Forfeit Fees introduced for Spring

July 6, 2015 - 9 years ago

This Spring, we are bringing in a new rule, which is tough, but fair. Below are some Q&A for you and your team to go over. If you have any questions, you know where to find us!

If your team forfeits more than once in a season, you will be charged a $60 fee payable to your opposition. 

Why are we doing this? To make it fair on everyone. We don't want any players to miss out on their games. You all pay seasonal fee's and we don't think it's fair for you to miss out on getting your moneys worth. 

How can you avoid paying the fee? By making sure you have a full squad every week. 

Is it OK to bring substitutes? Of course, just make sure they sign an Urban Rec Member form/waiver. 

Is it OK to borrow players from other teams? If you do not have enough players to field the side, you will need to forfeit. You can then choose to borrow players from another team, and play a friendly game. 

If we forfiet, and still play a friendly, will we be forced to pay the fee? No, if we can organise a friendly, we will not fine you. 

What about exceptional circumstances? Of course, if something has happened, please talk to us, and we will consider your situation. If we have enough notice we can make sure we get a friendly match going. 

Can we ask to have our game time moved, so we don't need to forfeit? We will do everything in our power to make sure you and your team can play your scheduled game. If moving your game doesnt inconvenice your opposition, or any other teams in the league, we will try and move it. There is no guarentee we can do this.

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Reasons Why Rebound Volleyball Is the Ultimate Winter Sport

June 18, 2015 - 10 years ago

As Australians, we tend to be very traditional sportspeople. Heck, we are world famous for our innate ability to be brilliant at all things sport, but slowly, and surely we are seeing a rise of niche sports - something our USA friends have been doing for some years. 

Enter Rebound Volleyball (aka Wallyball). Just like it's forefathers Dodgeball, Kickball, and Flag Gridiron it reicks of North America, but heck they know how to have fun, dont't they?!

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Here are 4 reasons why this sport is going to rock your world! 

1. It's great for beginners, or people that lovey Volleyball, but suck at it. It takes all of the principals of volleyball, and affords players to make mistakes like hitting the ball sideways. Instead of that ball headed for the ocean, and your opposition rolling their eyes (cos you suck), the ball is played off the wall, and created a great diversion, and a quick eye to return. 

2. You can always get courts! Rebound Volleyball is played on a squash court which is an added bonus given most of those spaces are left vacant in the important hours. It's a quick moving, high intensity sport, which will test your quick eye, and quick arm. 

3. Great fitness, duh! Because the sport is quick, and never stops, there is less stoppage, and a lot more running around like a chicken with no head. It's a really wild chase, and you are left with the sweaty marks to prove it. 

4. You only need 4 on the court. Which is great, because trying to convnce 3 of your friends to play is way easier than getting 5 of them onboard. Heck you could ask one friend, your Mum and your Dog*, and you have a team!

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If you think this sounds like you, then make sure you join here so you can say "you played Rebound Volleyball, before it was cool". 

*Doggy's dont have opposable thumbs, so do not make great team mates. 

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3 Ways to Meet (And Not Meet) Other Sydney-Siders - UrbanRec

June 4, 2015 - 10 years ago

Being a small fry in a big city can be super intimidating. Everyone seems to be rushing to their next physio appointment before they meet a friend for coffee, then cocktails in Paddington.

Meanwhile some of us bury our head in MX Newspaper on the way home before hitting the gym, passing glances to anyone else who looks even vaguely interested in the hope they might want to go for a beer afterwards. Depressing. 

Well Sydney siders, if you are new to town, or just sick of your friends, or your boyfriend, we have picked

3 ways to NOT meet people, and 3 great ways to get your social life buzzing

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DO NOT. Try and chat to randoms in the pub. While it’s fair game for most travellers, if you want to meet local Sydney siders, they will most likely snub you.It’s not something we are prioud of, but it’s a fact. Maybe it's all the "dont talk to strangers" mentatlity we grew up with, but we don’t know how to do random chats.

DO NOT. Join some singles under 30 group in Meetup.com – recipe for creepville. For some reason, all of the creepers of society make their way to these groups, and unless you have found a good one (tell us), then we ware you away.

DO NOT. Rely on online dating if you want to meet friends, and lots of them. If you are looking for love, then shoot for the stars. But not everyone you want to meet is romance worthy, and it can get awkward. Just sayin.

DO. Get a job. It’s a sure fire way to meet some folks. Sydney siders love some after work drinks in the city on a Friday. Better yet, start working as an Uber driver. The Uber user demographic is 18-45, and you will see all the hot spots as you drive your passengers to swanky bars on Saturday night.  

