WESTERN SPORTS MALL

Dodge Ball Rules

Intent and Purpose of the Rules - The purpose of the rules is to create a balance of play; provide reasonable safety and protection; and create an atmosphere of sportsmanship and fair play without unduly limiting freedom of action of individual or team play.

Advantage / Disadvantage - It is important to know the intent and purpose of a rule. A team/player should not be given an advantage, not intended by a rule. Conversely, a team/player should not be placed at a disadvantage not intended by a rule.

The Game - Dodge ball 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 and the Western Sports Mall Staff/Officials.

Rule 1 Players,  Field, & Equipment

Section 1: Team

A)    Teams will be made up of 6-10 players. A minimum of 6 players will compete on a side; others will be available as substitutes.

B)     Coed teams must start all games with no more male players than female players: 3 male & 3 female, 2 male & 4 female, etc.

C)    Substitutes may enter the game only during time-outs, or in the case of injury. Coed may not substitute male for female. In case of injury, the substitute entering the game can not have been a player that started that game and has been ruled out.

      Section 2:  Boundaries

A)    During play, all players must remain within boundary lines.

B)     Players may pass through their end-line only to retrieve stray balls. A stray ball is one that has not been picked up and is lying on the ground. When retrieving a ball, the player must also immediately re-enter the playing field only through their end-line. Note: A player not immediately re-entering the playing area may be declared OUT. If not ruled out, penalty: Technical Violation.

C)    A player may receive a ball provided the player receiving the ball remains completely within their team's field boundaries, and in the back 1/3 of their half. Players may not be handed a ball while standing out of bounds. Each team may only gather balls from their extended half to put them back in play. Penalty: Technical Violation.

D)    A player shall not:

a) Have any part of their body contact the playing surface on or over a side-line. Penalty: OUT

b. Exit or re-enter the field through the side-line. Penalty: Technical Violation.

c. Leave the playing field (side-line or end-line) to avoid being hit by, or attempt to catch a ball.

            d. Have any part of their body cross over the center-line and contact the ground on their                          opponents' side of the court. Note: During the "opening rush" these rules can be broken as long as no definite advantage is gained by the action.

            e) Reach out of bounds to pick up a ball. Penalty: OUT if advantage gained, if not, technical               violation.

Rule 2: Game Play

Section 1: The Game

A)    Matches will begin with a coin flip.

B)     The team winning the coin flip will have choice of sides to begin the match. Teams will alternate sides following each game.

C)    A match shall consist of as many games as can be played in 45 minutes, with each game to last no longer than 8 minutes. The teams that wins the most games within the 45 minute match shall be declared the winner. No games shall be started if the match clock shows less than 5 minutes in the match.

D)    A warm up time of 5 minutes is permitted provided matches are on schedule. The first game of the match shall be deemed a warm-up game, shall not count towards the standings, and last no more than 5 minutes. The 45 minute match clock starts at the beginning of the warm-up game.

E)      The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them OUT. An OUT is scored by:

a.       Hitting an opposing player with a LIVE thrown ball.

b.      Catching a LIVE ball thrown by your opponent. If the ball is caught by another player or hits any netting or boards, the initial player hit is out.

c.       Causing an opponent to drop a held ball as a result of contact by a thrown LIVE ball. (Usually occurs when a ball is being used to block a thrown ball.)

d.      Stepping on/over the centerline while throwing a ball (see Rush Rule)

e.       An opposing player stepping out of bounds or over the center line to avoid getting hit.

f.        A thrown ball that strikes, or is caught by, an opposing player without/before contacting the ground, another player, or ball.

g.       A player may block a thrown ball with a ball being held, provided the held ball is not dropped as a result of the contact or deflects off the ball and hits that player (that player who tried to block and was hit by deflection is out; if a blocked ball hits another player, that player is not out, or if that ball is caught by another player, the thrower is not out.

     F) Players may not kick or use their feet in any way. Penalty: technical Violation

Section 2: Time-Outs, & Substitutions 

A)    Each team will be allowed one (1) 60-second time-out per match. The 45 minute match clock does not stop during team time outs.

B)     Only the official starts and stops the clock.

C)    All players are in jeopardy until the official recognizes AND signals the beginning of a time-out or end of regulation time. Exception: All live balls in flight at time of an official's signal or clock buzzer remain LIVE, and may eliminate an opponent, until they become dead.

D)    During time-outs, teams may substitute players. Substitutes are any players who did not start or have been declared OUT.

