DODGEBALL COED LEAGUE RULE

Team Requirements

·         Games are played with 6 players per team. Teams need a minimum of 4 players to avoid default. Any team with less than 6 players or only 1 female must play short-handed. There can only be a maximum of 4 males on the court at a time.

·         The 6 players that start each game are the only players that can play during that particular game. Substitute players must wait until the next game before playing.

·         Substitutions are allowed for injured players during each game.

·         4 dodgeballs will be used for each game.

·         Matches are 50min in length

·         There will be a 1 minute rest period after each game and there are no time-outs during the match.

·         Teams will stich sides at half time.

Boundaries

·         Players are confined to within the Basketball half-court (contains centerline, sidelines and back wall area). Red basketball court is the boundary all the way around. During play, all players must remain within the boundary lines. Players may leave the boundaries on their side of the playing area ONLY to retrieve a ball. If a player goes out of bounds to avoid getting out, they will be called out.

The Game

·         The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them “OUT”. This may be done by:

1.       Hitting an opposing player BELOW THE SHOULDERS with a LIVE ball (before it hits the ground)

2.       Catching a LIVE ball thrown by your opponent before it touches the ground. If a ball hits another ball, which a player has in their possession, it does not make either player out.

3.       If the ball is dropped as a result of contact from the thrown ball then the player who drops the ball is out.

4.       Crossing over any boundary lines. A player cannot touch any part of their opponent’s side of the court. Players may reach over the centerline to grab a ball, but will be called out if any part of their body touches the court on the opponent’s side of the centerline.

Definition: Live: A ball that has been thrown and has not touched the floor/ground, the ceiling, the official or other item outside of the playing field (i.e. basketball rim).

A ball that touches another ball or player is STILL LIVE i.e. Deflections off of a teammate do count and both players will be out.

If the deflected ball is caught by any in-bound player prior to the ball becoming dead, the thrower is out and the catching team can return a player.

The Opening Rush

·         Game begins by placing the dodgeball along the centerline – 2 on one side of the centre has and 2 on the other. Players then take a position behind their end line. Following the “Dodgeball” shout by the official, teams may approach the centerline to retrieve the balls. This signal officially starts the contest. All 4 balls start on the centreline. Once a ball is retrieved it must be taken behind the double badminton line before it can be legally thrown.

Game Rules

·         If a LIVE ball is caught, the thrower is OUT and the catching team can return a previously eliminated player to the court. The order of the returning players will be based on the order each player was originally eliminated.

·         Players can only be in possession of one ball at any time.

·         Players are not allowed to stall and must attempt to play a ball within 5 seconds.

·         If a player ducks or is on the ground and then hit on the head, then the player hit will be called out.

·         Once a player is eliminated, they must immediately leave the court. Players who have been called out cannot retrieve stray balls for their teammates.

·         Rules will be enforced by the “honor system”. Players will be expected to rule whether or not a hit was legal or whether they were legally eliminated. All contests will be supervised by a court monitor. The court monitor’s responsibility will be to rule on any situation in which teams cannot agree. THE COURT MONITOR’S DECISION IS FINAL – NO EXCEPTIONS.

·         Players are responsible for their actions. Do not taunt or bait opponents and refrain from using foul and abusive language. VIOLATIONS WILL RESULT IN YOUR AUTOMATIC REMOVAL FROM THE GAME AND POSSIBLEE REMOVAL FROM THE LEAGUE (in accordance with City of Mississauga Violence and Vandalism Policy).

·         Removal of a player or team from a game is done at the discretion of the referee.

Match Format

·         The match will be played in three game rotations:

1.       Game one will be a normal Dodgeball game (4 balls).

2.       Game two will be a normal Dodgeball game (5 balls).

3.       Game three will consist of the Dead-Man walking rule. Each team will choose one player to be the dead-man walking. If that player is hit anytime during the game, then that team will lose the game.

After the Dead-man walking game, the three game rotation will begin again.

Scoring

·         Matches will consist of as many games that can be played in the 45 minute time period. Each game won will count as one point.

·         No match will begin in the last 5 minutes of court time. If a game is still active when time expires it is played until finish.

·         Ties during regular season and playoffs will be decided by 3 minute sudden death overtime. The team to eliminate one opponent first will be the winner.