SCDA LEAGUE CHANGES STARTING SUMMER 2024

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Due to some time constraints and lack of volunteers we are making some schedule changes to allow for the new league format changes, since this is the inaugural season for these changes. We are moving the start of the Summer Season this year to June 17th and we are eliminating one round of playoffs.

 

The new season dates will be:

 

New format announced and registration begins - 6/4

New Player orientation* - 6/10

Registration cutoff - 6/14

Week 1 - 6/17

Week 2 - 6/24

Week 3 - 7/1

Week 4 - 7/8

Week 5 - 7/15

Week 6 - 7/22

Week 7 - 7/29

Week 8 - 8/5

Week 9 - 8/12

Week 10 - 8/19

Finals - 8/26

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* NEW PLAYER ORIENTATION June 10th 2024 - Starting at 7:30 PM at Shadow Grove Brewing in San Fernando. For ALL NEW PLAYERS THAT HAVE NOT PLAYED IN THE SCDA, are looking to be assigned to a team, or who have already formed or joined a team. If you are looking to become a Captain, you MUST ATTEND. All first time Captains MUST ATTEND. We will go over the basics of the format, corking, chalking, Captain's responsibilities etc.

 

By eliminating the semi-finals, this means the top 2 teams in each division will be the only teams in the playoffs and will compete with each other for 1st and 2nd place. This will put more focus on your regular season record and hopefully inspire all players to show up and all matches to get played. Also, we often have forfeits in our 3rd place matches.

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NEW DIVISION & TEAM FEE STRUCTURE

 

Changes are being made in the league structure in an effort to reduce the cost barrier to allow more people to play darts and encourage growth in the league.

 

In order to achieve this we will reduce seasonal team fees, offer payouts to higher skill level divisions and update match format to make for a shorter match for lower level players.

 

The scheduling process will be as follows, in this order:

1. Register your proposed team keeping in mind the league may not approve of certain players in certain divisions and reserves the right to propose a change or player move in order to have skill levels as equal as possible throughout the division

2. The League will reach out to Captains with changes and Division assignments

3. Captains go in to pay fees for the appropriate division they have been assigned to

4. Season schedule gets posted

 

There will be a $20 admin fee per season for new teams or for teams that make the following changes:

• Forming a new team

• Assigning a new captain to an existing team

• Moving an existing team to a new venue

• Changing a team name

 

If changes are required add a one-time $20 admin fee per team regardless of how many changes needed. THERE WILL BE NO ADMIN FEES for Summer of 2024 as we restructure.

 

$65 season fee for A Division with $20 to a prize pool (payout 1st place)

$55 season fee for B Division with $10 to a prize pool (payout 1st place)

$45 season fee for C Division with no prize pool

$20 season fee for D Division with no prize pool ($20 only, no admin fee)

 

There will be a maximum of 6 teams per division. This would create the optimal 10 week schedule where each team plays the other twice, with no bye weeks.

 

Based on the end of season results, the top team in B will move to A, the bottom team in A will move down to B.

 

Changes have been made to C Division to shorten the match length.

 

D Division is for extremely new, inexperienced players to play an extremely shortened format.

 

If any division has enough player demand to grow to 8 teams, we will separate the division into east and west and have one championship playoff event per season (add one week per season where the winner of each division plays each other, playoffs would then be 3 weeks total if this happens.) This is designed to encourage league growth by requiring less driving distance weekly.

 

Players can only play in D Division for ONE SEASON with the exception to mentoring Captains based on league discretion.

 

The team season fees work out to only $4.50 per week. At $2.25 a week per player even on a two player team, this is designed to be extremely affordable.

 

PAYOUTS

 

Payout of the prize pool is to 1st place of A and B Divisions. The prize pool will be paid out to the team Captain (or representative of the team as nominated by the Captain,) who will be responsible for distributing to the team as they see fit. The appropriate tax forms will be filed where required by law and payouts will not be made unless the appropriate taxpayer information is provided to the league.

