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Dodgeball
Dodgeball is a game played by two teams. The goal of the game is to eliminate the other team by hitting them with balls. While you are throwing balls at the other team you are avoiding balls that are being thrown at you. When a ball is thrown at you, you can catch it which allows for an eliminated player to come back into the game.
Table of Contents
History
The game of dodgeball originated as an African war game in which the teams threw rocks at one another instead of the rubber balls used today. The goal of the game then was to injure the other team. Dr. James Carlisle was a missionary worker in Africa during the 1800s. While Dr. Carlisle was there, he learned about the game of dodgeball and decided to bring the game back to England with him. While teaching at St. Mary's College in Norfolk, Dr. Carlisle created a safer version of the game which utilized rubber balls.
In 1984, visiting students and professors from Yale University learned about the game of dodgeball from Dr. Carlisle. Phillip Fergusion brought the game to the United States, but changed the game a little bit. Ferguson drew up the official rules for dodgeball in 1905 which included moving the game inside and establishing that if a player gets hit once they are eliminated, but if a player catches a ball a player that is out is allowed to return to the game.
Playing Surface
A standard dodgeball court is fairly simple by design. The game is played mostly on indoor courts like basketball courts or gym flooring. The court consists of a sideline (boundary that cannot be crossed by eliminated players), midline (separates each team's side of the court), dead zone (area where players can retrieve balls without being eliminated) and walls on either end to confine the space. The court dimensions typically line up with the dimension of a basketball court. The dimensions of the court allow for the game to be played fairly and each team to have a relatively even chance of winning.
Equipment
Dodgeball does not require a lot of equipment. The main piece of equipment is the dodgeball. Listed below are some pieces of equipment that would be beneficial in a game of dodgeball.
- Dodgeball: A rubberish ball used to try and hit the opposing team. Each game has a minimum of 5 dodgeballs.
- Shoes: Athletic footwear that helps players gain traction on the court.
- Athletic Wear: Fitness shirts and shorts that allow for a player to be nimble and agile on the court.
- Gymnasium: Area where the game of dodgeball takes place.
Gameplay
The start of a dodgeball game begins with teams being divided up evenly onto different sides of the court. Once this is done, the balls are placed on the centerline. The number of balls depends on how many people are playing the game. There should be about 2/3 as many balls as players, so if you have 6 players there should be 4 balls. When the balls are lined up each team goes to the baseline of their end and waits for the ref to yell out "3-2-1 Dodgeball" signifying the start of the game. Each team runs to the center of the court to try and retrieve balls for their team. The game continues until one team eliminates all the players on the other team. A player is eliminated when they are hit by a ball thrown by the opposing team or a ball they threw is caught.
Position Roles and Responsibilities
In the modern game of dodgeball there are four main positions. Those positions are catchers, corners, snipers and throwers.
- Catcher: A catcher is someone whose job is to try and catch balls thrown by the other team. This person tends to have good hands and good hand-eye coordination.
- Corners: Corners are a defensive, sacrificial player. They are used as dodgeball pawns to help guard the valuable players behind them. Each team has two corners that generally play near the outside edges of the court.
- Snipers: A sniper is the person tasked with eliminating players on the other team. A sniper needs to have good timing and precision to hit the target player. Snipers tend to stay toward the back and try to hide the fact that they have a ball. They also tend to shoot around players to avoid being vulnerable to being hit.
- Throwers: A thrower is a general player that handles the ball the most. A strong arm is needed to play this position as they play closer to the centerline waiting to counterattack.
Rules and Regulations
The game of dodgeball does not have a lot of rules and regulations to it. Dodgeball is played as either a timed game or a series game. If dodgeball is being played as a timed game then each team tries to win as many games as possible during the two 20-minute halves. If they are doing a series game then each team tries to win 4 games out of the 7 played. Some rules and regulations are listed below:
| RULE | MEANING |
|---|---|
| Catch | When a person catches a ball thrown by the other team. Team that caught the ball is rewarded with bringing a player back into the game. |
| Fault | Any action other than being hit with a ball that results in the player being eliminated from the game. This includes stepping over the attacking line or stepping out of bounds. |
| High Throw | A ball thrown above the neck area toward an opposing player. |
| Hit | When a player is hit with a ball thrown by the other team. If a player is hit they are eliminated from the game. |
| Suicide | The act of jumping over the attack line with the hope of sacrificing yourself to be hit by the opposing team. |
Referees and Officials
A dodgeball game requires each team to provide two referees to ref the game with a total of four referees being at the game. The referees are positioned on either side of the attack line as only two refs are used during a game. The referee is in charge of:
- Announcing the opening rush (3-2-1 Dodgeball)
- Calling players out when the have been hit
- Initiating the 10-second countdown
- Ensuring players do not cross out of bounds or step over the attack line
- Making sure eliminated players are in the correct order to come back into the game
- Pausing the game to settle altercations
Lingo and Terminology
Listed below are some lines and terminology commonly used in dodgeball.
