebook/policy was proposed:

Section 1. To provide the Board the ability to overturn any measure affirmed by the Member Teams in the preseason election, but only through a supermajority of three fourths of the elected Board.

Section 2. To provide the Member Teams the ability to veto the Board’s passed override measure, but only through a supermajority of three fourths of the casted ballots after achieving quorum.

– Reference NCDA Bylaws, §6 and 6.5 Proposal Voting, 7.7 Member Team Obligation to vote. This does not apply to elections for Board positions, which is a separate clause.

Vote Result: 4 of 5 Board members vote to change. Non-voting member Director of Nationals dissents. The measure succeeds in accordance to Article 10.1.1 of the NCDA Bylaws.

tl/dr: The Board can overturn the initial voting results with a 3/4 agreement of the Board, Member Teams can veto the Board’s decision with a 3/4 vote.

2017 Executive Board

CINCINNATI – Office of Director of Officiating (and Records):

With 100% of the 23 Member Team submitting a valid ballot, plus the Alumni estate ballot, 24 valid ballots and zero invalid ballots determined the winner of two open Executive Board positions. As there were only two candidates and no None of the Above votes, only one round of counting was needed to obtain a majority. Following NCDA policy, these results were confirmed by the Director of Nationals (Tyrell Smith). The winning candidates have accepted their positions and the defeated candidates have been notified of the results prior to this posting.

Director of Relations / Expansion
Jacob Leski (15)
Dylan Fettig (9)

Chief of Content
Kevin Bailey (16)
Jonathan Shaw (8) Continue reading “2017 Executive Board”

2017 Executive Board Election

Following the NCDA’s voting policy, the vote will be preferential. Teams will submit their ballot by ranking each candidate in order of their preference and email this ballot to the League (ncdadodgeball@gmail.com). The most preferred candidate in each position will be offered the respective position on the Executive Board.

EXAMPLE BALLOT

Director of Relations / Expansion
1. Vibius Minucius Pius
2. Quintus Laelius Lucanus

Chief of Content
1. Decimus Iuventius Paetus
2. Marcus Hostilius Regulus

In accordance with our Constitution, Voting will run from 2016-06-15 until 2016-06-25. The new board will be announced no later than 2016-07-01, with the start of the NCDA fiscal year.

Candidates

Director of Relations / Expansion
– Dylan Fettig
– Jacob Leski

Chief of Content
– Kevin Bailey
– Jonathan Shaw

Candidate CAMPAIGN Paragraphs

The following contains paragraphs from each candidate seeking a position on the Executive Board. If you have any questions for the candidates, let them know or post them here!

Continue reading “2017 Executive Board Election”

Changes to League Dues for 2016-2017 Season

DALLAS, TX – Office of the Treasurer: In a 5-0 vote of the Executive Board (two voting members abstaining), the Board has decided to increase the annual league dues for each Member Team. Commencing July 1, 2016, the membership dues per team will increase $10, from $100 to $110 per annum.

December 31, 2016 will remain the deadline for member dues submission to the NCDA.

There were many reasons supporting this increase that the Board considered, which ultimately drove the Board to approve this increase in dues. The first is the standard inflation of the USD. The League has not adjusted dues to concur with inflation for several years, and the Board feels it is time to catch up with past inflation, as well as get ahead on the continual inflation going forward.

The slight increase in league dues will also help the Executive Board facilitate league expansion through methods of minimalistic travel stipends for members of the NCDA Ambassadors to assist the organization in its growth and development campaign.

Per section 7.1.1 of the NCDA bylaws, membership dues are subject to change with an adequate notice to the Member Teams of at least six months from the due date. At the time of this release, dues are to be submitted to the NCDA more than six months in the future. The bylaw will also be updated to reflect the new amount of $110 annually at the start of the new fiscal year. The current bylaw can be found here.