DO. Sign up for social sports. Urban Rec is Sydney’s biggest provider of social sports, for people that are looking to play… mostly to meet people. You can sign up as an individual, and get matched with a team. AKA Your 8 new best friends. The leagues are totally fun, and totally fine for beginners. 

DO. Volunteer. If your nights and weekends are empty, why not volunteer to work at some of the local sporting events, or races, sport clubs, and community stuff. This is so not awkward for you because hell… you’re working, and it’s a really easy way to meet other volunteers, and people in the community. 

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Why UrbanRec Doesn’t Offer Personal Accident or Injury Insurance

May 28, 2015 - 10 years ago

Urban Rec doesn’t provide any personal injury, or personal accident insurance, and we want to make sure you understand the reasons why, and also how you can get yourself covered.

Australia has one of the best public health systems in the world. As an Australian resident through Medicare we are entitled to free medical treatment, if you do have an accident, generally the cost is covered. You can read more about this here. 

Most Australian residents now have private health cover. The government has intensified most of us to get this with tax breaks. If you do have private health, look into your policy, and see if they cover for ambulance, and rehabilitation services like physio. They are the things you will most likely need if you are playing sport. You can find out more here. 

Blanket insurance policies don’t provide the kind of cover worth claiming for. Some local clubs, or organisations offer a blanket insurance policy for all their players. In our opinion, we don’t think this kind of cover is worth the paper it’s written on. Often after lots of paperwork through associations, and months of proving your injury, filling out forms etc, you can claim a measly $300, or $20 off your next physio appointment. Which we think is hardly worth it.

Everyone’s circumstances are different. Some people have dependants, mortgagees or jobs that can be effected by injury, and therefore premiums are vastly different. If we were to secure cover that was really worth it, we would need to access your personal situation.

Insurance can add a lot of cost to your registration fee. If we were to take out an insurance policy for you as an individual, we would need you to pay at least 12 months of cover, even if you are only playing sport with us for 11 weeks of the year. It would bump up your rego fee’s another $100-$200 per person, per season. We don’t think this is affordable for social sports.

What can you do? If you don’t have a Medicare card or private health insurance, we suggest you take out a personal accident/injury policy such as this.  If you have a previous injury, or you are worried in particular about your income being effected by an injury, we strongly suggest you look into getting yourself covered with a personal insurance policy of some kind.

At the end of the day, Urban Rec works very hard to make sure you are safe, and free from any hazards when you play with us. But, accidents do happen. So make sure you know what you are covered for, and stay informed.

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The Optimists

April 1, 2015 - 10 years ago

I recently saw this trailer on my Facebook feed, and it seriously hit me to the bone. It represents so much of Urban Rec and here is why:

Take a look. 

1. Sport is not always about the sport. The main reason I am passionate about what we do at Urban Rec is because I am passionate about bringing people together. Sometimes, we just need a good reason, a common interest, a common goal to get us together. It's part of what structures, and maintains long lasting relationships. 

2. Being juvenile is amazing. Most of our members are young, but one day, we are all going to be old. It's inevitable. Being young is a state of mind. Even as we see people approaching their 30's we seem to have this idea that being an adult means being serious, and.... well,boring! It doesnt have to be that way. Be a giant kid, have fun, laugh at yourself, and keep building new experiences always. I hope our members can take this methodology with them into their 90's.

3. Losing is OK. Learning how to be a good loser is such an integral part of playing sport, and playing life. If you can understand that sport is very little about winning, and very much about having a go. Now, I am not saying we are all going to get a participation medal at the end of the season. But be OK that you lost, and be happy for those that won. It's a very liberating feeling.

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Future Dodgeball Festival 2014 - A Huge Success! - Urban Rec

July 20, 2014 - 10 years ago

Urban Rec was very excited to host their annual Future Dodgeball Festival last Sunday on July 13th, 2014. The event was a roaring success with the anticipated 20 teams registered, and plenty more spectators, friends and family to boot.  20 teams from all over Sydney met on 4 courts over 3 hours, playing a total of 4 games each in the round robin.

The event was not going unnoticed across the Country with Today Weekend Show crossing live to the event, on national television and the hosts witnessing a small taste of what would lay ahead for the day. 

Nearby on courtside, with Budweiser as a major sponsor of  the event and “The Bud Bar” was in full motion, and proved an excellent resting place where patrons could donate money for buckets’o’bud, with 100% of their donation going to charity. All the while they enjoyed the funky 90’s beats coming from the (unreliebale) sound system.

