Introduction to Dodgeball 101
Beginning
 6 players per team start touching the back wall on their side of the court.
 3 balls in the centre dead zone.
 3 runners sprint to the balls and try and bring them back to their wall. Players must not cross
the deadzone lines.
 Once a ball touches the back wall it is active.
The Games
 Hitting a player with a ball eliminates them from the game. The ball must not touch anything
else before it hits the player.
 Catching a throw eliminates the thrower and gets one of your eliminated players back into the
game. Does not have to be a clean catch but only the catching player may touch the ball.
 Knocking a ball out of a players hand with a throw eliminates the player from the game.
 If you are holding a ball you may use the ball to block throws, your hands count as part of the
ball while you hold it.
 The team with the most players must make an attack within 5 seconds of gaining possession
of the majority of the balls. The referee will call 5 seconds. If the players retain possession of
the majority of the balls after the 5 seconds any player on that team carrying a ball is
eliminated.
Other Rules
 Referees decision is final.
 Self refereeing is important, if you are legitimately knocked out please play honestly and
leave the court.
 Do not step on the court lines, this is both for safety and to get used to strict line rules
enforced in tournaments.
 Enjoy the game and have fun, try new tactics, it's as much as sport for a smart player as it is
for a strong or fast player.
 Games are 3 minutes long best of 5 rounds.
Game Variants (can be explained on the day)
 Medic
 Prison Break
 President
 Last person standing
 Vanguard
 Traitor
Alternate & Optional Rules
 Girls who make a catch get two of their team members back in.
 Save rule: If you catch a ball that hits off a teammate without hitting anything else then
nobody is out, you have saved your friend.
Check out www.dodgeball.ie or the Dublin Dodgeball Club on facebook for more information or to
find out times for training and tournaments.
Useful links and information:
www.dodgeball.ie for tournaments, rules, general info.
Dublin dodgeball club on facebook.

Trampoline dodgeball in Jumpzone Trampoline park in Sandyford just off the LUAS stop.

Queens University Dodgeball – we have strong ties with Queens University in Belfast. They
hold big tournaments with the UKDBA twice a year and usually a charity tournament also. A
great chance to travel north and meet a great bunch of people.

Waterford Dodgeball Club – One of the busiest clubs in the republic and home of many of
the Irish Celts players. They have an ongoing league and are actively promoting the sport
around the country.

Irish Celts – The Irish Team is always on the lookout for new players. International
tournaments across Europe include the Home Nations and The Euros.

Galway Dodgeball Club – Only recently formed but showing a promising start working
alongside GMIT.

Monaghan Dodgeball Club - Another newly established club started by one of the Northern
Irish international players.
If you would like to know more just ask either Stephen Fletcher or Garvan McEvoy who will be
refereeing (and likely taking part too).
This is a great fun, social sport with a lot of room to grow and enough people working away to make
sure it gets bigger every year. We hope you enjoy playing and watching as much as we do and look
forward to seeing you out on the court soon.
Regards,
Stephen Fletcher
Game Variants:
Last person standing –
Same set up as regular dodgeball but all players are welcomed to join in. The only limit on player numbers
per team is on the size of your hall. This is usually a mini game played in the middle of tournaments with a
small prize.
Extra balls are usually needed depending on player numbers.
It is important to keep teams even numbers so players on the winning team should be pushed over to the
other team and told to touch the back wall to come back into play.
The court shrinks as players are knocked out. Knocked out players should stand along the court lines and are
told to push in to natural court lines as the numbers dwindle. Ultimately when it comes down to 1 on 1 the
court should just be a narrow strip with all eyes on the remaining players.
Medic –
Normal dodgeball set up, 3 min games.
Each team secretly chooses a medic. When a player (who is not the medic) is knocked out for any reason
they must move up to the front line on the court go down on one knee and raise their hand in the air. The
medic is able to bring this player back into the game by grabbing their hand and, out loud, counting to 3.
Once the medic is knocked out no players can be revived or come back into the game. Catches only knock
players out and do no bring players back in. It is imperative to protect the medic. The other team will likely
try anything to hit them.
The team with the most players left standing (not kneeling on one knee) after the 3 minutes wins.
Prison Break –
A narrow line is left at the back of each end of the court. This is prison. Each team must play in front of the
prison as normal. If a player is knocked out they must cross the centre line and go into the other teams
prison. The only way they can be released is if they catch a throw (which is below head height) from one of
their own team members. This releases either just the catcher (optional: or everyone in that catchers
prison). Upon release the prisoners run back to their side of the court and resume play.
3 minute games, most people left outside prison after the 3 minutes win.
President –
Normal set up, 3 minute games. One player on each team is announced as President. If the President is hit
out the team loses. If the President makes a catch everyone on that team is back in. (Optional: have a VicePresident.)
Vanguard –
Same set-up as prison break with a narrow strip (Vanguard area) behind each team. 3 minute games. Each
team nominates one of their players to be Vanguard. This player will play from within the Vanguard area.
The Vanguard is a player with the exceptions that they cannot be hit out and if you catch one of their throws
their team loses. (optional: If the Vanguard makes a clean catch from one of their own team their whole
team is back in.)
This is a very fast paced and fun game which requires some thinking.
Traitor –
Normal set-up, 3 minute games. Each team confers at the start to pick a traitor on the opposing team. The
traitor cannot be the team captain, he is just too loyal. The two captains walk to the opposing team and in
secret write the letter L for Loyal on the backs of 4 of the opposing team or T for Traitor on the back 1 of the
opposing team members.
Neither team should know who the traitor on their side is. The Captains switch back over and play
commences.
The traitors can reveal themselves at any time and hit out players on the same side of the court they are on.
They can switch sides across the court back to their true team once.
Friendly fire is on so if you hit one of your own teammates with a ball they are out. This is to prevent
captains hitting each player on their side in the beginning to find the traitor. In doing so they would knock
out their own team most likely.
This is one of the more complex games but it can lead to some crazy situations as people begin to suspect
each other and bluff in a high stress environment on court.