Leagues

Rules Changes for 2020

This year we have some rules changes we would like to go over for the upcoming year. These rules are all on our Rules page now, but here’s the summary of all the changes being implemented. Make sure to keep in mind, not all of these rules are new, and some may just be clarifications or new wording on previous rules.

Code of Conduct 

WATL has the absolute and sole discretion to investigate and review any and all evidence available to maintain the integrity of the rules & the sport in any match

Gameplay

• Pauses in play
  • A presiding official may call a pause in play for any reason deemed necessary (rules review, confirmation, second opinion, etc…)
  • Should a Pause in Play occur, all match play must cease immediately and will resume at the discretion of the presiding official, where the pause began. 
    • For Example: If one player has thrown but the opposite player has not and there is a Pause in Play called, the match will resume with the opposite player throwing as normal. 
  • Players may be able to challenge a call or ruling which will create a pause in play
    • During this call, gameplay will be paused at that moment in time
• Throwing in a Wheelchair
  • For individuals who use wheelchairs, all standard league rules apply with the exception of the foot fault line. 
    • Individuals in wheelchairs must have one wheel behind the 12ft line when throwing in competition play. 
    • Any wheel on the wheelchair is acceptable as long as one of them is behind the 12ft line

Scoring

• If the axe falls before the presiding official scores the axe, the axe is counted as a drop
• Axes must be inside the black line in order to count for that value
  • Touching the black line will not give you the point value; the axe must be inside the higher scoring area to receive those points
  • For example: touching the black line in the bullseye counts as a 4, but breaking it (red on both sides) counts as a 6. This concept is now equally applied across the targets rings

Throwing

Throws must be taken within 10 seconds of each other.

• If a thrower throws after 10 seconds of the other thrower, this will result in a Throw Fault.

Attendance. Absences

• League participants are able to throw up to 2 weeks in advance, including weeks 6 and 7, in anticipation of an absence
  • This will count towards the participants ability to miss up-to 2 weeks of league play
• If a League participant misses 3 weeks or more of league play, they cannot participate in playoffs as they have forfeited WATL Championship eligibility requirements

Misconduct

• Purposeful distractions during match play will not be tolerated:
  • Purposeful Distractions are defined as, but not limited to: Excessive celebration, taunting, using abusive, threatening or insulting language, trash talking, stepping in the lane during a throw, excessive noises, offensive gestures to opponents or any purposeful distractions with the intent to distract a player during a league match or tournament round will not be permitted during games. 
    • First Offense: 
      • The first purposeful distraction from an opposing player will result in a zero score for that throw, for player causing the distraction
      • The first purposeful distraction from a spectating league member or tournament participant will result in a zero in their first throw of their next match
      • The first purposeful distraction from a spectator not participating in leagues or tournament will result in the immediate removal from the facility 
    • Second Offense: 
      • The second purposeful distraction from an opposing player will result in a forfeit for that match. Zero scores will be entered for the full match.
      • The second purposeful distraction from a spectating league member or tournament participant will result in a forfeit from their subsequent match. Zero scores will be entered for the full match.
    • Third Offense: 
      • The third purposeful distraction from an opposing player will result in a forfeit of the season for league play or forfeit from the tournament. The player will not be allowed to throw for the remainder of the season or remainder of tournament. 
      • The third purposeful distraction from a spectating league member will result in a forfeit of the season or tournament. The league member or tournament participant will not be allowed to spectate or participate for the remainder of the season or tournament.
• Match Fixing & Hippodroming in League Play or Tournaments:
  • If any player is found to fix a match to achieve a desired outcome, during league play or tournaments, then that player will be banned from all WATL tournaments & leagues. Player may appeal the ban, one year after the offense, pending review of the Commissioner.

Axe Throwing Distance

• Players may not cross the 12ft line until both players have thrown their axes
  • Axes must be scored before crossing the line

Target Design

• Targets will have no marking other than the lines, bullseye, and killshots

Axes

If an axe breaks or if a player would like to switch axes, they must notify the presiding official and are allowed up to 1 minute to switch axes

Saftey

• Injuries
  • If an injury occurs during league play and the player is deemed to be unable to finish the remaining matches by a judge or medical professional then they may makeup their matches the following league night with no penalty.
    • This will not count towards the player’s right to miss 2 weeks
    • If there are throws remaining in the current match, then those scores are counted as zero
  • If an injury occurs during any tournament and the player is deemed unable to progress by a Judge or medical professional, then they any matches pending will be marked a 0 points scored and matches forfeit.

World Qualification:

• The World Championship will be comprised of 128 competitors
  • Each season, there will be a total of up to 22 invites globally to the World Championship.
    • The top 16 Regional Champions with the highest scores globally will be invited to the Championship 
    • A maximum of six (6) runner-ups or 3rd place competitors globally will also earn a bid to the World Championship if they have points for that qualifying season in the top 25 globally
      • For example, if a venue has 4 competitors that are in the top 20 globally for points: 
        • Player 1: 1650 points (1st place globally)
        • Player 2: 1640 points  (5th place globally)
        • Player 3: 1630 points   (10th place globally)
        • Player 4: 1620 points    (15th place globally)
        • If Player 1 wins, they have a secured bid to the Championship
        • If Player 2 & 3 come in second and third place, they have secured a bid to the Championship
        • Player 4 came in fourth, they do not have a secured bid 
        • Scores for participants who have already earned a bid will not be considered for the top 25 points calculation
        • Any bid placements not allocated in that season will be added to the Wildcard pool
    • All qualified Regional Champions winners that have secured a bid for the World Championship must play at least 1 additional sanctioned WATL season to maintain and keep their placement bid
      • Example 1: If you qualify for the World Championship during the winter season, you must then complete 1 additional WATL season during the same calendar year to maintain your bid. Whether it’s Spring, Summer or Fall.
      • Example 2: If you earn a World Championship bid through a WATL Sanctioned Tournament and you have completed a WATL season prior to the tournament, or complete a WATL season after the tournament, during the same calendar year, you maintain your bid. 
      • Exceptions:
        • Competitors that earn a bid during the Fall season
        • A venue did not have enough participants in subsequent seasons to have a WATL sanctioned league
        • Competitors that do not have a WATL venue within their metropolitan area or are further than 1-hour of drive-time from their primary residence
        • Drive time as measured from their home, to their venue, during the time when a WATL sanctioned league would normally take place
        • Competitors that have a WATL venue in their metropolitan area or within 1 hour of their primary residence but venue did not have enough participants to run a sanctioned WATL season
    • The top 6 qualifiers at the Canadian Open & US Open will have a secured placement to the World Championship
      • If the top 6 qualifiers have already earned a bid, the placement will not be passed down to subsequent participants
        • Any remaining bid placements that are not allocated to winners will go into the Wildcard bid
    • The top 4 qualifiers for The US Arnold, Throwdown, Angrywood or any other officially sanctioned WATL tournament where a Championship bid is announced, will have a secured placement to the World Championship
      • If the top 4 qualifiers have already earned a bid, the placement will not be passed down to subsequent participants
    • Any bid placements not allocated to eligible tournament participants will be added to the Wildcard pool
    • All qualified tournament winners must play at least 1 sanctioned WATL season to maintain and keep their placement bid to the World Championship
      • Exceptions:
        • Competitors that do not have a WATL venue within their metropolitan area or are further than 1-hour of drive-time from their primary residence
        • Drive time as measured from their home, to their venue, during the time when a WATL sanctioned league would normally take place
        • Competitors that have a WATL venue in their metropolitan area or within 1 hour of their primary residence but venue did not have enough participants to run a sanctioned WATL season