Game Rules

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Attire

Required 

• Non marking, indoor shoes (Closed toe athletic shoes, must not leave marks on the floor)

Recommended

• Short sleeve shirt

• Shorts/ light yoga pants

• Knee pads

• No jewelry

Optional​

• Other safety gear (mouth guard, jock strap, goggles etc.)

Game Play

1. 6 players start on the court, 2 ladies minimum where possible, at the back line. 

2. Matches are 24 minutes long. The team with the most games won after time runs out wins the match.

3. If time runs out while a game is in progress, the team with the most players on the court wins that game.

4. If each team has the same number of players left, the game is ruled a tie.

5. If Team A has more wins than Team B at the end of regulation play and the final game ends in a tie, Team A wins the match.

6. If a team does not have all players present at the beginning of the match, they have 1 minute to assemble, then the match will start. If that minute passes then the game will start with the amount of players on the court.

7. In the event you cannot make the scheduled game, please contact your team lead or Tri-City Dodgeball immediately.

 

Starting the Game

1. Six (6) balls will be used in the game; 3 balls will be placed on each side of the court on the centerline. Off the initial rush the center line is soft and there is no penalty for a player crossing it while retrieving their respective 3 balls.

2. Teams will start each game with 6 players on the floor lined up on or behind the back court line. Additional players on the team sit to the side and will rotate in when allowed.

3. The game begins after a countdown from 3 at the sound of a whistle or the cry of Dodgeball.

4. At the start, players will run for the balls that are placed on the right side of the court facing the opposite end. A portion of each player's lead foot must be touching the back line or behind it until the signal of a game starting has taken place.

5. Balls are in play upon initial possession from the center line when, each ball is carried or tossed back to a teammate behind the "Attack Line”. Both feet must be touching ground behind the attack line. After this happens the ball is active and may be thrown and/or forward progression may occur.

6. If the ball is thrown before both feet touch behind the “Attack Line” the ball will be given to the other team. The thrower is OUT, but anyone hit by this un-cleared ball is still safe, however should the illegal thrower’s ball be caught and the catcher’s team already is in need of a player, they will get to add that player to the court.

7. The “Attack Line” is usually about 4 feet back from the center line and will be identified by 'pylons'  on each side and an identifiable line through the court.

8. At the beginning of a game, if neither team throws right away, the team who won the previous game is required to throw first. After the game is in progress the team with the most balls on their side (on or off court) will be required to throw first. If no ball from that team has been thrown or rolled past the attack line by the time the officials 5 second count has been reached the whistle will be blown to stop play. At this point, all balls from that team will be turned over to their opponents and play will resume. One thrown ball will stop the count towards that team, however if that team still has more balls the official will again put that team on the clock should they not be active in throwing a ball. If the teams have the same number of balls on each side, the team who has more players will be responsible to throw first. If both teams have the same amount of balls and players, the team that threw last will not be be required to throw.

Game Rules – Game play

1. Players cannot cross the centerline or sidelines. Players will be called out if part of their body touches or crosses the center/sideline(s), this is known as a 'hardline'. If a player jumps across the line they will be called out immediately and can be removed from the game (no suicide plays allowed!).

2. The only exception to this is at the start of a game where the centerline is deemed to be 'soft'. This means during the initial rush a player’s body may cross the centerline as long as one part of the body is on respective team side and no clear advantage is gained. After the opening rush the line will be a 'hardline' again for the remainder of that game.

3. If a ball is sitting outside the lines and there is no non-active player on the side to retrieve the ball, a player must raise their hand and leave through the back line of the court to retrieve a ball then promptly return. Player will be live and if contact is made from a live ball, the player will be out.

4. To eliminate an opponent with the ball, a player must throw the ball and hit an opposing player, clothing, accessories and hair included. Honesty is good sportsmanship and makes the games more enjoyable for everyone.

5. When a player is eliminated, they can pass any balls held to a teammate or leave on the court but must leave the playing area immediately. While leaving the court after being eliminated, the player is required to raise their hand thus the opposing team can identify you as an “out player”. The hit player needs to leave the playing court at the quickest exit point and cannot purposely act as a shield for their teammate(s).

6. Players on the side lines can pass or roll balls to their players in a game but cannot touch any balls that are in the playing area, they cannot step in play nor on the other half of their opponents out of boundaries half of the court.

