TSVL League Policy 2011-2012

1) Mandate

The primary mandate of the Toronto Spartan Volleyball League (TSVL) is to provide an environment for individuals to play volleyball that is safe, enjoyable, and free of discrimination.  The TSVL emphasizes good sportsmanship and safety during play and expects its members to be respectful of other individuals, as well as league facilities, both on and off the court.  The essence of this mandate is to be upheld by all TSVL members at all league events, including regular play in both the recreational and competitive divisions, as well as league-organized tournaments and social events.

2) Sportsmanship Policy

In the Toronto Spartan Volleyball League (TSVL), good sportsmanship is the cornerstone of regular league play in both the competitive and recreational divisions, as well as league-organized tournaments.  This includes behaving respectfully and courteously in the spirit of fair play towards teammates, members of opposing teams, members of the officiating team, and spectators.  General guidelines for appropriate behaviour include:

- Knowing and abiding by the official rules of volleyball and the TSVL's house rules

- Accepting rulings made by the officiating team with sportsmanlike conduct, with any needed clarifications being asked politely of the 1^st referee by the identified court captain

- Refraining from actions or attitudes that are aimed at either influencing the decisions of the refereeing team, or covering up faults committed by one's own team

- Refraining from the use of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal substances during regular league play or league-organized tournaments, whether inside the school/facility or on school grounds

- Refraining from any inappropriate sexual conduct during regular league play, either inside the school/facility or on school grounds

3) Captain Policy

In adherence with its Mandate and Sportsmanship Policy, the TSVL has the following expectations of the captains of its recreational, competitive, and tournament teams:

- Treat all members of the TSVL with care and respect both on and off the court

- Embody and encourage good sportsmanship and safety above all else

- Help settle any disputes in a calm manner and fair manner

- Be available to guide and advise members on the rules and regulations of volleyball

- Support and uphold policies put in place by the TSVL Executive

- When necessary, direct and questions, ideas, or conflicts to the TSVL Executive

4) Disciplinary Policy

When individuals and/or teams do not follow the mandate and guidelines provided by the Toronto Spartan Volleyball League (TSVL), they will be subject to sanctions during play and/or supplementary discipline by the TSVL Executive Board.  Inappropriate and sanctionable offences are based on, but not restricted to, those described in the 2009-2012 Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) 'Rules of the Game' handbook and are as follows:

Minor Misconducts

- Carries no immediate consequences, but is used by the 1^st referee to communicate to a team, via its court captain, that a behaviour is approaching inappropriate levels

- Used as a warning in order to prevent escalation of inappropriate conduct that could result in sanctionable offences

Sanctionable Offences

- Carry immediate penalties in game based on the severity of the offence, and are to be reported to the TSVL Executive Board at the end of the night of play

- Classified into three categories according on the seriousness of the offense:

1) 'Rude Conduct' is an action expressing contempt, or contrary to good manners and/or moral principles.  A yellow card is issued to the penalized individual, with a point and service awarded to the opposing team.

2) 'Offensive Conduct' consists of defamatory or insulting words and/or gestures. A red cardis issued to the penalized individual, who shall not play for the remainder of the set.  A red card is also issued to an individual that receives two yellow cards in the same match.

3) 'Aggression' is a physical attack, or aggressive/threatening behaviour. A disqualification is issued to the penalized individual, who must leave the playing area for the remainder of the match.  A disqualification is also issued to an individual that receives two red cards or three yellow cards in the same match.

All sanctionable offences and other acts of improper conduct are to be reported to and documented by the TSVL Vice President (vp@tsvl.org) who, along with the rest of the TSVL Executive, will determine if supplementary discipline is warranted.  Supplementary discipline may also be applied to actions that were not officially sanctioned during play, or that occurred outside of play.  Supplementary discipline is applied based on the severity of the offence, as well as the past history of the individual and/or team in the TSVL, and could include a formal warning, suspension, or expulsion from the league.  Individuals that are suspended or expelled from the league are not subject to a refund of their membership fees.

Any individual/team that is disciplined in accordance with the Sportsmanship Policy of the TSVL will be provided a written explanation of their sanction by the TSVL Vice President and has the right to appeal the decision.  Upon submission of a written appeal to the TSVL Executive, an Appeal Panel is created consisting of three TSVL members, comprising a member of the TSVL Executive (aside from the TSVL Vice President), a playing member of the competitive division, and a playing member of the recreational division.  The Appeal Panel shall review the information presented by both the TSVL Executive and the sanctioned individual/team and come to one of the following resolutions, based on a majority vote, within a reasonable period of time:

- Dismiss the appeal by the team/individual and accept the original disciplinary action

- Approve the appeal by the team/individual and dismiss the original disciplinary action

Regardless of the outcome, the appeal process and its result are to be documented by the TSVL Vice President.

5) Privacy Policy

The Toronto Spartan Volleyball League (TSVL) respects and protects the privacy of all of its members.  To that end, the TSVL will not disclose, sell, or trade and personal information derived from membership and/or event registration to a third party, except as required by law or in the case of imminent harm to a member.  When the TSVL hires agents, contractors or companies to perform services on its behalf, the TSVL will also direct those agents, contractors or companies to protect this personal information.  The TSVL may aggregate personal information, to be disclosed in a non-personally identifiable manner, to a third party for promotional purposes and/or to negotiate member benefits.

Personal information derived from membership and/or event registration may be used for any of the following:

- Establish and maintain communication with members

- Inform the membership of volleyball games, volleyball practices, volleyball tournaments, or social events organized for the TSVL membership

- Assist the TSVL in complying with legal and regulatory requirements

- Collect unpaid fees or dues from members

6) Terms of Use Policy

Access to the www.tsvl.org, operated by the Toronto Spartan Volleyball League (TSVL), is subject to the following Terms of Use, as well as all applicable laws. By using or visiting this website, an individual agrees to be bound by these Terms of Use.

The information and material posted on www.tsvl.org is produced by the TSVL with the intent of being readily available for its current and prospective members.  This information and material may be used and/or reproduced for non-commercial means without charge or further permission from the TSVL.  However, use or reproduction of the information or material on www.tsvl.org for the purposes of commercial redistribution is prohibited except with written permission from the TSVL.

No trademarks, logos, or images contained on www.tsvl.org may be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the TSVL. Any unauthorized use of these trademarks, logos, or images may violate copyright laws, trademark laws, the laws of privacy and publicity, and communications regulations and statutes.

While the TSVL uses reasonable efforts to include accurate and current information on its website, it makes no warranties or representations as to such accuracy. The TSVL assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the content of www.tsvl.org. Further, the TSVL does not warrant or represent that the information contained will be uninterrupted or free of errors and/or viruses. Any individual visiting www.tsvl.org specifically acknowledges that the TSVL is not liable for the defamatory, offensive or illegal conduct of other users of www.tsvl.org.  Individuals use the website at their sole discretion, and are responsible for compliance with all applicable laws.

In no event shall the TSVL, its players, captains, officials, coaches, volunteers or executive members be liable for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, or consequential damages that arise out of or in connection with any failure of performance, errors, inaccuracies, omissions, defects, timeliness, interruption, deletion, delay in operation or transmission, computer virus, communication line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, alteration of, or use of record, or authenticity of any content on www.tsvl.org, or the use or inability to use www.tsvl.org or any content therein. This exclusion of liability applies whether or not any such damages or losses arise because of the negligence of the TSVL, its players, captains, officials, coaches, volunteers or executive members.

Please direct any comments or questions concerning any of these policies to the TSVL Vice President (vp@tsvl.org).