Rules

Team Regulations

Team Blackjack has come a long way since it's inception in early 2003. The team has grown considerably with new requests to join the team monthly. Some requests more serious than others. Since the team began it went from a thought to a concept to a reality and has now grown into an actual organization. An organization with a good reputation. While Team Blackjack wants serious players we are here to have fun and also recognize that it is just a game. We take our mil-sim and scenario games seriously but we also recognize that real life is real life and sometimes requires a priority to be placed on it. However, we are also a team and just like any other team there are rules and regulations that have to be followed.

In the time the team has been around it has gained many members from different walks of life and backgrounds. The interesting thing about the team is that we all seem to mesh well and always have a good time, even if it is just "hanging out" together. Joining Team Blackjack is not a difficult thing to do either. If you are interested in joining Team Blackjack, please read on and become familiar with our structure, team regulations and the general atmosphere of the team. If you are still interested in joining the team then go here and get the ball rolling.

General Team Regulations

• First and foremost, Team Blackjack has evolved into an organization that currently enjoys a reputation of having upstanding players and the ability to plan and host events that nearly everyone has a great time at. Team members will do everything they can to maintain this reputation. Anyone who brings a negative light upon the team is subject to removal from the team by officer majority vote.

• Abuse. No verbal abuse of a team member by another team member will be tolerated. Tempers do sometimes flare on the field. Recognize this and deal with it as an adult. There is a big difference between joking with each other and verbally going to the mat. Don't let it happen.

• Take your hits. If you are hit or think you are hit then call it and take appropriate action. Don't sluff it off, don't pretend it didn't happen. It does get noticed and it will be addressed. Repeat offenders will be subject to removal from the team. Team Blackjack will not have cheaters.

• Participation. A team is a team because of participation. In order to have team benefits you must participate. This will be detailed below.

• Dues. Members and officers will have an annual dues requirement. Members pay $20.00 and officers pay $25.00. Dues are due no later than January 15th of each year for current members. New members pay their dues upon entry to the team. If a member is promoted to officer then they pay the $25.00 fee at their next due payment of dues. Dues will only be paid once in a years period. Dues will go into the team fund for use in team events and running costs of the team.

• Play with honor. If someone falls badly and hurts themselves, do not shoot them when they are down. Help them up. If someone calls a clean surrender on you, take it. Friendly fire counts even though it is not very friendly. If you spin around the corner into someone and you surprise each other point blank...offer up that you should both retreat or go resurrect.

• Be helpful. If someone needs advice, be there for them. Help new players find the information they need. Lend a hand at your local field if asked to pitch in. If a team mate needs a ride, lend it if you can. Participate in our team projects.

• Be prompt. Issues sometimes occur. Constant lateness to games, events and workdays does not reflect well on the individual and possibly the team.

• Be a team player. Guarding a flank might not be the most glorious assignment, but it is a vital role and you should do your best in every situation. Attend games when you can. Communicate often. Meet at least your minimum requirements that are expected of your team status.

• Observe your host's rules to the letter. Obey all field and house rules, even if you don't think they are right / just.

• The officer group reserves the right to remove a member of the team without given reason upon a majority officer vote.

Member Structure

There are a few different classifications of Blackjack team members and each has it's own defining characteristics, benefits and expectations. Each is listed here with a general description:

Mercenary: A Blackjack mercenary is someone who is not officially a Blackjack member but spends enough time with the team that they have been granted a place on the team rosters while their team membership status is decided. Mercenaries have no commitment, or requirements but also have no benefits and do not wear the team patch. All team members will spend at least 3 months as a mercenary initially as a probation period.

Reserve: A Team Blackjack reserve is a member of the team that has not or cannot meet the participation or forum requirements and has been either voluntarily moved or voted into the reserve status. A player may opt to join Team Blackjack in a reserve status as well. Reserves do not have any requirements but also enjoy none of the benefits of being a member of officer. A reserve member may purchase a team patches and wear them if they wish. Reserves may vote in a member poll in the forums but may not create a poll.

Member: A Team Blackjack member wears the team patch on his or her uniform. They enjoy some benefits from being a team member but also have a minimum expectation that they must meet in order to maintain their member status. The benefits and requirements of a member will be detailed below.

Officer: A Team Blackjack officer enjoys the full benefits of team membership and has final voting authority for issues that affect the team and it's administration. Officers have a higher set of minimum requirements to meet to maintain team officer status. The benefits and requirements of an officer will be detailed below.

Member and Officer Benefits

Mercenary:

1. Being listed in the mercenary rosters of Team Blackjack.

2. Access to public forums.

Reserve:

1. Being listed in the reserve rosters of Team Blackjack.

2. May wear Team Blackjack patch on uniform.

3. May vote in member forum polls but may not create polls.

4. Access to the member and public forums.

Member:

1. Being listed in the member rosters of Team Blackjack.

2. Expected to wear Team Blackjack patch on uniform.

3. Access to the member and public forums.

4. May vote in member forum polls.

5. May create member forum polls.

6. Receive a discount on bb's and propellant gas through Georgia Airsoft

7. Receive a discounted field fee rate through Georgia Airsoft.

Officer:

1. Being listed in the member rosters of Team Blackjack.

2. Expected to wear Team Blackjack patch on uniform.

3. Access to public, member and officer forums.

4. May vote in officer forum polls.

5. May create officer forum polls.

6. Will vote in final decision officer polls.

7. Receive a discount on bb's and propellant gas through Georgia Airsoft

8. Receive a discounted field fee rate through Georgia Airsoft.

9. Receive an equipment purchase discount dynamically determined through Georgia Airsoft.

10. Has veto power in membership, officer admittance and unanimous officer polls.

Member and Officer Requirements

Mercenary:

1. None

Reserve:

1. None

Member:*

1. Must attend at least one game day or work day every 60 days.

2. Must attend at least 2 work days per year.**

3. Pay a $20.00 membership dues. Due no later than 15 January of each year.

Officer:*

1. Must attend at least one game day or work day every 60 days.

2. Must attend at least 3 work days per year.**

3. Must maintain a strong forum presence. This means that each officer must log into the forums at least twice a week, average at least 2 posts per week even if it is in the check-in forum and each officer must vote in all officer votes. More information on voting will be detailed below.