While they waited dressed up as Bogans, ducks, and 90’s RnB bands, teams took advantage of the Bubble Soccer kindly donated by Kikoff Centre Fraser Park. For a small donation, teams were tumbling, and laughing, and really playing very little soccer, but having a fantastic time all the same.

By the time lunch came around, players had worked up a hunger, and thanks to Got Fries and The Sizzle, they were not disappointed. Well-fed players watched on as the finals teams for both the Scrubbers Cup, and Championship were announced. In a single elimination, and highly competitive round, only two teams would walk away with glory.

Drop Bears took out the Scrubbers Cup and Mixed Nuts took the Champions league, with Urban Rec Champion t-shirts, and a glistening silver cup to treasure till next year. The winners ceremony saw all teams showered with beer including the best dressed winners, Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies.  

A huge thanks is owed to our event sponsors, Budweiser, Kikoff Fraser Park, and Urban Rec. A humungous thanks and praise to all of the volunteers, who gave up their whole Sunday in the name of charity and fun. Without them, the event would not have been a possibility. We managed to raise$3500 on the day for Project Futures. 

Photos and Videos

Event photos can be found online here, and event video to be released in the coming weeks.

More Editorial and Media Exposure

Editorial in Timeout Sydney Online

Editorial in Timeout Sydney Magazine July 2014

Editorial in Weekend Notes

Editorial in Inner City Weekender

Live cross with Channel 9’s Weekend Today on Sunday 13th July

Live segment with Channel 9’s Weekend Today on Saturday 26th July

About the Charity

PROJECT FUTURES is a not for profit organisation, run by a passionate network of young and inspiring professionals. We raise awareness and funding for programs dedicated to combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation globally.

If you would like to join us for any of our Urban Rec Dodgeball Leagues, you can do so by clicking here to see when our next league is starting. Otherwise we look forward to seeing you all next year!

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Player Profile | Frank Lauria

June 20, 2014 - 11 years ago

Captain of Spaghetti and Dodgeballs and a tactical mastermind, Frank has the dubious honour of being the first (and hopefully last) player to have used his shoe as a projectile mid game. This resulted in the creation and implementation of “Frank’s Law”, outlawing this practice amongst many of his other antics.

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Hey, what's your name? 

Frank L (codename Bangerz)

Which Urban Rec Sports do you play? 

Wednesday Night Dodgeball @ Marrickville

What's your team name? 

Spaghetti & Dodgeballs

What's a random fact about you? 

A former professional wrestler that wrestled under the ring name 'Frankie Fettucini' from 2008-2011, AWF Tag team Champion (http://www.awfwrestling.com.au/wrestler/328/Frankie+Fettucini.htm). Worked as a Pizza Chef as a teenager, now a Civil Engineer & Type 1 Diabetic by day!

Why did you choose UR and Social Sports over the more competitive sports played in Sydney? 

Location and we wanted to play dodgeball specifically... and it was more of a female friendly option than Rugby Union and the setting was more social between the teams and officials than other social sport set ups.

If in a Team, who did you decide to sign up with and why? 

Myself and fellow dodgeballer Gabriel Wong (codename WongFu) signed up to be able to do something uniquely exciting with an element of danger and sex appeal.

What is your best advice for someone who hasn't played your sport before, if they would like to come along to try? 

Just take a leap of faith and back yourself to make the run or throw and catch the 50/50 balls. Have no trepidations because in the social atmosphere UR has provided someone is always watching and ready to cheer you on and/or give advice or encouragement should you fail miserably.

Tell us about a funny moment on the court/field? 

I love seeing my typically shy friends unexpectedly rise to an occasion and take a catch or eliminate an opponent and instinctively become more assertive or aggressive in spontaneous moments. The one on one face offs at the end of a game are very much 'cometh the hour cometh the man' scenarios and in particular, I remember being dressed as a gorilla staring into the eyes of an opponent dressed as a shark each with dodgeballs and throwing arms cocked and wondering where else in the world would such a confrontation occur.

How long have you been playing your sport? 

Since May 29 Last Year (2013) This is my 4th dodgeball season.

What sport do you wish you could play? Or what sport are you choosing next season If not Dodgeball?

I would play Caged Soccer

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Be like Batman and stand up for sportsmanship!

June 10, 2014 - 11 years ago

Urban Rec prides itself on being the only truly recreational competition in Sydney. We offer a place for the beginners, people trying new sports, and getting back into it, to come together in a place where people are like minded, fun and friendly, without feeling intimidated. This is the life blood of our business, and what separates us from the "regular" competitions on offer in Sydney.

