Dodgeball Rules

•• Rules For All Sports: To be eligible for playoffs, participants must play in at least 3 regular season games for their team. The purpose of the League Rep(s) are not to referee the games. Team captains and their teams are expected to referee their own games accordingly and responsibly. League Rep(s) will step-in to make important calls and clarify rules at their own discretion. If issues arise, team captains are asked to speak with the League Rep(s). No players except for captains should approach the League Rep(s) with issues. ••

A. GENERAL

  1. Teams are advised to be at the courts 10 minutes before the start of the matches.
  2. Teams will play for 50 minutes total, facing two different opponents with each match lasting 25 minutes.
  3. Teams will play as many games as possible within the 25-minute period. After 10 minutes of play, there will be a 2-minute break. Each win earns a team one point. At the end of the 25 minutes, the total number of points determines how many games each team has won. The team with the most points at the end of 25 minutes wins the match.
  4. Teams are comprised of 6 players on the court, with at least 2 players of each gender on the floor at all times.
  5. Minimum requirements: Teams must field at least 4 players for the match to start. If only 1 female player is present, the team must play with one less player. The team will automatically forfeit the game if no female players are present.
  6. Teams are awarded 1.5 points for a win, 0.5 points for a tie, 0 points for a loss, for a maximum total of 3 points.
  7. Regular season games can end in a tie. For playoff games, please refer to the Playoff Rules page.
  8. League reps will be present to help with starting each game and resolving issues, if needed.

B. GAMEPLAY

  1. Dodgeball is self-refereed, and played within the honour system. Follow this motto: When in doubt, you are out.
  2. 6 balls are placed in two groups of 3 at opposite ends of the centerline. Players must be touching the back wall at the start of the game.
  3. Opening rush: To start the games, the league rep shouts “3, 2, 1, Dodgeball!”. The players may rush to the centerline to retrieve the balls on the right side. On the opening rush, players are NOT allowed to retrieve the balls to their left, as they belong to the opposing team.
  4. After players retrieve their side of the balls at the opening rush, a ball must touch the back wall before the ball is considered active and can be thrown for elimination.
  5. Elimination: Players attempt to eliminate opposing players by hitting them with balls or catching their throws. If a player is hit with an active ball and the ball then makes contact with anything or another person, the first player hit is eliminated. If a player catches an opposing ball before it makes contact with another player or object, the thrower is eliminated.
  6. Once a player is eliminated, they must line up on the outside sidelines — opposite of where their bench is. Players must line up starting at the centerline in the order in which they were eliminated. After elimination, players must avoid interfering with balls in play on the way to the sideline.
  7. Once a teammate catches a ball cleanly, the player at the start of the elimination line may come back onto the court, but must FIRST touch the back wall. (Note: A player must be already in the elimination line at the time of the catch to be eligible to return.)
  8. The game ends once all players from one side are eliminated. Teams will switch sides after every game.
  9. Thrown balls cannot eliminate a player if it hits an object, surface, or teammate before making contact with an opposing player.
  10. 10-second violation: A player can only hold a ball for 10 seconds, enforced by both teams by counting out loud at a reasonable pace. If a 10-second violation is called, the ball is considered a dead ball and must immediately be rolled over to the opposing team. Teammates not playing or on the court are allowed to make the 10-second count on the opposing team.
    • A player can hold more than 1 ball at the same time, but the 10-second rule begins the moment they pick up a ball.
    • The 10-second count starts the moment the ball is picked up or when downward pressure is placed on the ball while it is on the ground. The 10-second count does not stop/reset if a player places the ball back on the ground or passes the ball to a teammate.
    • A dead ball should be rolled forcefully to the opposing team in a manner that is prompt and with enough effort to touch the back wall. The opposing team must touch the ball before it is considered active again, so if it rolls back past centerline without being touched, it is still a dead ball. 
    • If all 6 balls are situated on one side of the court and none are picked up, the 10-second count can be started. If a 10-second violation is called, a ball must be rolled over to the opposing team.
  11. Showdown: In the event where only 1 player is remaining on both teams, a 10-second countdown will begin. If neither player manages to eliminate their opponent during this time, a Showdown will be declared. The game is momentarily paused, with each player touching the wall on their side with possession of 2 balls each. Two other balls are lined up at the centerline — with one on each end. The league rep restarts the game with “3, 2, 1, Showdown!”, both players will attempt to eliminate the other with any of the balls still in play. The first player to do so will win that game.
    • Players are allowed to cross the centerline during a Showdown.
    • Sidelines are still considered out of play.
  12. If an issue arises and is indicated by team captains, league reps can pause the game at any point by saying, “Stop.” At that point, all events after and during are void.
    • The game restarts with remaining players lined up against their respective walls in possession of the ball they were already holding.
    • All balls on the ground remain where they are.
    • Reps will restart the game with “3, 2, 1, Dodgeball!”
  13. If a ball rolls out of bounds, the ball should be placed at the spot on the sideline where the ball roll out. Teammates should not be rolling or throwing the ball into the playing court.

