| Dodgeball Simulation League |
| The Players |
| Every DSL team is composed of five players: three guys and two gals (who usually do double the work; you know, playing dodgeball and cleaning up after the guys). There are many other components to being a player in the DSL, of course, other than what gender one happens to be. Every player is rated in three physical categories (speed, strength, and agility) and one technical category (ballhandling). Female players are not able to achieve as high ratings as males in the physical categories, but in ballhandling, both genders average about the same rating. Speed tends to help a player's opening rush and dodging skills. Strength contributes to throwing and also a little bit to catching. Agility is important for the opening rush and dodging; it gives a bit to throwing and catching. Ballhandling contributes the most to throwing and catching. The way a player's ratings are in these four categories determines where he or she is skilled. For the most part, throwing and catching are connected, and opening rush ability and dodging are connected. There's plenty of variety though, and one player, Harry Pugliese, is quite skilled at both killing and dodging. He has 128 kills (6th all-time) and 100 dodges (tied for 1st all-time). His 48 catches fall short of the top 10 all-time. Players can be anywhere from 18 to 38 years old. Players from age 18-25 are typically increasing in skill, and players from age 30-38 are typically decreasing. Players from age 26-29 are typically at their peak. Players can retire from the league for one of two reasons: decreased performance or age. Players can't retire based on age reasons until 33 years old, but they can retire for decreased performance starting at 24. Decreased performance retirement is only for those players who fail to score 30 points in any season. A rarely-used commissioner's option can be utilized in a season in which no player scores below 30 points to eliminate the worst player and open a spot for a rookie to join the league. |