 

NEW & LOW SKILL LEVEL PLAYERS

 

The league will assign new players that inquire about joining the league to teams if they are unable to find a team or form their own team.

 

The team captain does not need to keep any player assigned to them or otherwise beyond one season.

 

The league reserves the right to break up teams that have players whose skill level is too far apart to place them in an appropriate division. 

 

PLAQUES AND AWARDS

 

The league will no longer provide plaques for teams, individuals or venues. If a player or venue wants a plaque, they will have to purchase one directly from the league’s new supplier Anderson Trophy in North Hollywood. This company has our template so that all awards have the same format. At the time of this writing the cost per plaque is $21.10. The last season that will receive awards at league expense is Spring 2024.

 

MID-SEASON TOURNAMENTS

 

The league will no longer provide payouts for the Mid-Season Tournament. The buy in will now be $10 per player. Any player that wishes to play may participate; there is no longer a requirement to have played in the SCDA at any time.

 

The tournaments will now be blind-draw doubles format instead of parity.

 

These tournaments will serve as recruiting/meet and greet events for new players.

 

There will be a 24 player minimum and payouts will go to the top 4.

 

The SCDA will provide first place trophies for the winning pair.

 

GAME FORMAT CHANGE

 

A and B Divisions play format will remain unchanged from previous seasons. We will no longer use a “Finals” score sheet for any division (the one that included a place for names of players to create plaques.)

 

Changes to C and D divisions are designed to shorten the match length in order to:

• Allow league play at more venues that have earlier closing times

• Make for a more casual style of league play for beginners and players that are not interested in advancing their skill level

• Appeal to a wider audience to increase interest in league darts

 

All singles games will be eliminated from C and D divisions. The new format will be:

 

C Division (7 set maximum, first to win four sets in the winner of the match; the match ends when one team wins its 4th set):

• Set 1 - Doubles Chicago - Best of 3

• Set 2 - Doubles Chicago - Best of 3

• Set 3 - Doubles 501 - 1 Leg

• Set 4 - Doubles 501 - 1 Leg

• Set 5 - Doubles Cricket - 1 Leg

• Set 6 - Doubles Cricket - 1 Leg

• Set 7 - Team 501 - 1 Leg

 

This format will result in a minimum of 6 legs per night and a maximum of 11 legs.

 

D Division is a shortened format in order to make it easy for new players to try league darts.

 

D Division (5 sets - all single in / single out ‘01 games; play all 5 sets):

• Set 1 - Doubles 501 - 1 Leg

• Set 2 - Doubles Cricket - 1 Leg

• Set 3 - Doubles 501 - 1 Leg

• Set 4 - Doubles Cricket - 1 Leg

• Set 5 - Doubles 501 - 1 Leg

 

D Division matches will play all 5 legs each night.

 

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SCHEDULE AND FORMAT:

 

– 9-set format for A & B Divisions. 7-set format for C Division. 5 Set format for D Division. This is a new rule for the Summer 2024 Season.

 

– Top 2 teams in each division make the playoffs, even if the Division has more than 6 teams or an uneven number of teams. This is a new rule for the Summer 2024 Season.

 

– Seed for playoffs is determined by final regular season standings.

 

– For seed AND making playoffs, head-to-head record is first tiebreaker and leg win percentage is 2nd tiebreaker. This rule was new for the Summer 2022 Season.

 

– Third playoff tiebreaker is a coin flip. This rule was new for the Summer 2017 Season.

 

– Captains’ Mutual Decisions: Captains may make binding decisions in a given match if mutually agreed upon by both captains unless otherwise prohibited by SCDA league rules. This rule was new for the Summer 2018 Season.

 

– Match Start Time: Match start time is 7:30PM. If no player from a team is present by 7:45PM, that team forfeits the match. If only one player from a team is present, the match must start at 7:45PM with that player skipping every other turn in doubles and forfeiting singles matches as dictated by the rules. If a second player arrives, they may start to play at the conclusion of the current leg being played. Captains may not agree to deviate from this rule or delay the start of the game. Matches may start prior to 7:30PM if mutually agreed upon by both captains.This rule was new for the Summer 2018 Season.

