Oarball should be as affordable as possible and available as possible to everyone who wants to play, watch, or participate. We strive to remove all boundaries related to finance, travel, and disability in order to make the sport accessible.
Respect for their teammates, their opponents, referees, and facilities is vital for good matches. A good oarballer takes it farther than that- respecting all others and the entire world around them.
Without accountability, the IOU would have no values whatsoever. We take pride in our ability to introspect, to work through flaws, and to remove people who do not align with our values from our organizations.
While oarball matches have referees, a perfect match doesn't need them. Not because every player is perfect, but because players take ownership of their mistakes and is honest and forthcoming. This extends past the field- integrity is vital to ensure that all other values are being followed.
Player safety is a top priority for the IOU. Our players must be safe on the field, both from immediate and long-term injury. They must be safe from exploitation, both physical and financial, and feel comfortable voicing concerns about theirs or others' safety without fear of reprisal, and we work every day to build a culture of safety.
Everything that the IOU does is in service of creating a better world. We believe that sport has the power to unite, to enrich, and build up communities. The IOU operates as a nonprofit, with all financial focus going towards the sport of oarball and doing good in our communities.
Sport has a profound ability to bring people together. We hope to foster a culture of players, teams, and leagues that work together towards common goals instead of competing amongst themselves. We envision a world in which that kind of cooperation is possible outside of sport as well, and work to build that environment as much as possible.
The purpose of sport is fun. Spending time with friends, moving, and having a good time. Players should do everything they can to enjoy the sport- celebrate goals, joke around, and party with your opponents after the game.