Section 3: Beginning The Game 

A)    Prior to the beginning of the game, an equal number of dodge balls are placed along the centerline. A standard game consists of 6 ba11s, 3 on each side of the center-line. Players then take a position behind their end-line.

B)     Following a signal by the official, teams may approach the center-line and retrieve the balls. Teams may only retrieve balls to the right side of the center-line. After your set of balls have been retrieved from the center­line and brought back to the attack line, any remaining ball at center line may be retrieved.

C)    Opening Rush Rule!  Each/every ball retrieved at the opening rush must first be taken back to

            the attack line and into the team's backcourt before it may be legally thrown at an opponent.

Section 4: Declaring a Winner

A)    The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be deemed the winner.

B)     If neither team has been eliminated at the end of regulation; the game shall be deemed a draw regardless of how many players each team has playing.

C)    In all overtime periods, the first team to legally eliminate any one opponent will be declared the winner.

D)    If the game comes down to 2 players (one per team), that game has 2 minutes to be completed; if not, the game shall be deemed a draw.

Section 5: Stalling & 5-Second Violation:

The following procedure will be used to prevent "stalling."

A)    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. It is illegal for the leading team to control all the balls for more than (5) seconds. If the leading team controls all the balls - i.e. all balls are located on their side of the center-line - they must make a legitimate effort to get at least one ball across the attack line and into the opponent's backcourt. This does not include throwing a ball over and through an opponent's end­ line, or at an opponent.

B)     Penalty for 5 second violation(s):

a)      First violation: Stoppage of play and balls will be divided evenly between the teams. Play will continue with "balls in hand".

b)      Second violation: FREE THROW for the opposing team - a penalty in which one player is allowed an obstructed throw at their opponent(s) without the risk of elimination. This is possible because a caught "free throw" does not result in an "out" for the thrower.

c)      Third violation: Ejection of one player from the offending team.

COURT MONITORS AND THEIR DUTIES

A)    Rules will be primarily enforced by the "honor system". Players will be expected to rule whether or not a hit was legal or whether they were legally eliminated.

B)     The court monitors responsibility will be to rule on any situation in which teams do not agree. A team may appeal to the court monitor if they feel a player has violated any rule. The court monitors decision is final. Court monitors may call technical fouls (“T”) and technical violations (“V”) (or rule infractions). Technical fouls are for those who display unsportsmanlike conduct. Any player receiving two (2) technical fouls in a match will be ejected and suspended a minimum of one match. Severe infractions or multiple technical fouls may result in suspensions from more then one match.

C)     Technical fouls and Unsportsmanlike Conduct!  Unsportmanlike conduct violations are subject to technical fouls. Unsportsmanlike conduct may include, but is not limited to:

            1)  Foul language

            2) Unnecessary roughness

            3) Arguing with officials

           4) Abuse of the honor system

      D) Technical Violations: Any team that incurs 2 technical violations in a game will have a player                   

            Of their choice ruled out for the duration of that game. All third and subsequent technical

            violations at any point in the match, will result in a player ruled out.

      D) The court monitor shall be paid $8 by each team prior to the start of each match.

SCORING AND TIE-BREAKERS 

A)    In the event a match ends in a tie, the team with the highest +/- for the match will be declared the winner. A +\- score will be assigned to each game based on the number of team members left standing at the end of each game. Thus, no match will end in a draw. 

Example: If team A eliminates team B and still has 3 players left standing they will receive a  +3 and team B receives a  -3. 

B)     Session Tie-breaker Situation: In the case of teams finishing the session with identical    

      records, the following tie-breaker procedure will be used:

1)      Games win /loss record between tied teams (head to head).

2)      Total +/- rating between tied tea-ms.

3)       Total +/- rating for the session.

CODE OF CONDUCT

A) Understand, appreciate and abide by the rules of the game and the honor system.

B) Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials.

C) Respect your opponent and congratulate them in a courteous manner following each match, whether in victory or defeat.

D) Be responsible for your actions and maintain self control.

E) Do not taunt opponents.

F) Refrain from using foul and abusive language.

CLARIFICTIONS:

1)      A player who blocks a ball thrown by an opponent and attempts to catch the thrown ball, must maintain passion of the ball that they used for blocking. If so, and the catch is made, the player throwing the ball is out. If the ball is dropped intentionally in an effort to make the catch, no one is out. (If the thrown ball forces the ball to be dropped, the player hit is out per prior).

2)      5 second rule: My bad on this one, it says in the rules the ball must go to the opponents backcourt, not just over the line, but not thrown at the opponent either, simply rolled into the backcourt.