Dodgeball Rules

Game Length

  • Games are 55 minutes in length, teams should switch half way through.

  • Games start and end according to your online CSSC schedule.

  • If games start late, games must finish at the scheduled time

Players on Court and Defaults

  • Teams are comprised of 6 players on the court.

  • Teams must play with a minimum of 2 males and 2 females on the court at all times.

  • A team can play with a minimum of 4 people, as long as the gender requirements are met.

  • Captains may agree to waive the rules regarding minimum players and gender ratio before the game starts.

  • The 6 players that start each game are the ONLY players that can play during that particular game (i.e. for that point). Substitute players must wait until the next game before playing. Teams can alter their roster for each game, as long as the gender requirements are met. Exception: Injured players can be substituted midway during a game if necessary (male for male, female for female only)

Game Set-Up

  • 6 dodgeballs will be used for each game.

  • To start the game, each team stands at their respective back wall with 3 dodgeballs each. The timekeeper (or a substitute player) will start the match by shouting, “Ready, Set, Dodgeball”.

  • Once play has started, players must remain on their own side of half.

General Game Rule

  • Players cannot lean over the centre line to retrieve a ball, and cannot cross the middle line. If any part of a player crosses the line or touches the other half, that person is out. As well, if a ball is thrown by a player who is eliminated in this manner, the ball is considered dead and cannot eliminate an opponent. Players can also not jump from their own side of half and land on their opponent’s side in the attempt of getting an opponent out. Only the thrower is out in this scenario.

  • Players cannot remain static in areas that conceal or partially conceal their body. e.g. door entrance ways, climbers, etc.

  • Players cannot hide behind eliminated teammates who are lined up at the middle line.

  • A ball is considered “dead” as soon as it hits the floor, walls, ceiling or any other obstacles around the court (e.g. basketball hoops, etc). If two balls collide in mid-air, they are both dead.

  • Captains should decide at the beginning of the game if headshots count or not. If headshots do not count, a ball that hits a player in the head is immediately a dead ball, and if it pops up it cannot be caught as a proper ‘catch’.

  • A player is not eliminated after being hit by a dead ball. All other balls are considered “live”.

  • Eliminated/Substitute players should stand against the side wall or stage at the middle line, and should do their best to not interfere with play. In the event that a ball in play bumps into an eliminated player, please roll the ball such that it continues in the same direction at a reasonable speed.
    • If you have been tagged, it’s recommended that you raise your hand while you are exiting the floor. That way your opponents will not intentionally strike you again!
    • Players cannot kick the balls at opposing players.
    • Please do not squeeze all of the air out of the dodgeballs before throwing them. This causes the skin/cover of the dodgeballs to become loose and requires constant replacement.

Throwing the ball

  • To eliminate an opposing player, a “live” ball must hit the player.

  • Please do not intentionally hit people in the face.

  • If a “live” ball hits a player then rebounds and hits another player on the court (who unsuccessfully catches it), both players are out.

  • Clothing is considered part of your body if hit by a ball.

Catching

  • If a player catches a “live” ball that is thrown at him/her, the thrower is OUT. IN ADDITION, the team that caught the ball can return a previously eliminated player to the court. The player that returns to the game MUST be the first player who was ruled “out” during that particular game (and the order of returning players should be maintained…i.e. the third player to be eliminated will be the third player to return to the court). Reminder: substitute players must wait until the next game.

  • A live ball that rebounds off of a player (ie. from an unsuccessful catch, hits off their body, is deflected by another ball, etc) may be caught by any other in-bounds player prior to the ball becoming dead (hitting ground or wall). As usual, the thrower is OUT, and the catching team can returns a player. Also the player the ball hit first, is NOT out.

Returning Players

  • All players re-entering the game, whether by a catch or the ‘60 seconds’, must run down the side line then touch the back wall to be considered an ‘active’ player.

  • Returning players should touch the back wall in a timely manner.

  • When opposing players are entering the court, please do not throw at them until they have touched the back wall and look like they are ready to play (good sportsmanship).

  • If a player intentionally interferes with a ball on the way to the back wall, that ball is forfeit to the other team. (No stopping, sweeping, picking up balls, etc. until the player is active)

  • If a player shields a teammate from a throw by the opposing team as they are re-entering the game, they will be considered out, and are no longer returning to the game.

Ball Possession

  • The team that is required to throw has roughly 10 seconds to throw a ball. Please be respectful of this so that gameplay isn’t slowed. The team that is required to throw at the start is the winning team from the previous game. If a team has more balls than the other team, they are required to throw next. If a team has an equal amount of balls, but more players, that team is required to throw next. If a team has equal players and balls, the team that did not throw last will have to throw the next ball.

  • MULTISPORT RULE ONLY: Only one ball can be held at a time by any active player

  • Catching a second ball will be considered a valid catch though the catcher must pass off one of the balls in a timely manner.

  • In the event that one of the 6 balls from your game goes over the divider to the other game, when it’s returned, please ensure that it is given back to the side from which it left the court. (good sportsmanship)

Blocking

  • A player that is holding a ball can use it to deflect/block another ball that is thrown at them by an opponent. If the player blocks a ball into himself, herself or their teammate – that player or teammate would be considered out unless the ball is successfully caught.

  • A live ball that rebounds off of a player (ie. from ay any other in-bounds player prior to the ball becoming dead (hitting ground or wall). An unsuccessful catch, hits off their body, is deflected by another ball, etc) may be caught as usual, the thrower is OUT, and the catching team can returns a player. Also the player the ball hit first, is NOT out.

Honest and Fair Play

  • It is the responsibility of all players to make a fair and honest call as to whether or not they were hit. If a player/team accuses another player of being out, it is up to the player in question to decide whether they were hit or not. Please remember sportsmanship is considered integral to the CSSC . Dishonest players are not welcome.

  • “The 60 Seconds Rule”:
    Every time that only 2 players remain on the court (1 from each team), the timekeeper should announce that the two players have “one-minute” to eliminate each other. After the one minute has expired, if the game has not yet ended, each team will return one player to the court. (again, each team must abide by their order of returning players).

Scoring/Winning

  • Matches will consist of as many games that can be played in the 55-minute time period (except playoffs which are 50 mins in case of a tie).

  • When there are fewer than 30 seconds left on the clock, no new competitive games (for points) should be started. If the score is tied, leave it as is.

  • Each game won will count for one point.

  • If a game is still being played when time expires, the team with the most live players on the court at the time will win the game.

  • Ties are allowed during the regular season. If a match is tied at the end of a playoff game, a 3-minute overtime session will break the tie. (the current game should be continued for 3 minutes).

Timing

  • A hit player is not out until the ball that hits them becomes a dead ball. There are a few scenarios which can arise that may cause some confusion as a result.

  • If player A hits player B and the ball pops up in the air, any catches or throws that player B makes before the ball dies are still valid.

  • If player A and player B throw at each other and both make successful catches, for the purpose of this league, both players will stay on the court and no new players will come on for the catches.

  • If player A and player B throw at each other at the same time, player B is hit by Player A and Player A also catches Player B’s throw, then the catch is still valid regardless of timing and Player A’s team will get a player back..

More Questions?