4. Pay a $20.00 membership dues. Due no later than 15 January of each year.

* Extenuating circumstances of not being able to meet minimum requirements will be presented to a board of officers and then a poll on what action will be taken will be done on a case by case basis.

**NOTE: Workday attendance is for field workdays and does not include work days that may be called to work on props for an upcoming event.

Joining Team Blackjack

Joining Team Blackjack is not difficult but is time consuming. To join:

Step 1: Contact a Team Blackjack officer or send an email from the join page, expressing a desire to join the team.

Step 2: Play on three separate game days with Team Blackjack officers at Georgia Airsoft so you may be evaluated. Note: This evaluation is more a gauging of your ability to mesh with the rest of the team, your sense of humor etc. Game skill can and will come with time. Personality is what we are looking at.

Step 3: A poll of officers that have played with the candidate is taken. If a majority vote "for" the candidate results then they are placed on Mercenary Status for a three-month probationary period.

Step 4: After three months on Mercenary status another poll of officers that have played with the candidate is taken and must be a majority vote for the candidate to be granted membership to the team. If the vote is not a majority then the candidate may be informed of the denial for team membership or may be granted an extension on Mercenary status. This is decided by the voting officers.

Step 5: If the candidate is granted membership they must decide if they will be reserve or a member. If they choose reserve they will be offered the opportunity to purchase any team patches that they may wish to wear. If they decide to be a member then they will pay their $20.00 membership dues and receive two team patches and team name tapes. Additional patches may be purchased if wished.

Becoming a Team Blackjack Officer

To become a Team Blackjack officer you must meet the following requirements:

1. Be a Team Blackjack member in good standing for at least 12 months.

2. Demonstrate a desire to contribute to the team through participation and enthusiasm for the team, the game and team initiatives.

3. Inform the officer echelon of your desire to become a team officer.

4. A unanimous officer vote to induct the individual into the officer echelon must occur.

Forum Polls

Occasionally a poll or vote may be called for. While officers are the final decision voting members, members or officers may initiate polls in the member forums to get a general consensus of the team on an issue. Officers may use this to influence their own officer votes or may disregard the results if they deem necessary.

Officers, members and reserves may vote in a member forum poll if they so wish.

Officers WILL vote in officer forum polls.

Polls will last no less than four (4) days and no more than seven (7) days in length.

In officer forum votes ALL officers MUST either vote or abstain. Reason for an abstain must also be posted within the poll topic.

Officer votes will consist of majority or unanimous results. Majority means that more officers must vote for an item than did not to pass and a unanimous vote means that ALL of the officers must vote positively for an issue to pass the poll. Currently only team membership, officer membership, status reduction and team expulsions must be of a unanimous result.

Changing Current Status

Officers and members may be reduced in status for a few different reasons and / or methods. In all instances, a unanimous vote of the team officers is required.

• A member or officer may be reduced in status or removed from the team for conduct unbecoming to that expected of a Team Blackjack member or officer. This can include but is not necessarily limited to: verbally or physically abusive behavior, failure to call hits (repeat offenses) and general cheating.

• A member or officer may be reduced in status or removed from the team for failure to meet the minimum requirements for their particular echelon level. (Issues of non-compliance will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the officer echelon.)

• A member or officer may be reduced in status or removed from the team voluntarily if they feel they cannot or do not wish to meet the minimum requirements for their particular echelon.

• If a member or officer has voluntarily reduced themselves in status they may request reinstatement of their former status echelon and it will be granted after a majority officer vote, a 30 day grace period and payment of any dues necessary. NOTE: Status jumping to manipulate benefits and requirements will not be tolerated and will subject the member to removal from the team.

• If an officer or member have been involuntarily reduced in status echelon then they must request reinstatement to their former status. They must also provide their case as to why they should be reinstated to their former status echelon. Officers will then take a majority poll to determine if the individual will be reinstated. The individual may also be required to go through a probationary period to fully regain their status.

• Any member or officer that has been out of communication with the team for 60 days will be automatically be reduced to a reserve status.

• Any officer that has been inactive on the forums for more than seven (7) days will have their forum account suspended and will have to provide reason why such an absence from the forum occurred before being re-activated.

• Any officer forum account that has remained suspended for one month will be reduced to member status.

• Any member who has been out of communication with the team for more than 2 months (i.e. not present at any games and/or work days) will be reduced to a reserve status.

• If an officer's forum account has been suspended three times without good reason then they will be reduced to member status.

• Status reduction of a team member or officer may also be suspended depending on extenuating circumstances. This shall also be determined on a case by case basis and will have participation, contribution, enthusiasm (team spirit), and attitude will weigh heavily in the decision making process.

Interested in joining Team Blackjack? Click here.