Things to remember at all times when playing in any Urban Rec League:

You will be playing beginners or people that don't want to go toO hard

As mentioned, we are the only club that offer a space for people to come and learn. If you are a more experienced player, you need to be conscious of that, and be aware of the newbies, go easy on them, coach them, and help them learn and improve. Secondly people sometimes come to Urban Rec to "retire" after playing in more serious leagues it's a place people can join when they don't want to take the game or themselves too seriously. 
 

We don't tolerate aggressive teams

Social Sports is ALL that we do. If you want to play hard, and aggressively, frankly you're in the wrong spot. There is nothing wrong with some healthy competition, but we do FUN best, and that should always be top of your mind when you are playing in our leagues. Moving from Urban Rec to more serious leagues is OK, we get that. If a team scores lower than a 2 in rec points, three times in a season, they will be asked to leave the league. This is our commitment to keeping the fun teams in the league happy. 

We don't tolerate aggressive people

Don't be a di*khead. Its that simple. Every single one of you have signed our code of conduct and we will hold you accountable to that. If any aggressive behavior is displayed by individuals, we will ask you to play elsewhere,  in a league more appropriate to your level, or attitude to sports. Under no circumstances should you put your team, or any other teams down, during a game. It's just not on. Participate for your own enjoyment, and benefit. 

Learn how to win and lose gracefully

If you are a sucessful team, and you know it, when you play the less experienced teams, don't go your hardest, and show them who's boss. Destroying them on the scoreboard will leave them feeling horrible, and you looking like a team of douchebags. Likewise, if you are losing don't get aggressive, or defeated. Just enjoy the game, and have some fun with it. Sometimes playing better teams can help build up your skills. Don't give up and throw your hands in the air, no one likes a tantrum!

If you are a captain of a team you are also the captain of fun

This means you are an ambassador for the recreational side of our leagues, not only are you responsible for making sure your team has fun on the court or field you are in charge of the fun off court. This means getting your team together for drinks at the Clubhouses, or joining in on some of the social stuff we do. You have a great honour bestowed upon you, and your team are relying on you! If you're not a captain, be a champ and get involved anyway. 

We play mixed only sports for a reason

Because it's better. Mixed sports are more fun, more relaxed, and more interesting. Always make sure you have a min of 2 people from either sex on the court. This isn't to measure performance, it's so we can enjoy a mash up of characters, skill level, and attitudes. Everyone out there is going to be a different height, weight, and experience level to you. So enjoy it. 

For a list of other policies we use for our leagues click here. 

Hopefully all of this is a relief to you all, and a reminder that you have indeed signed up to the most fantastic league in Sydney. If any of this makes you feel uncomfortable, please try and turn that frown upside down. Maybe this is not the right league for you, or maybe you just needed a gentle reminder to have a blast and enjoy you weeknights being out and about, social, and having a laugh with your friends. 

As always, keep it active. social. fun. 

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Player Profile | Jenna Mitchell

April 7, 2014 - 11 years ago

This player is one of our favourite and oldest friends. She came to us at the end of 2011 without even a pair of runners to her name, and determined that sports were simply not for her. Two years later, she has played in five season of Urban Rec, and holds a Champion shirt to boot. What an amazing story, and what a fabbo chick.

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1. Hey, whats your name?

Jenna

2. Which Urban Rec Sports do you play?

I am currently playing Fast 5 netball and caged soccer

3. What's a random fact about you?

I hate driving at night, and I get annoyed when people go through skip bins. 

4. Why did you choose UR and Social Sports over the more competitive sports played in Sydney?

Before signing up to Urban Rec, the thought of playing any sport (social or otherwise) did not interest one little bit, after a bit of convincing from friends who needed an extra player in their touch football team I decided to give it a go (begrudgingly), I figured the best way for me to get any exercise would be having a run around with mates.

5. If in a Team, who did you decide to sign up with and why?

Mainly friends and friend’s partners.

6. What is your best advice for someone who hasn't played your sport before, if they would like to come along to try Urban Rec?

Just go along, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to play, the refs are all really good and supportive and you eventually get the hang of it. No one gets angry if you can’t catch or kick or run… they will just laugh at you instead!

7. How do you socialize with your current or past teams, off the court?

We quite often go out for dinner and beers after a game. Last season our team organised a fancy dress pub crawl (I personally think the ‘fancy dress’ was just an excuse so some of the boys wear extremely short shorts….)