 

– Time Allowances: The maximum time allowed per 3-dart-turn is 3 minutes. The maximum time allowed between legs in a set is 1 minute. The maximum time allowed between sets is 5 minutes. This rule was new for the Summer 2018 Season.

 

– Playoff Home Venue scheduling conflict resolution: If two teams both have home advantage at the same venue where there is not the possibility to play at the same time, the team with the better record (using the same tiebreaker rules as seed & playoffs) will retain use of that location. The other team(s) may reschedule with the approval of the other team & location, or choose an alternate location that must be a venue that sponsors a team for the current season, and meets the approval of the board. This rule was new for the Summer 2017 Season.

 

– Board assignments at locations with multiple matches are to be determined by the venues.

 

 

DUES / ALTERNATES: 

 

– Dues must be paid prior to start of 1st match. Dues are $65 per team for A Division, $55 for B, $45 for C Division and $20 for D Division per season. You can pay Dues online at www.SCDALEAGUE.com. This is a new rule for the Summer 2024 Season.

 

– All dues must be paid through the online portal. Please see the website www.scdaleague.com This rule was new for the Summer 2017 Season; edit Summer 2022.

 

– There are no more Alternate fees. An Alternate can play the first two matches for free. Upon playing their 3rd match, they become a full-time member. This rule was new for the Summer 2017 Season; edit Summer 2022.

 

– Alternates may play for 2 different teams in their 1st and 2nd matches ONLY. The 3rd time an alternate plays can only be for one of those 2 teams and the alternate will then become a full-time player for that team ONLY. A new alternate may not play in the last two weeks of the season.

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– Alternates must be off a similar skill to the rest of the Division they will be playing in. It is up to the Captain of the team they are playing for to verify this eligibility. A match may be designated as a forfeit if there is an obvious violation or gross misconduct as it pertains to the spirit of the League's Code or Conduct as it pertains to this rule. Violation will be determined by a comparison to the rest of the division averages, previous history of Alternates division skill level and known history of the Alternates level of play in question.. This rule is new for the Spring 2024 season.

 

 

CORKING:

 

– Corking order for each set is determined by: Home, Loser, Away. Every Leg is corked.

 

– Only players scheduled in that set may cork. Regardless of which player throws for the cork, any player scheduled to play in that set may start the game for their team.

 

– The Scorer must be present at the board prior to either team throwing for the cork.

 

– Only the Scorer may determine a re-throw. No players, whether corking or not, may approach the board to assist or clarify. If the Scorer cannot determine a winner, a re-throw will be made with the 2nd thrower now throwing first.

 

– The dart must remain in the scoring area of the board in order to count. If the dart falls or bounces out, or lands in the non-scoring area of the board, the thrower will re-throw until the dart remains in the scoring area (only when “Corking”). If the 2nd thrower dislodges the dart of the 1st thrower, a re-throw will be made with the 2nd thrower now going first.

 

– The 2nd thrower may request a Single or Double Bull be pulled upon acknowledging with the Scorer what was thrown, or the dart may be left in the board. Once a thrower makes the decision to leave a Single or Double Bull in the board, all subsequent darts by BOTH throwers must remain in the board until both throwers have exhausted all 3 darts and retrieving them is necessary to continue the Cork.

 

– IN A DIVISION ONLY: All corking rules for A Division will remain the same with the exception being:

1. A Single or Double Bull must be scored in order to win the cork; and

2. Once the Scorer has acknowledged a thrower’s score, the Scorer will remove that dart from the board prior to the next thrower’s turn (i.e., no dart will be thrown for the cork while any other dart is in the board.) This rule was new for the Summer 2017 Season

 

 

SCORING/CHALKING:

 

– DartConnect: All SCDA matches must be scored using DartConnect.This rule was new for the Summer 2018 Season.

