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Dodgeball is played by two teams, each made up of six players. The purpose of each team is to eliminate opposing team members. This is done by striking opposing players with thrown balls, or catching balls thrown by opposing players: while preventing the opposition from doing the same. All play is subject to restrictions laid down in the following rules.

All games will be played in the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion.

Table of Contents

  1. TEAMS
  2. BOUNDARIES
  3. EQUIPMENT
  4. THE GAME
  5. TIMING, TIME-OUTS & SUBSTITUTIONS
  6. BEGINNING THE GAME
  7. DECLARING A WINNER
  8. OVERTIME
  9. STALLING & 5-SECOND VIOLATION
  10. OFFICIALS & SUPERVISORS
  11. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

I. TEAMS

  1. Teams can have up to 24 players on their roster. Six players will start the game. Others will be available as substitutes. You must have at least 2 players to start a game.
  2. Co-Rec: Each team will consist of 6 players, 3 male, 3 female. Co-rec teams must have at least one male and one female to start a game. Teams cannot have more than 3 male or 3 female players on the court at once
  3. Substitutes may enter the game only during time-outs, or in the case of injury. Co-Rec may not substitute male for female.
  4. Game time is forfeit time!  If there are no players representing a team on-site by game time your team will forfeit.  At game time our officials will hold a captains meeting.  If you do not have enough players to play at this point, our staff will grant your team (5) minutes to field a team.  If you do not field a team after the (5) minutes granted, your team will forfeit the game.

II. BOUNDARIES

  1. During play, all players must remain within the boundary lines (basketball court lines).
  2. Players may pass through the boundary lines to retrieve stray balls. A stray ball is one that has not been picked up and is lying on the ground.
  3. When retrieving a ball, the player must immediately re-enter the playing field.
  4. A player shall not leave the playing field (sideline or end line) to avoid being hit by, or attempt to catch, a ball. Players may step on the line but no part of the body can touch beyond the line. Players outside of the boundary (while retrieving a ball) can be hit by an opponent but cannot get an opponent "out" by catching the ball.
  5. A player shall not have any part of their body cross over the centerline and contact the ground on their opponent’s side of the court. Players will not be declared out if the player does not gain a definite advantage.

III. EQUIPMENT

  1. The standard number of balls for a 12-player game is seven.
  2. The official ball used will be a 7-inch rubber coated foam ball.
  3. All participants must wear tennis shoes.

IV. THE GAME

  1. A match is played as a best of seven competitions. Once a team has won four games, the match is completed.
  2. Teams will alternate sides following each game.
  3. The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them OUT.
  4. An OUT is scored by: Hitting an opposing player with a live thrown ball, or catching a live thrown ball by your opponent.
  5. LIVE (def): A thrown ball that strikes, or is caught by, an opposing player without/before contacting the ground, curtain, or another player.
  6. A player may block a thrown ball with a ball being held (a ball deflecting off a held ball). However, if the deflected ball hits the player after the deflection they are out. The deflected ball can only hit the player holding the ball and the ball can only be caught by the player holding the ball for their to be an "OUT".

V. TIMING, TIME-OUTS & SUBSTITUTIONS

  1. A 4 minute time limit has been established for each game.
  2. Each team will be allowed one 30-second time-out for each 7 game match.
  3. Only the Supervisors whistle starts and stops the clock.
  4. During time-outs, teams may substitute players. Substitutes are players who did not start the game. Once you have been eliminated, you cannot come back into the same game as a substitute.

VI. BEGINNING THE GAME

  1. Prior to beginning the game, an equal number of dodgeballs (3) will be given to each team.
  2. The supervisor will flip a coin to decide who starts with the 4th ball "in hand".
  3. Players then take position along the end line.
  4. Following a signal by the official, the game will begin.

VII. DECLARING A WINNER

  1. The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be declared the winner.
  2. If neither team has been eliminated at the end of regulation, the team with the greater number of remaining players will be declared the winner.
  3. In all overtime periods, the first team to legally eliminate any one opponent will be declared the winner.

VII. OVERTIME

  1. If an equal number of players remain after regulation play, a 2-minute sudden death overtime period will be played (only with the remaining players on the court at the end of regulation).
  2. All overtime periods will begin with an equal number of “balls in hand” behind a teams end line. All extra dodgeballs will be placed on the center line. There will be no opening rush to start the overtime. The first team to eliminate any one opposing player will be declared the winner.
  3. During overtime, all players must remain within the boundary lines (volleyball court lines).
  4. No time-outs allowed during overtime.
  5. At the end of each overtime, if no players have been eliminated, an additional player from each team will be placed back into play (this can be a substitute or a player already OUT of the game). The sudden-death format continues through all extra periods.

IX. STALLING & 5-SECOND VIOLATION

  1. A team with more dodgeballs on their side of the court must make an attempt to get an opponent "out".
  2. A team trailing during a regulation game must be given the opportunity to eliminate an opposing player. This requires a ball to be at the disposal of the trailing team.
  3. It is illegal for a team to control all the balls for more than five seconds. If the leading team controls the balls – i.e. all balls are located on their side of the court – they must make an effort to get at least one ball across the attack line and into the opponents backcourt. If this is not done, a 5-second violation can be called.
  4. Only an official can call a 5-second violation.
  5. Penalty for 5-Second Violation:
  6. First Violation: Stoppage of play and balls will be divided up evenly between teams.
  7. Second Violation: Free throw at an opposing player of choice. The opposing player will stand on the end line with their back turned to the thrower.
  8. Third Violation: Ejection of one player from offending team (offending team chooses who is OUT).

X. OFFICIAL & SUPERVISORS

  1. All games will be monitored by an official or supervisor.
  2. Rules will be enforced by the “honor system”. Players will be expected to rule whether or not a hit was legal and/or whether they were legally eliminated.
  3. The official or supervisor will rule on any situation in which teams cannot agree.
  4. All decisions by the official or supervisor are final.

XI. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

  1. Unsportsmanlike conduct may include, but not limited to: foul language, unnecessary roughness, arguing with the officials and abusing the “honor system”.

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