The Vancouver Dodgeball League (referred to as VDL) is a non-profit organization that was founded on February 11, 2005, on the idea that dodgeball could build a positive community. The League's dedicated commission is to promote the sport of dodgeball and build a vibrant community in the Greater Vancouver area.
VDL is Vancouver’s first, largest and only non-profit dodgeball organization. VDL’s mission is to advance dodgeball in Vancouver and build a community that’s based on fun, fitness, service and spirit. VDL is governed by a board of directors, and all revenues go back to supporting this mission.
VDL has a tier system that caters to recreational and competitive play. There are three tiers per division, according to the competitiveness of the team. At the end of the season, teams are divided into six tiers for playoffs, depending on their cumulative performance.
In addition to league play, each season has an exhibition night, skills clinic, skills competition, pub night, and playoffs. They organize tournaments sponsoring various charitable causes.
History
Founded in 2004 by Kevin Bao, VDL began by hosting various drop-in nights and tournaments. Twelve players attended the first drop-in night, and a few months later, that number swelled up to 120 players playing in tournaments. With a founding team consisting of Keith Bao, Truong Cao, Amy Chin, Jason Chow, and Eddie Lee, VDL began offering league play in Spring 2006 (Season 1), which became a permanent home for avid dodgeball players. VDL has now grown into the largest dodgeball league in Metro Vancouver, played across 4 nights a week including a subsidiary league in Coquitlam (CDL), with over 200 teams and 1,500 players.
Timeline
Date
Event
October 2004
Kevin Bao plays at a Simon Fraser University dodgeball tournament and discovers the sport’s ambiance. He is inspired by the potential for a great dodgeball community in town, and begins building its foundation by investing some his student loan money.
November 24, 2004
The first dodgeball night is held at Simon Fraser University. Inviting any interests, the gym ends up with 12 people, and they experiment and establish the rules of the game.
October 2005
Official VDL logo is created by graphic designer, Graeme Jack.
December 2004 – May 2005
Along with his brother Keith Bao, the duo organize over 10 tournaments, averaging 12 teams per event.
December 2005
The Team House of Lu create the first "World Dodgeball Federation" belts, made out of cardboard during engineering class. The idea inspires the championship VDL belt for the winning team.
January 2005
VDL's first charitable event, The Tsunami Relief Tournament, raises $800.00 for the Canadian Red Cross.
February 2005
VDL incorporates as a non-profit organization.
June 2005
VDL’s logo and website are developed.
September 2005
The VDL executive team is established, with Jason Chow, Amy Chin, Truong Cao and Eddie Lee joining the organization.
September 2005 – March 2006
The newly established team organizes 7 more tournaments and builds momentum for VDL’s first season.
April 2006 – June 2005
Season 1 is successfully launched with 16 teams and 150 players. Hatesauce and Y-Unit (YMCA) end up battling in the finals. Hatesauce emerges as VDL's first league champions.
May 27, 2006
The 'Dodge for the Cure' Tournament raises $500 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
June 17, 2006
First annual all-star skills competition. Radar gun introduced.
September 2006 – December 2006
Season 2 launches, with 32 teams and 300 players. The Spirit Rating is introduced, promoting good sportsmanship, peer reffing, and honest play. History repeats itself in the finals, as Hatesauce battles back to win 2 consecutive best out of five matches against ACMY. Hatesauce becomes VDL's two-time champions.
March 2007 – June 2007
Season 3 launches, with 56 teams, and 500 players.
June 2007
Season 3 champions: Hatesauce (Tuesday division), Ball Huggers (Thursday Division)
September 2007
Season 4 launches, with 80 teams and three nights: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Coquitlam Dodgeball League, a chapter of VDL, launches Season 1 with 16 teams.
December 2007
Season 4 champions: WWF Superstars (Tuesday division), One Hit Wonders (Wednesday division), Hatesauce (Thursday division)
February 2008
Season 5 launches, with over 100 teams on four nights: Monday-Thursday.
May 2008
Season 5 champions: They Hate Us (Monday), Olympus (Tuesday), Bush Leaguers (Wednesday), The Royal Family of Dodgeball (Thursday)
September 2008
Season 6 launches, with over 100 teams on four nights once again and with a new tiering system implemented.
December 2008
Season 6 champions: Strange Bedfellows (Monday), Olympus (Tuesday), Eat Our Ballz (Wednesday), The Excuses (Thursday)
February 2009
Season 7 launches, with over 100 teams on four nights once again and with an adjusted tiering system on each night.
May 2009
Season 7 champions: Dodgeball, I Choose You (Monday), 8 Bit (Tuesday), Pokémon (Wednesday), Dynasty (Thursday)
May 2009
First Biannual Champion of Champions Tournament Season 7 champions: Dodgeball, I Choose You (Monday)
December 2009
Season 8 champions: Ballistics (Monday), 8 Bit (Tuesday), All Day I Dream About Dodgeball (Wednesday), Dodge Dodge Revolution: The Vu Remix (Thursday)
May 2010
Season 9 champions: Dodgeball, I Choose You (Monday), 8 Bit (Tuesday), In Dodge We Trust (Wednesday), Young & Dangerous (Thursday)
December 2010
Season 10 champions: Animal Crackers (Monday), 8 Bit (Tuesday), Awesome 8 (Wednesday), The S.H.A.T.
May 2011
Season 11 champions: Almost Didn't Happen (Monday), XTC NRG (Tuesday), Awesome 8 (Wednesday), Woot Woot (Thursday)
December 2011
Season 12 champions: Wrecked 'Ems (Monday), Vancouver Isotopes (Tuesday), Geeks 'n Sneaks (Wednesday), Little T-Rexes (Thursday)
May 2012
Season 13 champions: Suicide Squad (Monday), Rec-less and Execless (Tuesday), Geeks 'n Sneaks (Wednesday), Love-Hate Relationship (Thursday)
December 2012
Season 14 champions: Lantern Corps (Monday), Strangers With Candy (Tuesday), The Mascots (Wednesday), Disney's Recess (Thursday)
Awards
VDL Championship Belt. Picture by Lincoln Heller, Belt created by fiveleft.ca
VDL Champion Medal. Picture by Michelle Patterson.
Community
VDL Spring Season 3 Tuesday Playoff Picture
VDL Spring Season 3 Thursday Playoff Picture
Logo
In October 2005 the original VDL logo was notably designed by well-known Vancouver-based graphic designer, Graeme Jack. Following its creation the VDL commissioned Graeme Jack to create the IDA logo (International Dodgeball Association) and the CDL logo (Coquitlam Dodgeball League). In later years the formation of the RDL (Richmond Dodgeball League) took inspiration from the original VDL logo.
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