 

– A Scorekeeper must be present at the scoreboard/tablet at all times during a match INCLUDING DURING CORKING.

 

– The scorekeeping must be done at the board, with the scoreboard/tablet next to the board so that it is visible to the thrower.

 

– All scores are to be verified with the Scorer BEFORE removing one’s darts from the board. Corrections must be made PRIOR to the next player’s turn.

 

– Only the player retrieving their darts from the board and the Scorer are allowed in front of the oche. If a score needs to be corrected, it is to be done quietly, and civilly as to not disrupt adjacent matches. There is to be no “gathering” of players at the dartboard or scoreboard.

 

– If there is a problem with electronic scoring, and the problem cannot be fixed quickly and quietly at the scoring area, the electronic scoring device must be brought back behind the oche for corrections. There is to be no “gathering” at the electronic device in the scoring area. If the device needs to remain plugged in, in order to maintain power, then one person only may QUIETLY assist the Scorer.

 

– Home team chalks odd sets. Away team chalks even sets.

 

– If a team only has two players present, those players MAY coach each other while chalking as long as it doesn’t interfere with the flow of the game, or with one’s opponents, or with any adjacent games. This rule is meant to give a two-man team the same advantage the other team has during chalking. This is a privilege and if teams abuse this privilege they will lose it. Teams w/ 3 or more players present are NEVER allowed to coach while chalking.

 

– If a team only has two players present, those two players may alternate scorekeeping in doubles and team games, but no player may record their own score.

 

 

VENUE PLAYABILITY:

 

– It is the responsibility of the Home Captains for each venue to make sure their home location is of an acceptable standard for SCDA play. Please take into consideration the lighting, correct oche distance, board height and scorer’s safety among other things. Players should also be reminded that this is an amateur league and there is probably a complaint that could be made for every venue we currently play at. We want to have more locations available for darts, not less – please be reasonable. Captains with a legitimate complaint can contact the SCDA Board at: “scdahelp@gmail.com”

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– Contact the Board if you are attempting to play out of a new venue (has not sponsored an SCDA team prior.) Any new location will need to be approved for playability and geographic location in relation to there league teams.

 

 

RESCHEDULING/CHANGING LOCATIONS:

 

– Match Dates: All matches are to be played on Monday nights at the Home team’s venue as scheduled by the league. Matches may NOT be rescheduled or played at another venue. Exceptions will only be granted by the Board in cases of extreme circumstance. Captains may not agree to deviate from this rule. This rule was new for the Summer 2018 Season.

 

– A forfeit equals loss of all sets and legs that would have been played in the match (SETS 5-0; LEGS 10-0 for A & B, SETS 4-0; LEGS 6-0 for C Division and SETS 5-0; LEGS 5 Division). This is a new rule for the Summer 2024 Season.

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SCORE SHEETS/PLAYER USAGE:

 

–Match Format: The match must be played in the order as stated on each division’s score sheet. This rule was new for the Summer 2018 Season; edit Summer 2022.

 

– There are three versions of the Score Sheet used for regular season play. One for A & B Divisions and a third Score Sheet used for C Division and a third for D Division. This is a new rule for the Summer 2024 Season.

 

– There is a place for Alternate’s information at the bottom of the Score Sheet. Please include Name, Phone # and Email. See PLAYER CONDUCT below regarding Player Agreement forms.

 

– The score sheet is to be filled out by the AWAY team first, and then the HOME team may match up. The score sheet may be filled out set-by-set, or all at once.

 

– The first AND last name of players must be listed in their first set of the match.

 

– Players not present may not be listed on the Score Sheet. (This is not a rule change; it is a current rule in the rule book that most players likely don’t know about and will be enforced from now on.) This rule was new for the Summer 2018 Season.

 

– No one player may participate in more than one singles game of the same format. I.e., one player may NOT play in two Singles 501 games, or two Singles Cricket games. One player MAY play in one Singles 501 AND one Singles Cricket.

