1) Team Captains: Captains are responsible for knowing the policies of the HSSC outlined here as well as the rules of their specific sport. They are also responsible for making sure that their teammates are aware of these policies and rules. Captains are also responsible for making sure that all required equipment is present for all games.
Players: All participants must be 19 years of age or older.

2.) Physical or Unsportsmanlike Play: Play that is rough or overtly aggressive, taunting, or un-sportsmanlike acts (name calling, threats and intimidation) will not be tolerated by the HSSC. If reports of this kind of behavior are received, the following steps are taken: i) First report - player or team receives a verbal warning. ii) Second report - player or team receives a second warning verbally and in writing. iii) Third report - player or team receives final verbal and written warning. iv) Fourth report - player or team is ejected from the league without refund and is not welcome back!
PLEASE NOTE: teams can and will be held responsible for their players' conduct. If someone on your squad is behaving inappropriately, it is YOUR responsibility to keep him or her from doing so. In addition, the HSSC reserves the right to skip steps as outlined above and immediately eject a team or player from the league without refund.

3) Fighting/Punching: Instances of this behavior will be cause for immediate expulsion for all individuals involved, whether they are the instigators or retaliating.

4) Incidents Which Result in Loss of Permits: Any team involved with any incident that results in the loss of a permit, facility, location or field will be expelled from the league without refund.

5) Emergency Contact List: All team captains are advised to carry a list of emergency contact numbers for players on their team. In the event of an injury/emergency, these numbers can be utilized to notify the player's family in cases where medical treatment/attention is required. Captains are also advised to include a list of hospitals with emergency room service on this page. It will take the guesswork out of situations that are stressful and time sensitive.

6) First aid: First aid is the responsibility of the team captain. Ice packs, band aids, tensors and athletic tape are all things which can be used in the event of minor scrapes and bruises. If a HSSC representative is on hand when there is an injury, we will be happy to assist in any way we can. We are not, however, responsible for providing tape for bad ankles, fingers etc. There may be a first-aid kit on-site at some venues, but please be prepared for all situations.

7) Scores: It is the team captain's responsibility to EMAIL IN the scores of each game (won, lost or tied) by 5pm the next day. Captains or co-captains must report the scores through our online report scores function found at www.halifaxport.ca. Scores not reported will be recorded as a loss. Spirit points account for 25% of the overall standings and the game results will account for 75%. To make this calculation, the raw number for spirit points must first be divided by 2.5 so that it is the same base number as your game points.

If a team defaults their game, they automatically lose their right to award spirit points to the team that they defaulted against - and the team that was defaulted upon automatically receives a "5" for their spirit score. Teams that are defaulted against can award the defaulting team any value that they want.

Teams that play by the rules, get to games on time and play with good sportsmanship will flourish!

9) Discrepancies: Discrepancies or arguments regarding scores, complaints or any other ambiguous item must be dealt with within 3 business days after the latest posting of the scores on our website for the week in question. During the final week of the regular season, any and all discrepancies must be resolved by 5pm the following day. Captains should ensure that the score of their game has been recorded correctly by checking the HSSC website. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE OFFICE LOOKING FOR SCORES – sometimes scores are delayed in being reported, but they will always be posted as soon as they become available.

10) Standings: Wins are worth 2 points, ties are worth 1 and losses are worth 0. If a team defaults, they will lose one point. Ties in the standings will be broken first on head-to-head play. If there are more then 2 teams that are tied, all the teams must have played each other in order for the results to go to head-to-head. Otherwise, least points against, then +/-, then most points for will determine the placement in that order (upd ated July 06). Standings will be posted here at the web site.

11) Waivers: All players, new or old to the HSSC, must fill out and sign a waiver, regardless if they have filled one out for previous seasons. These are to be filled out online, or printed and returned to the HSSC by no later than the second week of play. Teams with waivers missing may be ejected from the league. 

12) Defaulting: Teams that default more than 2 games may be asked to leave the league without refund. If you know you may not be able to field a full team, please call the other captain in advance; you should attend with as many people as you can and play pick up...it is the fun and polite thing to do. Captains may agree to waive the rules regarding the minimum people but this should be decided before the game starts. The captain from the team that is short players should ask the other captain to see if the games can count (otherwise a default is assumed). IF IT IS AGREED THAT THE GAME COUNTS, IT COUNTS!

