1.
GAME TIMES/DURATION OF MATCHES
Games start at
the scheduled time sharp. Please be at the gym at least 15 minutes before your
game in order to warm up prior to the start of your game. Each time slot will
be 20 minutes long to play as many games as you can in the set time. Games must finish at the
scheduled time, regardless of the time they started, as there may be other
games scheduled after yours.
2. NUMBER OF PLAYERS/SUBSTITUTIONS
Teams are made up of 6 players with a minimum of 2 women and 2 men.
A team can play with a minimum of 4 people, as long as 2 of the players are women and 2 are men. In the event that one of the teams doesn't meet the minimum requirements to field a team, they are in default in the match. The opposing team may choose to allow the defaulting team to have the match count. This is up to the discretion of the opposing team and MUST BE decided and agreed upon by both teams, prior to starting the game.
Injured players may be subbed out mid-game as long as minimum female and male requirements are still met.
3.
EQUIPMENT
Each game will use 6 rubber coated foam balls.
The games will
be played on a standard sized volleyball court (defined by the blue outside
line).
The playing area will be divided into two equal sections by a blue center line.
4. SCORING THE GAME
Players attempt to eliminate members of the opposing team by hitting them with the ball. If a player is hit with any ball that has not yet touched the floor or wall, that player is “out”. If the ball hits 2 players before it hits the floor or wall, both players are "out".
Play continues until one team is eliminated. At that point, the game is over and the winning team is awarded one point.
Balls are then reset 10 feet back from the centerline (on the first white line) and play resumes when “READY, SET, DODGEBALL!” is shouted again.
If a game is still being played when time expires (whistle blows), the team with the most live players on the court at the time will win the game. A minimum two players from either team must be eliminated in order for the part game to count.
Pool play matches can end in a tie.
2 points are awarded for a match win, 1 for a tie, 0 for a loss.
Playoffs matches are the best 2 out 3 games win the match. The Championship playoff match is the best 3 out of 5 games (time permitting).
5.
START OF PLAY
Sides will be
decided by the rock paper scissors game by the captains. The team winning gets
their choice of ends. Teams will switch sides after each game.
The game
begins with 3
dodgeballs 10 feet back from the centre line (on the first white line) on each half court (6 balls
total). They should be evenly spread on either side of the
court. All players must then take a position behind their out of bounds blue line,
with both feet behind the blue line
(no running starts).
At the call of “READY, SET, DODGEBALL!” players will then rush to the balls placed 10 feet off the centre line (on the first white line) to start the game.
The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing
players by getting them “out”.
This is done by:
- Hitting an opposing player with a thrown ball (not kicked) below the shoulders! An opponent that is hit (blindsided or like a deer in the head lights) in the head/neck is NOT eliminated– but the person who threw the ‘head/neck shot’, accidentally or not, IS eliminated. If the player tries to catch the ball or ducks into it in an attempt to avoid it and is hit in 'head/neck" the player is out, not the thrower. If a player sees a ball coming at their head and tries to block it out of defence, neither the thrower nor the catcher is eliminated.
- Catching a
ball thrown by your opponent before it touches the ground, wall or ceiling.
Make sure that a player that has been hit by a ball (is out) raises their hand as they leave the court so that the opponents know not to hit them.
The blue volleyball court lines is the inbounds area and players must stay inside these areas. If a ball goes out of this area, you must exit through the back, then retrieve the ball and reenter through the back again. While out of bounds you cannot get hit or throw a ball, you must carry the balls back into the playing area. You cannot cross the centerline to retrieve balls on the other teams out of bounds area.
A player may pass a ball to another teammate but if the teammate drops the ball they are eliminated.
6.
RE-ENTRY
If a defender catches a “live” thrown ball, the thrower is out and one player then returns to the defenders side.
The next player back in the game must be a sub of the same sex as the first player who was ruled as “out” during the match play. If a team has no subs the first person out is the first person back in.
7. THROWING THE BALLS AND ELIMINATING PLAYERS
Each players can only be in holding onto one ball at a time. If a player catches a ball while holding another ball, then neither the thrower or the catcher are eliminated. A player can however drop the ball they were holding and catch another ball. In this case the thrower is eliminated and the catching team can return a player.
Players can throw a ball however they like (but they can't squeeze all of air out of it) as long as they are on they own side of half (blue center line). Players must throw the any acquired balls within 10 seconds of receiving the ball. Teams are not allowed to stockpile balls on their side of court.
If a player throws the ball and it hits a teammate, your teammate is eliminated.
Players can use an acquired ball to deflect or block an oncoming ball. If the deflected ball hits a teammate or the person with the ball before it hits the ground/wall, then the player that was hit is eliminated. If the ball you are holding is knocked out our your hands by an incoming ball, then you are eliminated.
If a ball rebounds off of a player from an unsuccessful catch, a hit off their body or deflected by another ball is caught by a teammate before it becomes dead, then the thrower is out, and the catching team can return a player. If the player catches the deflected ball out of bounds then the player is eliminated.
A players may lean over the center blueline to retrieve a ball but can not touch any part of the opponent’s court. If a player accidentally or intentionally touches the court on their opponent’s half, then they are out of that game. Players may also lean over the sidelines to retrieve a ball out of bounds but if they are hit while doing so, they are eliminated from the game.
Players cannot hide in areas where they are concealed or partially concealed from being hit.
A ball is dead as soon as it hits the floor, wall or ceiling or object attached to the ceiling (i.e. basketball net). Players are NOT eliminated after being hit by a dead ball. All other balls are considered ‘live’.
In order to keep the game fun for everyone, it is everyone's responsibility to make a fair and honest call as to whether or not they were hit. Remember it's just a dodgeball game. Super-competitive players really are not welcomed.
8. Abuse/Alcohol Policy:
Any abuse, whether it be physical, sexual or mental is not acceptable in any manner. If this kind of abuse is reported, the player or team will receive a verbal warning. If a second incident occurs the player or team will be asked to leave the league or tournament without refund. Teams are responsible for other teammates actions, as a teammate, please encourage good sportsmanship at all times. Perpetual Motion Sports & Entertainment Inc. reserves the right to eject a player or team without a warning and without a refund. Guelph Dodgeball is a coed-tournament for everyone to have a great day out, lets keep it that way. Alcohol and smoking is not permitted at any game or event, offenders will be asked to leave the league without refund. Playing while intoxicated is prohibited.