Winter League 2021

Valley Ultimate is very excited to announce it’s first-ever Winter Indoor Club League!!

When: Sundays from 6-10pm
Who:  8 teams, minimum 10 players
Where:  Allsports Arena,  54 Old Ferry Rd, Northampton, MA
Format: 5v5, mixed (3:2 – offense decides) – see below
Ages: 16+

Schedule: Two 5-week seasons
Season 1: Jan 2 – 30
Season 2: February 6 – March 6
season-ending tournament – March 13

All participants must show proof of vaccination for Covid-19 to participate. Allsports follows current Northampton Health Department rules,  which currently require masks indoors at all times

Coordinators: Kelsey Wentling (she/her) & Dan Kaplan (he/his)

League Goals and Values
This is a new league and the first Ultimate league ever to play at Allsports. We look forward to a welcoming, fun, and competitive atmosphere to keep us all in shape during the cold winter months of New England. 

We seek to create a community space for players to compete in a welcoming and friendly environment. We strive to foster an inclusive playing opportunity and welcome feedback on how to continue to improve in this area. We adhere to the USAU Gender Inclusion Policy and have collected equity resources on our website, which we encourage players to explore. We expect all participants to demonstrate the highest level of respect for one another and the Ultimate community; harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated and should be reported to the league coordinators (email addresses).

How are teams formed:
This is a “club league;” If you are interested in submitting a bid to have a team in this league, please fill out the following Captains Form. You will need to have at least 8 players committed to submit a bid. At least half of your roster must consist of woman-matching players (see ‘matching preference’ section for details’. You can sign up for one or both seasons. Once your bid is accepted, each of your players will have to fill out a registration & payment form. (All players will have to be USAU members or purchase the once-a-year affiliate fee of $17 to be insured). The cost for each player in each session will be $45-$90 (sliding scale) for each participant.

click here to submit a team bid!!

All teams have been filled for the season.

Free Agents:
If you are interested in signing up for the league as a “free agent” you can do so here. League coordinators will strive to place all free agents as team and league needs allow. This may result in free agents being placed at the discretion of the league coordinators, or placed on a substitute list depending on team capacity.

click here to register as a player on a team or
as a free agent!!


Matching Preference 

Here is language we will use regarding match-ups:

  • Woman-matching: any non-cis gendered man who prefers to match against women or nonbinary players
  • Man-matching: Any person who prefers to match against men 
  • Anyone-matching: any non-cis gendered man who is comfortable marking or being marked any player on the field

Note* When selecting your preferred matchup, please keep in mind that we envision the “anyone-match” position to be occupied by players who are not cisgender men. The position exists to create space for nonbinary/genderfluid players in mixed ultimate, and to allow all players to feel comfortable in their matchups.

We request that participants refrain from terms such as “mark gender across,” and “man defense.” Instead we suggest counting off across the line or simply saying, “match across” and requesting switches as preferred when on defense.

Send questions and feedback to kelseyjwentling@gmail.com and dankaplan888@gmail.com

VU INDOOR LEAGUE RULES

Format:

  • We will play on the “large field” at Allsports in Northampton on Sunday evenings. Each team will play one game each night of the season. Because indoor facilities are very expensive, there is virtually no downtime. As soon as one group exits the playing surface, the next group hops on already warmed up and starts playing.
  • Games are 5v5, with a gender ratio of 3/2 – Offense decides. That is, the team on offense can decide if they will play 2 or 3 woman or anyone-matching players. The other team will need to match that offensive set with the remaining players man- or anyone-matching.

Continuous Play

  • Games run continuously in a one-pull game: at the start of the game. After a point is scored, place the disc on the ground.  Then, the team that was scored on starts the next point on offense by “putting the disc into play after a point is scored” (defined below).

  • When a point is scored, play is stopped and substitutions can be made for either team, until the disc is put into play. To initiate substitutions, players must start heading for the team bench area with one arm raised. Play should not restart until substitutions are complete.  

  • “Putting the disc into play after a point is scored” is as follows:

  • The team becoming offense picks up the disc and brings it to the end zone line nearest to where it was picked up.
  • Play is halted while any number of players from each team may substitute
  • The thrower must establish a pivot point and start play with a disc check between offense and defense. 
  • If play is started but one or more teams does not have 5 players on the field at the designated gender ratio, a violation can be called.  Play should restart once substitutions are completed.  
  • If substitutions are complete and both teams have 5 players on the field at the designated gender ratio, it is a violation to delay putting the disc into play.  If either the thrower or marker refuses to complete the disc check, they may give a 5 second warning before starting play. 

Game Timing

  • Games are 60 minute time slots.
  • Game starts when the clock hits 55 minutes (allowing 5 minutes to warm up, so get there ahead of time, to warm up and get dressed)
  • There is no halftime
  • Each team gets two 60 second timeouts per game.
  • Exit the field promptly after game has ended so that the next teams (or other non-ultimate sports) can access the field for their reserved times.

End of Game Rules

  • Game ends at the final buzzer (or when the time expires if buzzer is not available) even if the score is tied.  If the disc is in the air at the time of the buzzer, the game ends after the result of the play is completed.  
  • If there is a foul or violation called against the defense during the last possession or throw, play can continue for one more throw without a foul or violation.
  • Timeouts may not be called during the last 5 minutes of the game. Any attempt to call a timeout during this period does not result in a turnover, play should immediately restart with a check. 
  • Substitutions are not permitted for both teams during the final 90 seconds of play, except for injuries. 


Boundaries

  • Any disc that comes to a rest in netting, boards, or walls lining the field, is considered out of bounds, even if the disc bounces back onto the playing field. 
  • The ceiling and/or beams are out of bounds. The disc is put into play where it landed after contact with the beams or ceiling.  If it lands out of bounds or in the endzone, the disc may be put in play according to normal USAU rules.  
  • Endzones are 4 yards deep
  • All walls are OUT OF BOUNDS. If you are touching a wall when you catch a disc it is a turnover


Stall Count

  • Stall count is to 7
  • Contested stalls resume on 5
  • After stoppage of play due to contested fouls, picks, offsetting calls, and unresolved calls, the stall should resume at the count reached plus 1 or 4 if over 3.  This replaces the “if after 5, resume on 6” rule in USAU.  


Other Rules

  • Each team fields 5 players per point
  • On a turnover in the endzone, the new offensive players carries the disc to the front endzone line, and play starts with a simple groundcheck by the offense.
  • No foot blocks.
  • No cleats are allowed at Allsports – you will need soft-soled athletic shoes.