The goal is to eliminate the opposing team by hitting players with a ball or catching a throw
During the opening rush, players will run for the 3 balls on the right hand side of the center line. Balls must be activated by making contact with the back wall.
Sidelines cannot be stepped on or crossed at any time. The center line cannot be stepped on or crossed, except during the opening rush.
When a ball is picked up, a 10 second count is applied to the ball. The count follows the ball for the life of it and does not reset when passed to a teammate. If the ball is not used before this time, it is considered a ‘dead ball’ and must be surrendered by rolling it to the opposing team’s side.
A player is hit when an opposing throw makes ANY CONTACT, skims included, with their body, clothing, hair, etc…
Catching a ball eliminates the thrower and brings back an eliminated player from your team. Eliminated players are eligible to be ‘caught back in’ only if they are 1 arms length away from the referee. Players returning must follow the first-out-first-in rule and must touch the back wall before rejoining the game.
Avoid being eliminated by dodging and blocking a ball. Blocked balls must be clean! Any ball that is blocked and makes contact with you afterwards is considered a hit and you are out. If you block with a dead ball, you are out.
When you are out, drop any balls that you are in possession of and raise your hand to indicate you are out while walking to the sideline.
While you are out, any balls that are passed to a teammate are considered a ‘dead ball’ and is to be surrendered to the opposing team.
Headshots and high throws are dangerous and can cause serious injury. THESE THROWS ARE STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. If a headshot does occur, they are still considered a hit.
When in doubt you are out! Referees are to enforce this rule. If there is any confusion on the players part and the referees cannot call safe, the player will be deemed out.
Game Setup
Teams are made up of not more than 6 players from their roster, with a minimum of 2 females. During regular season, 1 female must be from the team’s roster.
6 balls are lined up on the centerline, 3 balls on each side.
Boundaries:
Sideline – Players are out if they step on or over the sideline at any time
Center line – Players are out if they step on or over the center line, except during the opening rush.
Referees are supplied by the teams that are not playing on the court at the time. Players cannot ref their own team.
During each game, players follow the honour system with the support of referees to make calls. Referee calls are final. Sideline reffing is strongly discouraged as it slows down and causes confusion during the game.
A game begins when players are touching the back wall and referees announce ‘3, 2, 1, Dodgeball!’
Eliminated players will line up on the designated wall or sideline (announced at the beginning of the night) next to the referees in a first-out-first-in order.
Substitutions are not allowed during each individual game.
A game ends when one team is eliminated.
Hits
A player is considered hit when a throw from the opposing team makes contact with the player.
Attire – Clothing and accessories are considered part of the body and count towards a hit.
When a player is hit, all balls in their possession are to be dropped, counts are reset on those balls, and players walk to the designated side immediately to indicated they are out.
Headshots do count as a hit, but are strongly discouraged. We reserve the right to discipline players.
When in doubt it, you are out. Any confusion by a player regarding a hit will be deemed out.
Blocks
A successful block occurs when a player uses a ball in their possession to block an opposing teams throw from hitting themselves.
A failed block occurs and eliminates a player when:
A ball in the player’s possession is knocked out of their hand and becomes dead by an opposing throw.
An opposing throw makes contact with a player’s ball, the player, in an attempt to catch, drops or throws their ball. Contact must be made with the blocked ball during the catch attempt.
An opposing throw makes contact with a player’s ball and then hits their body or clothing.
A ball in the player’s possession is dead and is used to block an opposing throw.
Catches
A catch is considered valid when a player maintains possession of an opposing throw while remaining within the boundaries with both feet.
When a catch occurs, the throwing player is out, and an eliminated player from the catching team is brought back in in a first-out-first-in order.
To be eligible to be caught back in, the player must be lined up next to referee on the designated side, within 1 arms length.
Returning players must touch the back wall in order to rejoin the game. Any balls touched before this, will be considered a dead ball.
Returning players must not hover at the back wall, waiting to activate themselves.
If a dead ball is caught, that catch is valid and the thrower is out.
If a ball bounces off a player, only the original player it made contact with is eligible to catch. If the deflected ball touches another player or surface/object, the player is out.
If a player attempts to catch a ball but uses a object or surface around them to assist in the catch, the catch is considered a trap, and the player is out.
If a player is in possession of a dead ball and makes a catch, the catch is invalid and the player is out.
If a catch is made, observed by a referee, and no player walks off:
Referees pause the game
Referees will request that one of the throwers leave the court
If possible, they will assist by indicating what side the ball was thrown from