 

– We are a two-player-minimum-league. Teams may have as many players as they’d like. In lieu of a forfeit due to missing players, a single player MAY play a match by themselves, but they forfeit one Singles 501 games AND one Singles Cricket game, and every other turn in doubles and team games.

 

– The same two players may play any and all doubles & team games.

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– For the Team game, the team with the fewest # of players may use ANYONE who played during the match (but no longer must use EVERYONE that played during the match,) and the team with the most players may reduce down to that # if they choose. If using DartConnect, you will have to play as Home/Away instead of using player names if there is an uneven number of players for each team. (IE: For Team Game only; 2 playing on the Home team and 3 playing on the Away team.) It is still the option for the team with more players to reduce down as detailed above; this is not a requirement for any team regardless of the desires of the team with fewer players. This rule was new for the Summer 2017 Season.

 

– Team Game: A & B Division Team Game (set #9) is now: best two-out-of-three Team Chicago. Each leg must be played with a minimum of two players, with no maximum limit of players. Each leg can have different players/number of players than the other legs. Participating players may be chosen at the start of each leg. All team games that do not use the same two players for all legs in the set must be scored on DartConnect as Home/Away.This rule was new for the Summer 2018 Season.

 

– The only All-Stars that are recorded on the Score Sheet are Ton80, R9, 6B and 170 double in or out. Please indicate if it is the first time a player has hit one of these 4 All-Stars. The SCDA will no longer be maintaining a separate All-Stars page. All-Stars will only be available for matches scored on DartConnect via the Leaderboard and only the All-Stars that DartConnect records. The All-Stars for the team game will not be recorded unless each team uses the same number of players.

 

 

PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY:

 

– A player must have played in at least 3 regular season matches for a given team to be eligible for playoffs.

 

– No new players allowed in the last 2 weeks of the regular season.

 

– A forfeit in the PLAYOFFS gives the Opponent and automatic win and does NOT allow the next team in the standings to move up.

 

– If only 1 player from a given team is available for a Playoff Match, they have 3 options:

1. Forfeit the match. Opponent automatically wins and moves on.

2. Play by themselves following the above stated rules for single players.

3. Draft a playoff-eligible player from their division or lower, whose team did NOT make the playoffs. However, this process, AND the player chosen, must be approved unanimously by all 3 captains of the 3 other playoff teams in that division.

 

 

PLAYER CONDUCT:

 

– Complaints about Player conduct must be relayed between Captains. If one player has an issue with another’s behavior, they are to convey the issue to THEIR captain, who will then immediately address the issue with the misbehaving player’s captain. It is the responsibility of ALL CAPTAINS to ensure proper sportsmanship and etiquette from all of their players. If the inappropriate behavior is not corrected, the opposing team may file a protest by writing MATCH UNDER PROTEST on the signature line of the score sheet. Regardless, all inappropriate behavior must be reported IMMEDIATELY to The Board by the captains of BOTH teams. The Board will then discuss and address the issue with the captains of both teams.

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– By participating in any SCDA event (including but not limited to league) all Players and Alternates must agree to abide by our Code of Conduct. It can be found online here: 

http://scdaleague.com/conduct

 

This rule was edited for the Summer 2022 Season to eliminate a signed agreement.

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– Home captains must TEXT or EMAIL final score sheet to “scdaSCORES@gmail.com” (NOT TO scdaDOCS@gmail.com) immediately following your match!!! This rule was new for the Fall 2017 Season

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– Results and Standings will be posted by no later than end of day Friday of that week whenever possible.

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– Get to know and use the website: www.scdaleague.com! Almost all the information you need is there. The SCDAs official means of communicating with the league is by email. Please make sure to save “scdahelp@gmail.com” in your contacts.

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– TEAM ROSTERS ARE POSTED AT: http://scdaleague.com/directory/

Contact a Board Member for a password to the league directory.