What is the Scottish Games League (SGL)?

The SGL Mission:

The ScottishGames League is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting the Scottish Heavy Events while preserving the heritage of the sport, building partnerships to enhance the spectator’s experience, advancing athletes’ opportunities, and contributing to the growth of Scottish Highland Games Festivals. 

The SGL Vision:

The vision of the Scottish Games League (SGL) is to conduct Heavy Events competitions in a manner that makes them more spectator-friendly and leverages new media that will increase consumer awareness and patronage of the sport and Highland Games festivals in the national sporting culture.  While sustaining the heritage of the games the SGL will implement a regional league based format that allows fans to remain engaged in the progression of a Heavy Events season and the performances of participating athletes. 

The expanded league format and increased consumption across modern mediums will provide opportunities for sponsors to contribute to the SGL and, in turn, continue to drive the growth of the sport for viewers, participants, and hosts.

How does the points-based league work?

League points will be assigned based on placing in SGL league classes at an SGL Regional event as listed below:       

1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th
10 pts	9 pts	8 pts	7 pts	6 pts	5 pts	4 pts	3 pts	2 pts	1 pt

SGL Regional Champions for league classes will be named at the end of the season based on the highest accumulation of the SGL Regional league points in a region.

The SGL Leagues’ rankings are not based on actual throws or marks?

Correct. The use of placing to accrue points accommodates any event that might have a field, conditions, or implements that provide either an advantage or disadvantage for an athlete. For example, if a field has a relatively steep slope in the throwing area, an athlete could pick up an abnormally high mark for an event on that field. The use of placing at events mitigates this phenomenon and allows for the points to be based solely on how the athletes fare against one another on the field that day.

Which classes will be included in the SGL leagues?

At this time, the following classes will be included in the SGL Leagues: 

• Men’s Amateur
• Men’s Masters
• Women’s open

Why not include other classes such as light-weight, pros, various master classes, etc?

At this stage of development, the SGL will only be including Men’s Amateur, Men’s Masters, and Women’s Open classes. After the SGL foundation is established, consideration will be given to expanding the number of classes included.  Classes to be considered for expansion, and the timing of their inclusion, will depend on several factors, primarily demand, availability of the classes across the 12 regions, and feedback from the Highland Games community.

What constitutes an SGL eligible game?

1. Has qualified judges preside over the events.
2. Employs generally-accepted Heavy Events rules.
3. Uses legitimate implements.
4. Contests a minimum of 5 events.

What constitutes an SGL league class?

An SGL league class is any one of the classes currently included in the SGL. Those classes are currently Amateur Men’s, Men’s Masters, Women’s.

What is the standard for adding new classes to the league?

In order to be added to the league a class must have a minimum of four athletes and that class MUST be contested at four of the six games in the regional schedule.  Additionally the class MUST meet these requirements in ALL regions.

What do athletes have to do to participate in the league?

Nothing. There is no requirement other than following the standing procedure to register for the games included in their respective region’s schedule. There is no additional fee or registration to participate in SGL series games.  Athlete inclusion in the league rankings will be automated based on the results from the competitions. So, register with the games, show up, and throw. Then, keep an eye on the region’s rankings page on the SGL website.

What do Athletic Directors (ADs) and/or festivals have to do to join?

Nothing.  Athletic Directors and the Festivals do not need to apply or register, or pay a fee to be included in the SGL season schedule. The SGL Regional Chairs will identify games that meet the criteria to be included in the region’s league schedule. The SGL Regional Chairs will engage the ADs and Festival representatives to develop a partnership that will allow the Games to reap the benefit of being associated with the SGL.

Are you replacing NASGA?

No. NASGA has established its place as the virtual information center for the Highland Games.  As set forth in our mission statement, we are interested in developing partnerships to contribute to the growth to of the sport.

Are you replacing any of the Highland Games organizations already out there?

No. Again, as set forth in our mission statement, we are interested in developing partnerships to contribute to the growth to of the sport.

The SGL will not be involved in the logistical implementation or running of games.  Instead, the SGL will develop partnerships to establish a nationwide, regional league-based format that allows fans to remain engaged in the progression of a Heavy Events season and the performances of participating athletes.  

Are you going to standardize the games/implements?

No.  The competitions that are included in the SGL will be accountable to the rules and regulations administered by the AD’s at their respective games.  The SGL believes that this approach stays true to the heritage of the Heavy Events as they are practiced in Scotland where an athlete regularly finds themselves adjusting to differing implements and field conditions from one competition to the next. The format of assigning rankings points by an athlete’s placing accommodates the possible variations between competitions.

Is the SGL trying to become a national governing body?

No. The SGL mission is to bring the Heavy Events and Highland Games community together through the league based format that provides a nation-wide and season-long platform to promote the sport and elevate awareness of it in the general sporting culture.