Drafting Dinos
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🏁 Winter League Rules

🦖 How to Join a Team (Step-by-Step)

Getting started is easy — just follow one of these three simple options to join the Drafting Dinos Winter League.

Step 1 — Choose how you want to join

  • Option 1 — Join an existing team:
    If you already know the team you’re joining, head over to the Winter League page, click that team, enter your name into one of the rider boxes, and select your category. You’re instantly added to the roster! Please ensure you use your exact name as shown on companion app.
  • Option 2 — Become a captain:
    Want to lead your own team? Pick any unclaimed team, type your name into the Captain (Rider 1) slot, and give your team a name so others can find and join you. You can always rename it later if you like — for now, just use something clear and recognisable.
  • Option 3 — Ask us to assign you a team:
    Beneath the rules section, you’ll find a box titled “Give Me a Team”. Simply pop in your Zwift Companion name, your category (A–D), and your timezone, and we’ll assign you to a suitable team.

Once you’ve joined a team, keep an eye on out for race times, coordination, and results updates.

These rules ensure fair and competitive racing across all categories using our 4v4 handicap system.

1. Format Overview

  • Each match is 4 riders vs 4 riders.
  • Handicap start times level the field between A–D category riders.
  • Every race should finish as close as possible — teamwork wins races!

2. Start Procedure

  • All riders must join the Zwift start pen early.
  • Use the Handicap Calculator on our site to find your start delay.
  • The slowest team (highest handicap) starts first.
  • Other teams must wait in the pen for their instructed delay before moving.
  • Example: “Team Alpha, please wait 30 seconds after Team Bravo starts.”
  • Timing begins when the first team moves, not when your team leaves.

3. Team Composition

  • Each team fields 4 riders.
  • Riders must use their correct ZwiftPower category (A–D).
  • Substitutions are allowed only for riders of the same or lower category.

4. Handicap System

Base category times used for handicaps:

  • 🅰 A – 0 seconds
  • 🅱 B – 60 seconds
  • 🅲 C – 120 seconds
  • 🅳 D – 180 seconds

Team average determines the delay. The higher your average, the earlier you start. Wait times are displayed clearly on the Handicap Calculator table.

5. Timing & Results

  • Results posted on the Winter League page after verification.
  • Points:
  • 🥇 1st – 10 pts
  • 🥈 2nd – 8 pts
  • 🥉 3rd – 6 pts
  • 4th – 4 pts
  • 5th – 2 pts
  • 6th – 1 pt

6. Fair Play

  • No early starts — starting before your delay = disqualification.
  • No power-ups unless stated in the event.
  • No sandbagging or false categories — fair play is mandatory.

7. Communication

  • Team captains must ensure all riders understand their start delay.
  • Use Discord voice chat during races for coordination.
  • Official updates and rule changes will appear in the #winter-league Discord channel.

8. Spirit of the League

We race hard, fair, and together. Respect your opponents, your teammates, and the Drafting Dinos name. 🦖

9. Challenge & Match Setup

  • Each team has a designated captain who’s part of the official Winter League captains’ group chat.
  • Captains use this chat to propose and accept challenges between teams and agree on route, date, and time.
  • Once both captains confirm, the admin creates the official event in the system.
  • The confirmed event then appears as an Upcoming Match on this site and on the Zwift Companion App.
  • After completion, the match moves into Completed Matches and league points are updated automatically on the leaderboard.