7. Any ball thrown by a player already called out will be considered a dead ball. No one hit by these balls will be out until an active player is the one who throws it. Any ball that hits a dead player is a dead ball immediately; no ricocheted outs can be made off of a player after they called out due to another ball. If a player releases a ball prior to being hit, that ball is still live even if the thrower was hit immediately after releasing it.

8. If a player is struck with a ball for a clean out, the struck player must raise their hand at once to indicate that they have been eliminated from that game. However, if a player is struck but the ball is caught either by themselves or by a teammate before it touches the ground, wall, ceiling or goes out of bounds the player is safe and the one who threw the ball will be called out. In other words, the ball is not dead until it hits the ground, floor, ceiling or goes out of play. If they leave the court and later find out the ball that hit them was caught, they will not be permitted to re-enter play. It is the player’s responsibility to make sure the ball is dead before they exit the playing surface.

9. If a player catches an opponent’s throw, the player who threw the ball will be called out, and a team member on the catcher’s side will be allowed back into the game, but must enter through the back of the court. If they come through the side, they will be called out. If there are already six players still on the floor, the thrower will still be out, but no new player will be allowed back in. The returning player must enter the court in a timely manner or they can be refused entry by a game official. Entry occurs as soon as a player crosses the back line towards the in play portion of the court.

10. If you are hit by a ball and remove yourself from the court, but it is determined that either the throw or the thrower was illegal (ex: Ball was held longer than the 5 second count) the player may return but must enter through the back of the court. 

11. The back boundary line of each court is a soft line and players will be reminded/warned by the official, to play within the back boundary, however if a player camps out behind the back line or is continuously being warned to stay within the boundaries, the player can be called out for that game for unsportsmanlike behavior if this continues.

12. During any stoppage of a game including time outs, all players from each team must line up behind the back line of their side of the court until the official(s) announce that play has resumed.

13. Though the back line is soft for movement purposes, in order for a catch to be legal at the back of the court both feet of the person catching the ball must be in the playing area. If a catch is made without both feet  “IN” bounds at the back of the court then the catch will not count and the player attempting to catch will be called out. Both feet must be inside the back line or in play and, no body part touching outside of the back line.

14. A player can only be called out by direct hits or violation of boundaries. It is the officials discretion during a close call and/or “trapped ball”. Trapped balls do not count as a catch or a hit. A trapped ball is when a player is hit and/or catches a ball essentially at the same the ball makes contact with the floor. All referee decisions are final! Please remember: Honesty is good sportsmanship and makes the games more enjoyable for everyone. If in doubt, call yourself out.

15. Rebounds off of the walls and/or court netting and/or any other dividers are considered dead balls and do not count towards getting a player out if hit. At the same time if a ball strikes a player and then the ball hits a wall or the separating divider, his team cannot save the hit player nor can the thrower be caught out. If a ball is thrown across half and then returns back to the original half it came from it is deemed a dead ball once it crosses that center line. So a thrown ball that hits a player on the opposite side and then bounces off of them or a ball and then comes back across center without touching the ground could not be caught as a “caught ball” or count as a ball to hit a player for a kill shot.

16. No player can catch anyone on his/her own team out; nor will they be called out if they drop a pass from his or her own teammate.

17. Players may hold as many balls as they please. They can also make a fair catch while holding another ball. If a player blocks a ball and bump it up in the air, then decides to drop one of the balls they are holding to make the catch they can do so with the catch counting and the dropped ball not counting as a “dropped ball” due to contact from the initial ball they blocked as the player had 'ball control' for the initial block. Dropping of a ball for this purpose must be deemed deliberate. If the initial ball held for the block is knocked out of the players hand, the player is eliminated.

18. A player may block an oncoming ball with another ball. If a thrown ball is deflected upward and is caught by a teammate, the thrower of the ball will be called out. If a player deflects a ball with another, but drops their ball in trying to deflect the on-coming ball unintentionally, the player who dropped their ball will be called out (even if the deflected ball is eventually caught). If a thrown ball is deflected off the blocking ball but then it hits the blocker, the player is called out (ball is live until it hits the ground, wall, etc.).

19. If a player catches a ball (has full control) and then goes out of bounds the catch will count and a player on that team may return to the floor, the person who threw the ball will be out and the person who caught the ball will also be out. The player catching the ball in this scenario must have both feet in bounds and control of the ball for the catch to count.

