Dodgeball

Player dodging a ball.

Dodgeball (or dodge ball) is the name of a traditional game taught in physical education classes in the U.S. and Canada as well as other such parts of the world, usually in elementary school, but is played in middle, high school, college and as a professional sport as well. It is also popular in informal settings and is often played by schoolchildren on a playground or in a gym. There are many variations of the game, but each involve players trying to avoid being hit by a ball that players on the other team are throwing at them. A children's game called "dodge ball" has been noted as early as 1892.

Rules

Players

Suggested between 7 and 10 assholes though more are allowed. Six players compete per team at a time. Minimum number to start a match will be 4 players

Substitutes may enter the match at any time of each game, to replace an injured player, if a teammate catches an opponents “live” ball.

Each “retriever” must wear a pinny to be eligible to pass balls in to their teammates. No one without a pinny on is allowed to touch any ball out of bounds.

The Playing Field

The playing field shall be a rectangle of at least 48 feet in length and at least 30 feet in width. The field shall be divided in half by a center line and “attack lines” 10 feet from, and parallel to the center line. Also “warning lines” shall exist 1 foot from the end line.

During play, all players must remain “in bounds” with the sole exception being the end line. Failure to comply would eliminate the player from that game.

Equipment

The balls will be 6” to 8” rubber coated foam.

The Game

The object of the game is to eliminate all of the opposition by any of the following methods:

• Hitting an opponent with a thrown ball.
• Dropping the ball used to block an opponent's thrown ball eliminates the blocker.
• Catching an opponents thrown ball in the air prior to its hitting the ground. Also, at that point the defending team gets a player back if any have been eliminated.
• Hitting an opponent in the face eliminates the thrower (referee's discretion).

Starting the game

• The game begins by placing the 6 game balls on the center line, three on each side of the center hash mark.
• Players must place at least one foot on the end line.
• On the opening whistle, players may rush to the center line to retrieve the balls. Each team may only retrieve the balls on the right hand side of the hash mark.
• Players may only begin to throw at the opponents once the ball has been brought back over the “attack lines” closest to their own end line. At no point can any player cross over to the opposite side of the center line to the opponent's side.

Match Play

A match will consist of three, 15 minute games in which there may be multiple rounds. The first team to eliminate all 6 opponents through legal methods shall be declared the winner of that round and receive one point. A second round will then begin if time permits. The winner of the match shall be the team which has accrued the most points at the end of the match.

If neither team has eliminated the other team at the conclusion of a period, the team with the greater number of players left on the field shall be declared the winner of that period and be awarded one point.

In the Media

There is a movie about dodgeball that was created in 2004, called Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.

See also

• List of dodgeball variations

• Prisoner Ball