Please reach out to Mike McNicholas, Treasurer, at ncdadodgeball@gmail.com, or another member of the Executive Board with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Nationals 2017 Host Vote Results

LOS ANGELES – Office of the Director of Officiating (and Records): The University of Kentucky Dodgeball Club will play host for Nationals 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. They have two potential weekends available, of April 1st or April 8th.

This was a preferential election. Each Member Team submitted a ballot ranking the candidates by preference. The votes were transferred in a STV format until the most preferred candidate won a majority. 12 votes dictated a quorum for our current total of 23 teams. Tyrell Smith, Director of Nationals 2016, was auditor of the ballots as per the election oversight duties of the position.

An election note, there was a tiebreaker between VCU and JMU in the first round since they had the same total of first preferences in the election. The tiebreaker went to the Candidate with more second preferences: VCU with 11 over JMU with 3.

Candidate 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
JMU 3 3 9 7
VCU 3 11 4 4
UK 10 4 3 4
BW 6 4 6 6

Please view the original ballot.in and election.out file for the preferential counts.

Nationals 2017 Hosting Bids

Following the NCDA’s voting policy, the vote will be preferential. Teams will submit their ballot by ranking each school in order of their preference and email this ballot to the League. The most preferred school will host Nationals 2017. For Nationals 2017, there are four schools placing a bid to host: JMU, VCU, and UK, BW. See after the jump for each team’s bid information. Please make any questions you have known.

Voting will run from May 1st to May 6th, or will end early if each Member Team casts a ballot by email to ncdadodgeball@gmail.com

Example Ballot

1. Delta
2. Marshall
3. Oakland

Member Player Representation

Member Teams are left to their own devices to determine their preferences. However, some teams in the past like to run their own mini-preferential election within the team. Some may have each officer submit a preferential ballot. Some have their entire club membership vote. Let me me know if you would like this. I can count those in our voting program and deliver your team’s preferential ballot through that process.

Continue reading “Nationals 2017 Hosting Bids”

Exec Board Meeting 2016-05-01

National Collegiate Dodgeball Association, Inc.
Executive Board Meeting Minutes
Date: 2016-05-01
Time: 09:10 pm EST – 10:01 pm EST

Participants:

  • Felix Perrone, President
  • Zigmas Maloni, Director of Officiating
  • Mike McNicholas, Treasurer
  • Kevin Bailey, Chief of Content

Agenda:

  1. Nationals Debrief [President]
  2. Savage’s Offer [President]
  3. Nationals 2017 Bid [President]
  4. Executive Board Open Positions [Director of Officiating]
  5. Adjournment [President]

Continue reading “Exec Board Meeting 2016-05-01”

2016 Captains’ Meeting Minutes

See original google doc for full minutes. Abbreviated provided here:

Nationals 2016: April 16-17, 2016
Hosted by Bowling Green State University Dodgeball Club

Captains’ Meeting Minutes

Present Member Teams: Akron, BGSU, BW, CMU, DePaul, GVSU, JMU, Kent, MSU, Ohio, OSU, PSU, SVSU, Towson, UK, UWP, VCU, WKU

  • Saturday Results, Sunday’s Seeding and Schedule – TS & ZM
  • Host Bids for Nationals 2017 – TS
  • Summer Events – DePaul & Kent
  • Admin Announcements
  • League Growth
  • Nominations for NCDA Officer Positions
  • Rankings/Standings Changes
  • Presidential Suggestions for the Future of the Organization
    • Sponsoships
    • Executive Board reductions
    • New Divisions (6v6 program, SkyZone partnerships)
  • 2017 Proposed Changes for NCDA Rulebook

