Team Composition

• Teams in the recreational division consist of 9 players, drafted by the TSVL Executive and recreational division captains, and balanced by an appointed TSVL ranking committee.
• Every team will have one captain, assigned by the TSVL, who will act as the court captain during games and provide guidance to team members.
• If more than 6 members from a team are present on any given night, teams will rotate members on to the court so that everyone receives equal playing time, while only having 6 members on the court for any given rally.
• The standard ‘W’ formation is recommended during recreational play, but other formations are allowed, as decided by the team, so long as positions are not deliberately switched during play, ensuring every member has the opportunity to play every position equally.
• If only 4 or 5 members from a team are present on any given night, those members will be allowed to play and rotate as usual with no additional penalties or restrictions on the court. The "ghost rule"  does not apply in Rec.
• Team members that arrive to the gym after a game has already begun can be substituted into play at any time.
• Teams are entitled to one 30-second time out per game, but not during the last 2 minutes of the match.

CLICK FOR WINTER '23 TEAM ROSTERS

Season Map

The season map is firm for the complete season.  It provides gym locations, team duties and opponents.

CLICK HERE FOR WINTER '23 SEASON MAP

Standings

The Rec Division is still about fun but we also track how teams are doing.  Overall Division standings are only used to determine the playoff pools at the end of the season.

CLICK HERE FOR WINTER '23 STANDINGS

New players, within the registration window based on the number of courts secured, will be invited to attend the Recreational Division's Combine on Monday, Sept 12 from 6:30-10:00pm at Danforth Tech.  Experienced TSVL volunteers will evaluate a variety of skills to help with building balanced teams.  Stay tuned for an email from Ryan (rec@tsvl.org) inviting you to a specific session.

Please wear appropriate gym attire: running shoes with non-marking soles; shorts or track pants; t-shirts. No food or beverages are allowed in the gymnasiums except for water bottles and sports drinks with sealable lids.

If you are rejoining the TSVL after missing a few seasons and feel you might not need to attend, please contact the Recreational Division Coordinator at rec@tsvl.org if you have any questions.

SUBSTITUTE/DROP IN OVERVIEW

1. Substitute players are allowed in the Recreational Division, per the Recreational Substitute Player Policy
2. Each recreational team consists of 9 members, with only these 9 members and authorized substitute players being allowed to play in matches that count towards the division standings.
3. Substitute players and drop-in players are considered the same thing and the terms are interchangeable. These players do not need to be TSVL members in order to play for the first 3 nights they sub.
4. The Sub List is considered a resource for Recreational teams to know who is available to play when they are in a pinch. While it is not necessary to be on the Sub List to act as a drop-in player, it is a useful way to get your name out there if you want to be called on to sub.  Both members and non-members can be on the Sub List.

POLICY

1. If a team captain will be away on any given night and no other teammates cannot fulfill the court captain role, a request can be made for a substitute captain that will lead and serve as court captain for the team for the duration of the evening.
   • Requests for Sub Captains must be made through the Recreational Division Coordinator at rec@tsvl.org
2. Recreational teams are responsible for contacting substitute players themselves and must appropriately register their player and notify the Recreational Division Coordinator (rec@tsvl.org) before the substitute player is used.   If someone else is registering for the substitute player, the sub must complete the waiver of liability form.
3. Every effort should be made to select a sub of equal level to the absent player.
4. If a team uses substitute players in any matches without following the above protocol, all matches involving said players will count as defaults.
5. All subs/drop-ins must register as a sub before they play.
6. Subs/drop-ins cannot already be on an Recreational team.
7. A player can only sub/drop-in for the same team 3 times during the season.
8. Subs/drop-in players can play an unlimited number of times during the regular season, but are not allowed to be used during playoffs.
9. Teams can have maximum 2 sub/drop-in players per night, and up to 6 subs/drop-in players per season.  If necessary, a new player can be added from the waitlist. As mentioned, they may not use the same sub more than 3 times during a season, or use any sub during playoffs.

FEES
Subs play for *FREE* the first 3 nights they sub! After that, a sub can buy a TSVL membership ($20), which covers any subbing for the rest of the season. This is for subbing across all divisions. This policy was created to make it easier for teams to get subs and avoid playing short-handed or default, and make it easier for subs to get more TSVL action throughout the season!

REGISTRATION  (Please read Sub Rules & Fee Info, prior to registering)

SUB REGISTRATION LINK  Only use this link if you've been invited by a captain to play.

All subs, whether a member or non-member, have to register themselves (not have someone else sign for them) prior to when they sub. Teams who field an unregistered sub default their matches.

WHO'S ON THE SUBLIST?  CHECK IT HERE:

Link to be posted within the first couple of weeks of play.

GET ADDED TO THE SUBLIST:

Email rec@tsvl.org. Provide your preferred email contact and level as best as you can describe it.

Click here to purchase a TSVL membership ($20/season)

Substitute players and drop-in players are considered the same thing and the terms will be interchangeable.

• SUB REGISTRATION LINK
• Subs/drop-ins in Recreational Division must not already be on a Rec team.
• All subs must have signed a waiver of liability. Members do this via TeamSnap at the beginning of the season when they purchase their membership. Non-members must sign an electronic waiver each time they sub.
• A player can sub/drop-in for multiple teams throughout the season.
• Recreational captains are responsible for contacting/finding substitute players, and can coordinate with the Division Coordinator for assistance if-necessary.
  • Teams must appropriately register their substitute player and notify the Recreational Division Coordinator (rec@tsvl.org) before the substitute player is used.

• Every week, each team will play 25-minute matches against three other teams, determined by the season schedule, including a 1st game (to 25 points; win by two points, cap at 27 points) and a 2nd game (until the 25-minute match has elapsed; no cap).
  • A team that wins a 1st game is awarded 3 points in the division standings.
  • A team that wins a 2nd game is awarded 2 points in the division standings..
  • A team that loses a 1st or 2nd game with more than 20 points is awarded 1 point in the division standings.
  • A team that loses a 1st or 2nd game with less than 20 points is not awarded any points.
  • A team that defaults a 1st or 2nd game is not awarded any points.
• The score of a defaulted 1st game is recorded as 25-0.  The score of a defaulted 2nd game is recorded as 15-0.
• If 25 minutes have elapsed and a 1st game is still being played, the 1st referee will signal “last point”. The final point is played and a winner is declared (play an additional point if the game is tied after the final point).
  • The winner of this 1st game still receives 3 points in the division standings.
  • A 2nd game comprising of only 3 points is then played.
• A team defaults a 1st game if fewer than 4 players are available to play within the first 5 minutes of the start time (suggested by the nightly play schedule, but determined by the 1st referee).
  • A 2nd game can still be played if the defaulting team can field 4 players at any time during the 25-minute time period, so long as at least 3 points are played.

Recreational Division House Rules

All league-wide House Rules apply.

The following applies to the Rec Division only in order to provide a safer space to play.

House Rules

1. Players may not touch the ball with any part of their body below the knee, neither intentionally nor unintentionally, at any time.  It will immediately be called as a fault by the referee.
2. Jump serves are not acceptable in order to increase the pace of the serve.
3. Referees may warn captains about aggressive or targeted serving or hitting with pace.

Fair Play Guidelines

1. All balls must be rolled under the net, never thrown over the net.
2. Players are expected to respect the level of play on the opposing team.  There are many players who may not be able to protect themselves.
3. Players are encouraged to reach out to their captain and/or the Rec Coordinator should they feel unsafe in any way.