Dodgeball
THE
GAME
The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them "OUT". This may be done by: 1. Hitting an opposing player with a LIVE thrown ball below the shoulders. 2. Catching a LIVE ball thrown by your opponent before it touches the ground. Definition of LIVE: A ball that has been thrown and has not touched anything, including the floor/ground, another ball, another player, official or other item outside of the playing field (wall, ceiling, etc) THE TEAM Teams will be made up of 6 players composed of 4 men and 2 women. |
BOUNDARIES
During play, all players must remain within the boundary lines. Players may leave the boundaries through their end-line only to retrieve stray balls. They must also return through their end-line.
During play, all players must remain within the boundary lines. Players may leave the boundaries through their end-line only to retrieve stray balls. They must also return through their end-line.
THE OPENING RUSH
Game begins by placing the dodgeballs along the center line – three (3) on one side of the center hash and three (3) on the other. Players then take a position behind their end line. Following a signal by the official, teams may approach the centerline to retrieve the balls. This signal officially starts the contest. Teams may only retrieve the three (3) balls to their right of the center hash. Once a ball is retrieved it must be taken behind the attack-line before it can be legally thrown.
TIMING AND WINNING A GAME
The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be declared the winner. A 3-minute time limit has been established for each contest. If neither team has been eliminated at the end of the 3 minutes, the team with the greater number of players remaining will be declared the winner.
TIME-OUTS & SUBSTITUTIONS
Each team will be allowed one (1) 30 second timeout per game.
OUTS
BLOCKING
STALLING
OUT OF BOUNDS
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION:
AIRBORNE ATTACKS
An airborne attack, where an attacking player may legally cross the neutral zone to hit an opponent but the ball must leave the attacker's hand before any part of the attacker's body touches the opponent's territory. If successful, the player hit is out and Attacking player remains in.
OPEN COURT
Another alternate rule is ‘No Lines’ or open court. This rule is used at a point in the game when there are few players left and it was too easy to dodge the ball with all the extra room. When ‘No Lines’ is declared, all boundary lines no longer count and the players can go anywhere to get a better shot at their opponent.
HEADSHOTS
5-SECOND VIOLATION
In order to reduce stalling, a violation will be called if a team in the lead controls all six (6) balls on their side of the court for more than 5 seconds. This also applies to tied teams. More details can be found in the NADA Rule Book
RULE ENFORCEMENT
During matches, rules will be enforced primarily by the "honor system". Players will be expected to rule whether or not a hit was legal or whether they were legally eliminated. All contests will be supervised by a court monitor. The court monitor’s responsibility will be to rule on any situation in which teams cannot agree. THE COURT MONITOR’S DECISION IS FINAL – NO EXCEPTIONS.
Game begins by placing the dodgeballs along the center line – three (3) on one side of the center hash and three (3) on the other. Players then take a position behind their end line. Following a signal by the official, teams may approach the centerline to retrieve the balls. This signal officially starts the contest. Teams may only retrieve the three (3) balls to their right of the center hash. Once a ball is retrieved it must be taken behind the attack-line before it can be legally thrown.
TIMING AND WINNING A GAME
The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be declared the winner. A 3-minute time limit has been established for each contest. If neither team has been eliminated at the end of the 3 minutes, the team with the greater number of players remaining will be declared the winner.
TIME-OUTS & SUBSTITUTIONS
Each team will be allowed one (1) 30 second timeout per game.
OUTS
- A player shall be deemed “out” when a live ball hits any part of the player’s body, clothing, or uniform.
- If a player catches a ball thrown by the opposing team, then the player who threw the ball is eliminated, and the team that caught the ball can reinstate the player that has been out the longest
- As long as the ball has been caught in any way and is held for at least two seconds, the thrower is out (i.e. even if the ball is caught between the legs, the thrower is still out)
- If a dodgeball hits an opposing player but gets caught by one of the hit player's teammates, the thrower is out, a player gets reinstated, and the player who got hit stays in.
- Players can also get eliminated if their throw hits an opponent on the head, displays bad sportsmanship, or cheats. Kicking the balls is prohibited.
BLOCKING
- Players can defend themselves by blocking the ball in flight with another ball but must retain control over the ball they are blocking with. A player dropping or losing possession of the blocking ball is deemed "out."
- Any blocked ball rebounding off another ball is considered live. Any player hit by the rebounding ball is deemed "out."
STALLING
- The act of intentionally delaying the game.
- If a referee determines that a player or team is stalling, the referee will warn player or team. If the stalling continues, at the referees' discretion, player or team will lose possession of all balls on their side.
- If both teams are stalling a reset should occur
OUT OF BOUNDS
- If any part of the player's body touches the endlines or far neutral zone line, the player shall be deemed "out".
- Momentum may carry a player out of bounds while making a catch. Providing control of the ball was established prior going out of bounds.
- A player who moves completely out of bounds when a ball is thrown at them and does not catch that ball is also eliminated.
- If a player moves into the opponent's
zone or picks up a ball from inside the opponent's zone without it fully
rolling inside their zone, that player is out.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION:
AIRBORNE ATTACKS
An airborne attack, where an attacking player may legally cross the neutral zone to hit an opponent but the ball must leave the attacker's hand before any part of the attacker's body touches the opponent's territory. If successful, the player hit is out and Attacking player remains in.
OPEN COURT
Another alternate rule is ‘No Lines’ or open court. This rule is used at a point in the game when there are few players left and it was too easy to dodge the ball with all the extra room. When ‘No Lines’ is declared, all boundary lines no longer count and the players can go anywhere to get a better shot at their opponent.
HEADSHOTS
- Headshots are heavily discouraged.
- Any thrower committing a headshot will be deemed "out."
5-SECOND VIOLATION
In order to reduce stalling, a violation will be called if a team in the lead controls all six (6) balls on their side of the court for more than 5 seconds. This also applies to tied teams. More details can be found in the NADA Rule Book
RULE ENFORCEMENT
During matches, rules will be enforced primarily by the "honor system". Players will be expected to rule whether or not a hit was legal or whether they were legally eliminated. All contests will be supervised by a court monitor. The court monitor’s responsibility will be to rule on any situation in which teams cannot agree. THE COURT MONITOR’S DECISION IS FINAL – NO EXCEPTIONS.