20. Players are allowed to reach across the centerline/sidelines to pick up balls on the opposing side. They will however be eliminated if any part of their body touches the opposing side of the court. This does not apply for the center line for the opening rush of a game (please refer to rule 1).

21. If a ball hits more than one player on any throws, all players hit on that throw will be called out. Therefore the ball remains live until it hits the ground (except for the scenario in rule 27), wall or goes out of bounds.

22. If balls ricocheted mid-air they will remain live until they go out of bounds or hit the ground/ceiling.

23. Balls are always to be thrown, not kicked. Any kicked ball in aggression/frustration will result in the player being called out from the match and if behavior continues, may be removed from games till further notice, at the referee and commissioner’s discretion. (Exception 1: The reasonable use of all limbs is acceptable to deflect balls upward in an attempt to make a catch. Exception 2: A player may lightly kick a ball over the center line to beat out a count-down.)

24. A legal throw involves the player having full control of the ball before throwing. A ball swatted from the air/ground will not count as a throw.

25. Squeezing, pinching or 'popcorning' the ball while throwing is not allowed (over time it ruins the balls – which are expensive!). If the referee feels a player is squeezing, pinching or 'popcorning' a ball, the player will get a warning. A 2nd warning will result in removal from the match, a 3rd will result in removal from games till further notice, at the referee and commissioner’s discretion. If a player is hit by a ball that was thrown by squeezing, pinching or 'popcorning' the ball, it is at the discretion of the referee as to whether or not the player that was hit is out.

26. Honesty is essential in dodgeball. If a player is hit, it is the player’s responsibility to call themselves out, whether the referee sees it or not. That being said, the referee has the final say in any hit/no hit question. If a team feels that one or more players are not playing honestly during the match, the team lead can point this out to the referee and the opposing team’s team lead in between games. This must be done in a polite manner or the official can eject the complaining player from the match for unsportsmanlike behavior.

27. Unsportsmanlike conduct will result in a removal from the match, as judged by the referee(s).

28. If the last player on each team is eliminated on the same play, the game continues, one vs. one with no one being called out.

29. In a one-on-one situation, there will no blocking allowed. If a player blocks a throw from the opposing team during the one on one, the player who blocks will be out and the game will end.

30. If there is a dispute about a call during a match, it is at the official(s) ruling that is final and discussion with both team leads will be conducted at the end of the match. Just because a team or player(s) are upset about a certain situation or call, this does not mean a mid game stoppage to discuss. This will be done at the end of the match between both team leads and the official. All other players are required to stand at the back of the court.

31. Any player yelling at the other team can be ejected from the match at the referee’s discretion.

32. League Executives have the right to amend any rule, as they feel necessary. They must provide a valid reason for the rule amendment, and their decision will be expected to be followed and respected. The individual making the call will be expected to have that rule implemented immediately, publicly announced, and added to the written official rule list as soon as possible. Any of these rules implemented can be brought up for review between the teams, officials and executives.

 

Game Rules - Violence

1. There is zero tolerance for threats, violence, abusive language or behavior.

2. Any player crossing half-court as a result of any dispute may be ejected indefinitely.

3. Any player leaving the bench as a result of a dispute may be ejected indefinitely.

4. No aggressive nature towards any player, official, Tri-City Dodgeball staff member or fan(s) will be tolerated at any time and will result in removal from the game, session and/or ejection from the league.

 

Game Rules - Penalties

1. Honesty Penalty: As noted, honesty is essential in dodgeball. If a player is hit, it is the player's responsibility to call themselves out, whether the referee sees it or not. A player is expected to leave the game upon an obvious and/or direct hit/catch on their own honesty and volition. If a player does not leave the playing area in a timely fashion after being out, the player can be ejected from the remainder of the match.

2. Suicide play: A suicide is NEVER allowed. This entails jumping from your side into the air, throwing the ball in mid-air and landing on the other team’s half. This will result in an immediate out of the player who attempted the suicide play and will not be allowed to continue in the match. If the player has a second offence of a suicide play, the player will not be allowed back for the season.

 

Player Playoff Eligibility

A player must be the following to be eligible for playoffs:

• A registered player on the team with the league

• Played at least 2 evenings of regular season games for the team.​