Fraser Valley Regional District
Recreation, Culture and Airpark Services
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A match will consist of as many games as can be played in a 30-minute time slot. Please be at the
court 10 minutes before the start of your match. Games will be either 5 minutes in length or when a
team is entirely eliminated, whichever occurs first.
Rules: Please review the rules with your team to avoid any confusion.
Outs/Fouls: Please call yourself out if you get hit (be honest!) as well as your own fouls.
Games are refereed. Participants are responsible for calling their own fouls and outs, however,
the Referee may call additional outs and fouls.
DODGEBALL RULES
Match/Game Play
1. Each team will start the game with 5 players lined up along the back edge of the playing zone
on their side of the court. There must be a minimum of 2 female players on the court when the
match starts. If a team has only 1 female then they must start down by 2 points and play with 3
males and 1 female on the court (i.e. they must play one person short). A team must have at
least 3 players (including at least 1 female) in order to not default.
2. Prior to your match starting, teams must designate what side of the court eliminated players
will go to once players are out.
3. Each game is a maximum of 5 minutes, although games may end more quickly. A game is
over when all of the players on one team have been eliminated. Matches consist of as many
games as can be played in the time available.
4. The game begins with either the Referee blowing the whistle or yelling “DODGEBALL!”
5. Once the game has begun teams run to retrieve one of the 3 balls on their side of the center
line. Players pick up the ball and then run back and touch the wall/fence. A Player may knock
the balls on their own side back to their teammates, but the balls must touch the wall to be
‘activated’ before they can be thrown. Players can now begin to throw balls at the opposing
team. Players cannot reach across the center line to grab the other teams 3 balls while they
are still on the cones. Once all the balls are in play then players may without violating the
center line grab balls on the other side. This means you can reach across center but if your
1005-6th Ave., Hope, B.C. V0X 1L4 • phone: 604-869-2304 • website: www.fvrd.ca • email: [email protected]
Fraser Valley Regional District
Recreation, Culture and Airpark Services
foot touches the line you are out.
6. Players are NOT allowed to squeeze the balls so that they impact the shape of the balls.
Players that squeeze the balls will be eliminated. Any players that constantly squeeze the balls
could face removal. This action significantly shortens the life of the balls and gives an unfair
advantage as the balls tends to move very differently.
7. At the start of the game the balls are placed on cones on either side of the center line. These
cones also designate a warning area commonly referred to as a dead zone. This dead zone
should act as a guide that you are very close to the center line and should proceed with
caution. Any violation of the center line means you are out.
8. All games are OFFICIATED. However, players are responsible for calling their own outs. If
the ball hits a player, he/she should be honest and call themselves out and walk off the court
promptly (if they were holding a ball, it is now dead and must be dropped). If the Referee
determines someone is out, they must then walk off the court promptly.
9. It is not solely the Referee’s job to officiate, but if teams are not being honest or there is a
safety issue (i.e. a player constantly crossing the center line without calling themselves out) the
Referee may step in and make necessary calls. If this occurs, the Referee’s decision is final
and no dispute is permitted.
10. When eliminated players must immediately put up their hand and call “Out!” and move
PROMPTLY off the court to sit/stand at the designated wall- NO DALLYING off the court.
11. To eliminate a player they must be hit with a ball BELOW THE SHOULDERS. If the ball
bounces before it hits the opposing player that player is NOT ELIMINATED.
12. A player is also eliminated if a member of the opposing team catches the ball thrown at them
“in the air” before it hits the ground. The team that “catches” these balls also gets to have one
of their eliminated players return to the court.
13. A player who is re-entering the game from a caught ball must touch the back wall before they
are considered back in play (Example: they cannot throw a ball at an opponent, or be hit with a
ball and be eliminated again before they have touched the back wall). The player must touch
the wall within 5 second of their teammate making the catch.
14. If a ball is thrown and strikes multiple opposing players before hitting the ground/wall/etc. all of
the players the ball struck are out. If the ball strikes a player and then is caught by that
player’s teammate, the initial player struck is still out as is the thrower.
1005-6th Ave., Hope, B.C. V0X 1L4 • phone: 604-869-2304 • website: www.fvrd.ca • email: [email protected]
Fraser Valley Regional District
Recreation, Culture and Airpark Services
15. If a team has 6 balls on their court, and they are not being used, a referee will begin a 10
second holding rule on the ball closest to the centerline until it is played or turned over to the
other team.
16. A player is eliminated if they drop a ball at any time.
17. A player may not pass a ball to another player on their own team.
18. A player may not have more than one dodgeball in their hand at one time.
19. Once a ball hits the ground, wall the ball is considered dead and cannot either eliminate a
player who is hit or be caught to eliminate a player from the other team.
20. If a person is hit in the head, the person is not eliminated. However the person who
threw the ball, whether intentional or not is eliminated. Two head shots result in a
warning; three head shots result in a removal for the remainder of that game.
21. IF A PLAYER IS HIT IN THE HEAD AS A RESULT OF DUCKING – THAT PERSON IS
ELIMINATED AND THE THROWER RECEIVES NO PENALTY.
22. Players that are eliminated are able to return as a result of a caught ball. Players must return in
the order in which they were eliminated – first off is first back on. Once a player has moved off
the court and touched the wall, they are then eligible to come back into the game if one of their
teammates catches a ball. If the player is still in the act of leaving the court (i.e. has not
touched the wall in the designated area where players go when they are eliminated) when a
ball is caught, he/she is NOT eligible to come back into the game.
23. Ten second rule – no player can hold a ball or balls for more than 10 seconds. If they do so,
then they are eliminated. All balls must then be thrown forward and past the dead zone.
24. If a player is holding a dead ball they must throw the ball forward; if the player passes the ball
to another member of the team they are eliminated.
25. If a player has possession of the ball and drops the ball to catch another ball being thrown at
them they are eliminated; the ball must be thrown with a forward motion and must cross
center.
26. If any part of a player touches the floor across the center line that player is eliminated.
1005-6th Ave., Hope, B.C. V0X 1L4 • phone: 604-869-2304 • website: www.fvrd.ca • email: [email protected]
Fraser Valley Regional District
Recreation, Culture and Airpark Services
27. You may not play the ball with your feet - this includes but is not limited to, keeping the ball
from rolling to the other side or kicking a ball to a teammate.
28. When one player is left standing on either side, all players on both sides must actively continue
to play the game. If the Referee feels that anyone is delaying the game, they will prompt the
players to play or end the game at their discretion.
29. When there is 1 player remaining on both sides players may cross over the center line to
attack. There is no opting out of this rule.
30. When there is 1 player remaining vs a team with 2 or more players that one person can cross
over the center line to attack. In order to avoid the potential for people colliding the 1 player
cannot pick up any balls that are on the other team’s side. If they choose to cross over and
attack they must then retreat to their side to collect another ball. The only time they can collect
a ball on the other teams side is if all the balls are on that side. The one minute rule is still
activated and in effect. Players that initiate physical contact will be eliminated. No physical
contact is allowed. Aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated.
31. When one player is left on both teams (1 versus 1), those players can pick up a dodgeball from
any location on the court including their opponent’s half.
PLAYOFFS- to be eligible for playoffs, participants should play in at least 2 games for their team. No
ringers allowed! The tie breakers is as follows:
1. Wins
2. Head-To-Head Results
3. Goal/Point Differential
HAVE FUN!
1005-6th Ave., Hope, B.C. V0X 1L4 • phone: 604-869-2304 • website: www.fvrd.ca • email: [email protected]