Proposals approved for consideration in pre-season vote

R.1. Shot Clock reset for receiving team – DC
R.4. Early Overtime – ZM
R.5. Clean Blocking / Fettig and Peters Proposals
DF: Clean Blocking: Thrown balls are live off of an opponent’s blocking ball.
WP: NOTE: This is a proposition to change the same rule that Dylan Fettig has proposed above, only slightly different.
R.6. Legitimate Attempt Zone redefinition – ZB
Change the definition of the Legitimate Attempt Zone (LAZ).
R.7. Move the Attack Line – KB
Attack line decrease from 30 ft. to 25 ft.
R.8. Roster Size redefintion – JS
Roster size down from 20 to 13, teams from 15v15 to 10v10. Legitimate JV league.
R.11. Calling a game at four point differential – CA
R.13. Burden Throw – The game is played with 9 balls – DF

Proposals that failed to achieve majority vote for consideration in pre-season vote

R.2. Rebound Catch – AP
R.3. Even Numbers Sub Rule of 2.3.1.2 Low numbers – ZM
R.9. Ball Increase to 12 balls – MW
R.10. Clock Changes – CA
R.12.  Catches bring two players in – WP

2017 Proposed Policies for NCDA Constitution

All proposals approved for consideration in pre-season vote, no proposals failed.

P.1. Consecutive Match Limit – MR

P.2. Rule/Policy Change Suggestions – JL

P.3. 2 Games on Saturday – ZM
Nationals is two things: the National Tournament (Section 4.3.4.6) and the extra-strength Non-Bracket Matches (Section 4.3.4.5). I propose a less stringent definition of Saturday’s required games, a minimum of two.

P.4. Changing Sunday’s Bracket Format:

P.4.1 [Link] AH: I would like to propose that championship Sunday be broken into two different tourneys. One tourney for the higher seeded teams and one for the lower seeded teams.  I do believe this would bring out the best competition in all teams on Sunday instead of waiting till the second or third round before competition heats up.

P.4.2 [Link] JS: Top 8 teams compete for the cup at nationals, the other teams would play round robin games on Sunday.

P.4.3 [Link] DF: Similarly to Jeff’s proposal I suggest that Sunday of nationals should be two separate brackets. However I think we should do it like world cup groupings for soccer.

P.5. Trophies for #1 in regular season and for most games played – DF

P.6. Ranking System
Editors Note: Ranking is defined by the Executive Board rather than Membership vote. However, input is encouraged and concerns are always addressed.

P.6.1 Gonzalez system exclusively – ZM
Move to exclusively using the Gonzalez system to rank teams, but adjust the season to season carry-over, involving reverting to the mean.

P.6.2 Reset Gonzalez Rankings – HF
Reset all Gonzalez rankings at the beginning of the year to the baseline average of 40.000
Rationale.

2016-2017 Off Season Action Dates

2016-04-01 – Begin Nominations for open Executive Board positions (Director of League Expansion, Chief of Content)
2016-04-19 – End of 2016 Season, Begin Off Season
2016-05-01 – Begin Vote for Nationals 2017 Host
2016-05-06 – End Vote for Nationals 2017 Host (no later than)
2016-05-08 – Announce Nationals 2017 Host (no later than)
2016-05-31 – End Nominations for Executive Board
2016-06-05 – Board Nominees must accept nominations (no later than) and submit a “campaign” info paragraph
2016-06-15 – Begin Vote for open Executive Board positions (Director of League Expansion, Chief of Content)
2016-06-25 – End Vote for open Executive Board positions
2016-06-28 – Announce votes privately to the current Board, contact winners of election (no later than)
2016-06-30 – Winners accept/deny their position (no later than)
2016-06-30 – End 2015-2016 NCDA Fiscal Year
2016-07-01 – Begin 2016-2017 NCDA Fiscal Year
2016-07-01 – Announce Executive Board (no later than)
2016-07-15 – Begin Vote on Rulebook, Bylaws, and Policy
2016-07-31 – End Vote on Rulebook, Bylaws, and Policy
2016-08-01 – Begin 2017 Season
2016-08-10 – Announce results of Vote (no later than). Results take effect at publishing datetime.
2016-09-01 – Publish 2017 Rulebook, Bylaws, and Policy
2016-12-31 – Member Teams pay League Membership Fee (no later than)