13) Dress: All players should bring both a dark & light coloured shirt to all games, and captains should decide who wears which colour. If teams have uniforms, this may not be necessary. Also, players should remove all watches, bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, etc, prior to play.

14) Alcohol: DRINKING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WHILE PLAYING IS FORBIDDEN! OFFENDERS WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE LEAGUE WITHOUT REFUND. No Exceptions.

15) Playoffs:
- The HSSC does their best to get as many teams playing in the playoffs as possible, however it is possible that NOT ALL teams will have a game during the final week of play.
- During the regular season, team captains can use ANYONE as a player for their team (as long as they have filled out and submitted a HSSC waiver form). However, to play on playoff nights players must have attended a min. of 2 regular season games (6-8 week season) or 3 games (9-12 week season) for that team. For beach volleyball, games = nights. Please respect this rule. Ringers are not welcome at playoff night!
- During playoffs, a player is only allowed to play on 1 Team for a given night. You cannot sub in for another team.

16) Indoor Sports: Respect the schools: put things back where you found them, take all of your items with you and put trash in provided receptacles.
Remember: you are in someone's work and learning environment. You would not like it if someone came in at night and left a pile of water bottles and clothing on you desk. Please be out by the hour specified on your schedule. It will either be 9:30pm or 10pm. If you abuse this, game times will be made earlier and the league could lose it's permits leaving you with NO REFUND and NO GAMES. This is in your hands. Enter and exit ONLY by the specified areas. Do not wander the schools in areas other than the gyms. Showers are not provided.

17) Blood: Any player who begins to bleed during a game must leave the playing area immediately. This player cannot return to the game until the bleeding has stopped and the wound has been sufficiently covered.

18) Foul Weather Policy: All HSSC Games go ahead rain or shine (including Snow). In the event of severe weather (electrical storms etc) games should immediately be stopped and players should take cover away from open spaces. Wait 15 minutes; if the severe weather passes, continue play. If it does not and the game was in the first half, the game must be re-played. If it was in the 2nd half, then the score at that time of when the game is stopped will count as the final score.
*If a game is re-played, the game will start with the score that was totaled at the time when the game was called. As well, the game length will be the amount of time that was remaining in the original game*.

19) Metal Cleats: Metal cleats are not permitted in any HSSC leagues.

20) Rescheduling: Cancellations/Change of Venues &/or Change of Time/Days may occur on Short Notice.

21) Contact Information: HSSC members' contact information is provided to other team captains and individual registrants in their sport, in the event that players need to communicate regarding league issues. If players wish to have their contact information omitted from team listings, then HSSC cannot be held responsible for lapsed information or missed games. Contact information may also be posted by HSSC members themselves at the Player Forum. Groups or individuals who take or use this information for any other purpose than communicating about HSSC league activity will be ejected without appeal or refund and prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law. HSSC will not sell or distribute contact information to third parties.

22) Refund/Registration Policy

1. All team & individual spots will only be held once FULL payment has been received.   

2. All refund requests must be submitted by email (no phone calls please).

3. NO refund policy applies to the following situations:

- Once a sport, tournament or social event has been sold out.

- After the registration deadline date.

- Player injuries, change in physical condition or changes in circumstance.

- Teams or individuals suspended or ejected from SSC leagues due to any breaches of SSC Policy.

- For closures due to inclement weather, defaulted, cancelled or rescheduled games.

4. Leagues/Weekly Activities/Tournaments/Social Events:  Any team/individual requesting a refund up to, and including, the registration deadline will receive a full refund, less the administrative fee of $35.00 + GST (Exception: When SOLD OUT no refund will be issued to any team/individual, unless team/individual finds a replacement for themselves.  Before the refund is granted the replacement team/individual must call the SSC office to provide payment).   

5. Individual Registration:  Full payment and complete information is required to be considered ‘registered’.  If SSC is unable to place you on a team, you will receive a full refund.  Every attempt will be made to place you on a team, however some conditions could result in a displacement of an individual registration (i.e. league policy for the appropriate female/male ratio).

6. Administrative fee of $35.00 + GST will be charged for NSF cheques.

7. Late team registrations (after registration deadline) will be charged $35.00 + GST.

*This refund policy is subject to change at any time.