Welcome to GBBL Season 5

Welcome to Season 5 of GBBL. We are excited to get things going and make this season the best one yet. To mark the 5th year of the league, there are lots of exciting things planned. Registration will open soon to returning players. The season details are as follows:

Season details:

- $200/person
- 15 weeks of ball + an All Star event (Starting Nov 7th)
- NEW reversible Dri-Fit jerseys for each team w/ player name & number
- Additional Stat tracking (PTS,REB,3PT & ASSISTS)
- End of season awards, accolades & gifts
- Professional photographs
- Weekly IG posts
- New charity initiatives 
- 5 year commemorative Hoodie ($)
* See bottom of this post for the full schedule

ALL EXPECTATIONS FROM PREVIOUS SEASON WILL BE CARRYED OVER (see previous post) AND ENFORCED FURTHER THIS SEASON (ESP ATTENDANCE, PUNCTUALITY, JERSEYS)

Commisioners Note:

After some consideration of canceling the league, it was ultimately decided that GBBL will enter Season 5. The future of this league depends on the actions of each of the 30 players that join.
- If you are joining just for the sake of winter Cardio - DO NOT JOIN THIS LEAGUE
- If you are looking to play competitive basketball with NBA level calls & refereeing, DO NOT JOIN THIS LEAGUE
- If you can't help getting into arguments, disputes, shouting, being disrespectful, trash talking, DO NOT JOIN THIS LEAGUE
- If you can't elevate your teammates & brothers on and off the court, DO NOT JOIN THIS LEAGUE

This year there will be zero nonsense tolerated. It will be one strike and you're out and will be based soley on the commissioners discretion (with no refunds). If you can't accept that, think its not fair, DO NOT JOIN THIS LEAGUE. This is an amateur pickup ball league that's run the best it can with very few people helping in any way. Calls & rules will not be perfect but will be respected. The 30 players 'chosen' to join the league will be held to higher standards this season. There's many people waiting to join but we choose to run the league with select individuals for a reason. If those individuals are no longer a good fit they will be replaced after this season (or during if any altercation). This includes attendance, fighting and any actions deemed harmful to the league.

After going through some major personal challenges, I am excited to continue this league and join you all on the court. Please make my life easier by adhering to everything you've just read.

Javwaad Ahmed
~Commissioner 


SEASON 5 SCHEDULE
Season Location: Milton Velodrome
All Star Location: Milton Sports Centre

WEEK DATE TIME
Week 1 Nov 7th 8:30pm-10:30pm
Week 2 Nov 14th 8:30pm-10:30pm
Week 3 Nov 21st 8:30pm-10:30pm
Week 4 Nov 28th 8:30pm-10:30pm
Week 5 Dec 5th 8:30pm-10:30pm
Week 6 Dec 12th 8:30pm-10:30pm
Week 7 Dec 19th 8:30pm-10:30pm
mid season break Dec 26th  
mid season break Jan 2nd  
Week 8 Jan 9th 8:30pm-10:30pm
Week 9 Jan 16th 8:30pm-10:30pm
Week 10 Jan 23nd 8:30pm-10:30pm
Week 11 Jan 30th 8:30pm-10:30pm
Week 12 Feb 6th 8:30pm-10:30pm
Week 13 Feb 13th 8:30pm-10:30pm
Family day week Feb 20th  
Week 14 Feb 27th 8:30pm-10:30pm
Week 15 March 5th 8:30pm-10:30pm
All Star March 10th 2-5pm
Ramadan March 12th  

Season 4 Changes & Expectations

Welcome to Season 4 of GBBL. We are excited to get things going on what should be a full season with no interruptions due to Covid, something we've had to deal with in the last 2 seasons.With Season 4 about to tip off, GBBL is announcing some changes to go along with expectations.

Changes:

- Expansion team: The Goons are the 6th franchise to join GBBL. 
- 5 round robin games. Each team will face every other team once
- 2's and 3's for scoring
- Games are dead at 13pts or 10mins
- 1st tie breaker is now 'Full wins' (wins with 13pts)
- Free throws in the finals: 1st FT is worth 2pts, 2nd FT is for possession.

Expectations:

- No dribbling out the clock purposely to get the win. This is an honor system, but the expectation is to shoot in 30secs or less. Repeated offense by a team will be reviewed & forfeits may be issued.
- Captains: This year we are asking the captains to be much more involved during game day. Captains will be responsible for getting their team on the right court and starting games on time. Also, they are the only ones to report the final score to the scorekeeper. Captains are also to handle any disputes that may arise related to calls and such. Any arguments should be dealt with by the captains if the players can't come to a solution.
- Regular players: All 30 players are expected to be captains and draft when asked
- Attendance: Attendance was an issue last season. Players that play less than 70% during the season will not have a guaranteed spot next year (injuries are an exception). This will be tracked going forward along with coming to the games on time.
- Fighting: Still zero tolerance for any fighting. Any altercation will be reviewed and may result in suspensions. Any physical act such as throwing a punch will result in immediate expulsion from the league.

Final Note:

This league was created as a way to keep guys committed to running pickup basketball. It has grown into something much more special. It's a way to stay active in the winter but also as a way to stay in touch with a group of brothers weekly. While we are all competitive, and everyone shows up every week with the hopes of winning and gaining GUT points, this is not the main goal. No one will remember how many GUT points you had in a season, but they will remember how you treated others and the difference you made as part of the league.

If you're coming just for cardio or because you want to play super competitive basketball, there are tons of other leagues you might be better off in. GBBL is a brotherhood, its an exclusive club. While its Dynasty format has gotten popular and the league has gained tons of interest, we have chosen not to expand exponentially but rather naturally, with guys that get along and guys who have a connection greater than basketball. It's a league where every player regardless of skill can make a difference and have fun.

This is your league. What you see now is mainly a result of 2 guys putting in a lot of work. We implore the rest of you to come up with ways to get involved, come up with ideas for social media, for charity, etc. Imagine with more guys stepping up what we can do.

Let's not forget why we play and remember you're playing with and against bros out there. While we are competitive, keep that competitiveness friendly. There is no room for constant arguments, disagreements, questioning others integrity and fighting.

Wishing everyone a great season. 

Jav Ahmed
~Commissioner