C. RULES / INFRACTIONS

  1. A player is considered eliminated if:
    • They step on or over a sideline or centerline (except during the opening rush).
    • A thrown active ball hits any part of the body or clothing and was not successfully caught, including the ball subsequently making contact with another player or object.
    • The active ball thrown by them is caught by an opposing player.
  2. An active ball can only eliminate 1 player.
  3. If a thrown ball hits the ground, wall, other balls (exception to this is Rule C6), or other objects before hitting the opponent, it is considered a dead ball and does not eliminate a player from the game.
  4. If a player steps on or over the sideline or centerline in the process of a throw or on the follow-through, the thrower is eliminated and the thrown ball will not count or eliminate any players.
  5. In the scenario where a ball hits and bounces off a player, this player hit is considered eliminated when one of the following situations happen:
      • The ball touches another teammate
      • Another teammate catches the ball
      • The ball hits the ground, wall, another ball, or other inanimate object
    • Theoretically, if a player is hit and the ball bounces up in the air, the player can still throw their ball and eliminate an opponent prior to any of the aforementioned situations occurring.
    • If a ball hits and bounces off a player, the player who was hit can continue to catch the ball (as long as it doesn’t touch anything) which would then eliminate the opponent who threw it. This is considered a good catch.
  6. Blocking: A player can block a thrown ball using a ball they are already holding. They may then catch the same ball, provided it has not touched another surface, player, or object. To complete the catch successfully, the player must keep hold of the blocking ball and remain in play.
    • If the player drops the ball they were using to block or if the blocked ball makes contact with their body (including fingers or legs), they are considered eliminated.
    • If the blocked ball hits another player on the team, that player is safe. If a player uses a dead ball to block, they are considered eliminated.
  7. Headshots: All direct shots to the head count as a hit and the player is considered eliminated. However, the opposing player who threw the headshot will also be considered eliminated, even if the throw was accidental or coincidental. This will only apply if the ball directly makes contact with the opponent’s head and not if it was deflected in any way. Per league regulations, any intentional headshots, repeat violations, or intent to injure by throwing at an opponent’s head may result in a warning and subsequent removal from the game or match at the league rep’s discretion. Further disciplinary action may be taken by the organizing committee. In the event where only one player is left on a team, the game can NOT be won with a headshot. If the remaining player is hit in the head, they will be considered safe while the player who threw the ball will be eliminated — and play will resume.
    • During 1 on 1 or a Showdown, if a headshot occurs, the thrower is eliminated and the headshot recipient is safe. If a player intentionally blocks the ball with their head during a showdown or 1-on-1, they will be eliminated.
    • If a player is in the act of diving/sliding headfirst on the floor, or lying flat on the floor, or in a crouched position and is subsequently hit in the head, it will not count as a headshot as the diving player is putting themselves at risk. The diving/crouched player will be considered eliminated in this situation even if hit in the head, and the thrower is safe.
  8. High shots: Balls thrown above 6 feet (marked by green tape) are considered a dead ball. If the throwing team retrieves the dead ball, it must immediately be rolled to the opposing team.
  9. There are NO sacrificial throws allowed. That means players can not deliberately jump over or cross the middle or any boundary lines to throw a ball — that thrown ball will not count and the player who threw it is automatically eliminated. However, if the thrown ball is caught, the catch will still count (the next eliminated player in line may re-enter the game).

Last updated: September 7, 2024