8. Tell us about a funny moment on the court/field?

The last end of season Netball game was pretty funny to watch. Each quarter had a new rule which everyone had to follow, by the end everyone was just running around like idiots with no idea what was going on.

9. What is your favourite thing about team sports?

Having fun while exercising

10. What sport are you choosing next season?
Not sure at this stage – dodgeball looks like fun.

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Ten Benefits of Playing Social Sports

April 2, 2014 - 11 years ago

We are all well aware thet being fit and healthy is good for you. That's a given. But what specifically can sport do to our health and well being? Here are the top 10 benefits sport is bringing to our members, daily. 

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1. Build friendships

Ever feel like since you hit 25 you suddenly stopped making friends? There is something about Sydney that means as soon as you hit quarter century your bestie making days are behind you. Sport is the ONE thing that brings people together. It doesnt matter who you are, where you are from, what you do, or how much money you have, everyone has their story to tell about sport. Some play, some watch, but everyone has a connection through sport. Urban Rec prides itself on bringing people together on, and off the field. The comradery a team feels after a big win (or even a big loss) is something that can rarely be found in any gym. 

2. Improve Your Mood

Its virtually impossible to step off that field feeling worse than before you started. The endorphins are running, the energy is high. Physical activity stimulates brain chemicals that make you feel happier and more relaxed. Fact. Team sports in particular provides a chance to unwind and engage socially, all while making those lungs work overtime. Hello cardio!

3. Sharpen Your Focus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) reports that regular physical activity can help you keep important mental skills sharp as you age, including thinking, learning, and using good judgment. According to the American Heart Association, doing a mix of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities, which are common to most sports, three to five times a week for at least 30 minutes can provide mental health benefits.

4. Reduce Stress

When you are physically active, your mind is distracted from daily stressors, freeing you to think more creatively. Exercise reduces the levels of stress hormones in your body, such as adrenaline and cortisol. At the same time, it stimulates production of endorphins, which are natural mood lifters that can help lower your stress levels. Endorphins may even leave you feeling more relaxed and optimistic after a hard workout on the sports field.

5. Keep Depression At Bay

“Go out and play” is good advice not only for children, but also for adults who are feeling blue. Researchers at Duke University studied 156 people with depression who were randomly assigned to treatment of solely aerobic exercise, exercise plus an antidepressant, or an antidepressant alone. After four months, all three groups showed improvement in depression symptoms, but after 10 months, the exercise only group had the lowest rate of depression recurrence.

6. Improve Sleep

The Mayo Clinic notes that sports and other forms of physical activity can improve the quality of your sleep, helping you to fall asleep faster and to deepen your sleep. A good sleep means you wake up feeling refreshed, and ready to hit the day head on. If you do play sports late —evening practices within a few hours of bedtime may leave you too energized to sleep.

7. Boost Confidence and Self-Esteem

The regular exercise that comes with playing sports can help boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. As your strength, skills, and stamina increase through playing sports (ant they will), your self-image will improve as well. Sports provide you with a sense of mastery and control, which often leads to a feeling of pride and self-confidence. With the renewed vigor and energy that comes from physical activity, you may be more likely to succeed in tasks off the playing field as well as on it.

8. Don't give me that 'time' crap!

Does the thought of exercising make you want to lie down? According to the Mayo Clinic, even 10 to 15 minutes of exercise can improve your mood. So if you are feeling completely uninterested in playing sport one night, get down there, and just sub in for a half or a quarter. Not only did you not let your team down, you have made a difference to your body. 

9. Leadership Skills

Sports teams give you an opportunity to surround yourself with competitive people and role models, and learn from them both. If you are slightly more experienced than a new player, you can find yourself sharing hints, and tips you have learnt along your way. Providing wisdom and encouragement, is building your leadership skills you may not know you have. These skills transfer off the court instinctively, voulenteer to be captain, and build your own personal skill base. 

10. Sports Nutrition

When engaging in sports for the first time, you may feel hungrier than usual. This is normal, because your body is expending much more energy than it is used to.

Here are some nutrition tips to help keep you healthy while you participate in sports:

• Eat fat. About 20 to 25 percent of energy comes from fats, so to keep energy levels high, your body needs you to consume fat.
• Make sure to eat before, during, and after your sport. The helps maintain blood glucose levels, which in turn will help enhance your sports performance.
• Keep hydrated! When playing a sport, your body loses a lot of fluid, which can cause dehydration. This is dangerous – and potentially fatal – so drink plenty of water.
• Eat a balanced diet. An athlete's diet should include plenty of complex carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fats.
• Limit salt and simple sugar.
• Don't fast!

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