HOW WE PLAY
SPACE AGREEMENTS
Safer spaces are created together. By joining ours, you agree to:
🏀 Not engage in any behaviour or language that perpetuates oppression i.e. racist, homophobic, transphobic, ageist, ableist, classist or other bigoted behaviour
🏀 Be mindful and honour physical and emotional boundaries and remind others to do the same
🏀 Advocate for yourself and ask for help when you need it
🏀 Be responsible and accountable for your own actions
🏀 Respect differing opinions and where others are at
🏀 Assume best intent and understand that we will all make mistakes which are opportunities to grow
🏀 Understand we are all at differing skill levels and our number one goal is to be together and have fun
🏀 Believe in yourself and those around you
🏀 Lead with kindness and leave things better than you found them
VALUES
COURT RULES
GYM RULES:
‣ Indoor, non-marking shoes and shirts required
‣ Liability waiver must be signed before playing
‣ No players will be permitted to play under the influence
GAME RULES (subject to change as needed):
If you don't currently understand what these rules mean, don't worry. Come out and play and you'll pick it up in no time.
‣ 3 on 3, half court games (shoot for starting possession)
‣ Check the ball at the top of the key (must be passed before shot; dead ball = check)
‣ Ball must be cleared on all possession changes (both feet passed the 3 point line)
‣ Points
‣ Inside the arc = 1 point
‣ Outside the arc = 2 points
‣ First team to 11 wins (though we rarely keep track of points)
‣ Winning team starts with possession next game
‣ Fouls
‣ Light fouls are to be expected and not called
‣ Hard fouls can be called (no charge calls)
‣ No free throws (take possession and check at the top of the key)
(NOTE: This is a physical game - you will experience body contact while playing)
‣ No timeouts (unless there is an injury)
‣ No 3 second key violations called
‣ Ball Don't Lie (disagreements are settled by shooting)
‣ Be generous with your high fives all around to keep the peace
BASKETBALL 101
with STAC Hamilton
You do not need to know or memorize these rules and terms in order to come play on a Queer Dimes court. You will learn through playing and with the help of the people around you. Don't let a current lack of knowledge stop you from coming out to play.
Note: This is not an extensive list of basketball rules and terms. It mainly includes things that are relevant to how we play.
VIOLATIONS
Walking/Traveling: Taking more than 'a step and a half' without dribbling the ball is traveling. Moving your pivot foot once you've stopped dribbling is traveling.
Carrying/Palming: When a player dribbles the ball with their hand too far on the side of or, sometimes, even under the ball.
Double Dribble: Dribbling the ball with both hands on the ball at the same time or picking up the dribble and then dribbling again.
TERMINOLOGY
Hoop/basket: If the ball goes in the hoop with the net (the basket), the offensive team scores or "makes a basket". The "glass", or "backboard" is the back of the hoop.
Dribble: Bouncing the ball off of the court (the floor). Players must dribble to move the ball. If you don’t dribble and you move your feet, it’s a traveling foul.
Pivot foot: Once the ball is picked up by a player, a pivot foot must be kept at its point of contact with the floor. The other foot can move as many times as the player wants.
Screen/pick: A legal move by an offensive player in which they stand beside or behind a defender in order to block them and free up a teammate to either shoot, pass, or to drive to the basket.
Free throw: When a player is fouled while shooting, they get to shoot free throws. These are worth 1 point each.
The paint: Also known as "the interior", this is the area of the court closest to the hoop. It is outlined by a rectangle. The top line is the free throw line.
The arc: Also known as the three point line, this is the round line on the ground surrounding the paint. In official games, making the ball from behind this line is worth 3 points.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Queer Dimes Basketball takes safety in our spaces seriously and wants to make sure everyone feels comfortable and secure within these spaces. However, sometimes despite our best efforts, conflict does occur.
Keeping in line with our values, we have developed a conflict resolution process that we will lean on when needed.
Calling in vs Calling out
If you are engaging in any behaviour that does not align with our space agreements, you will be called in.
What does that look like?
With kindness and respect, you will be approached and reminded of our space agreements and your commitment to abide by these agreements. We understand mistakes can happen; however, if it is found that you cannot abide by these agreements, you will be asked to take space from the court.
Did you experience a conflict on the court that needs to be managed off court?
Please approach a Queer Dimes team member and inform them of the situation at hand. This can also be done via email at conflictresolution@queerdimes.com. We will reach out to you and provide avenues for resolving the conflict.