| LINGO | MEANING |
|---|---|
| Attack Line | The furthest point either team can attack from. |
| Ball Control | Keeping the majority of the balls on your side of the court to systemically attack. |
| Catch | When a person catches a ball thrown by the other team. Team that caught the ball is rewarded with bringing a player back into the game. |
| Center Line | The middle of the court where neither team can cross. |
| Deflection | When the ball ricochets off a ball or opposing player. Offensively, deflections can be used to get multiple people out on one throw. Defensively, deflections are used to deflect the ball up for another player to be able to catch it. |
| Fault | Any action other than being hit with a ball that results in the player being eliminated from the game. This includes stepping over the attacking line or stepping out of bounds. |
| Headshot | A thrown ball that hits a player above the neck area. The player hit is not eliminated and the player that threw the ball is warned for making high throws. |
| High Throw | A ball thrown above the neck area toward an opposing player. |
| Hit | When a player is hit with a ball thrown by the other team. If a player is hit they are eliminated from the game. |
| Opening Run | The initial start to the game where players run to get the balls lined up at the attack line. |
| Pump Faking | An act of attempting to throw a ball, but not with the hopes of fooling the other team into believing a ball is coming their direction. |
| Suicide | The act of jumping over the attack line with the hope of sacrificing yourself to be hit by the opposing team. |
| 10-Second Count | An edict placed by a referee to the team holding a majority of the balls. They have 10-seconds to throw however many balls they hold more than the opposition. |
| 3-2-1 Dodgeball | The opening line of the game used by a referee to start the game. |
Skills and Techniques
In dodgeball there are three main skills. Each player should be good at throwing, catching and dodging a ball. Players typically get the throwing power from a baseball throwing motion. Over time players can work on their arm speed to throw a ball harder. The second skill is catching which requires good hand eye coordination. Players work on this through catching drills like football wide receivers do. The final skill is dodging and that can be worked on through agility drills. These are the skills you need to play dodgeball.
Coaches
Listed below are some well known Dodgeball coaches.
| COACH | PLAYERS |
|---|---|
| Lu Cas Boyle | Justin Payan, Nate Kreiter & Andrew Ketchum |
| Brett Furlong | Justin Payan, Nate Kreiter & Andrew Ketchum |
| Victor Gravili | Jason Mergler, Cameron Ranchan & Jeff Snow |
| Garven McEvoy | Tamas Heitzmann & Ryan Hollinger |
Coaching
A coach in dodgeball is tasked with aligning his team up for both offensive and defensive sets. The coach also helps prepare the team for tournaments and games by doing drills that practice throwing and catching. The coach picks where players play on the court based on their skill sets.
Strategy
There are a few different strategies that can be implemented into the game of dodgeball. Those strategies are throwing, catching and dodging. If your team is using a throwing strategy you are mainly focused on trying to eliminate the other team by hitting them. Within this strategy you need to focus on throwing together as a team, aiming at a single target and spreading out.
Different from throwing, your team might decide to implement a caching strategy. The catching strategy focuses on your team playing more defensive and trying to get the other team to throw into a mistake. During this strategy it is important to not reach for a catch while also deflecting balls up so teammates can have an opportunity to catch the ball.
The final strategy is dodging which revolves around not throwing a ball or being hit by one. By doing this players have to spread out and watch the entire court. A main focus here is being agile because you will have to jump and dodge different balls that come your way.
Drills
Below are some drills you can do to improve your throwing, catching, and dodging skills.
| SKILL | DRILL |
|---|---|
| Throwing | A drill to work on throwing includes setting up targets on one side of the court. Players stand on the opposite side of the court and attempt to throw the balls at the targets. The goal is to try and hit every target. The drill can be improved by doing this while also moving. |
| Catching | A drill to work on catching skills includes using a catching machine. Players will learn hand-eye coordination which will allow them to catch balls during a game. |
| Dodging | A drill to improve on your dodging skills requires good agility. Players should train using a ladder which will work on players agility and movement which will help the player avoid being hit by a ball. |
Players and Athletes
A dodgeball player or athlete is a person who is on the court throwing and catching the balls. This athlete has to be skilled at many different things, but the main skills are throwing, catching and agility as you will utilize those in competing against other teams.
Listed below are some of the best dodgeball players in the world.
| Dodgeball PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|
| Justin Payan | Team Doom |
| Nate Krieter | Team Doom |
| Tim Fullerton | Team Rise |
| Andrew Ketchum | Team Titan |
Leagues
Listed below are a few dodgeball leagues.
| LEAGUE | LOCATION | Level |
|---|---|---|
| National Dodgeball League (NDL) | USA/Canada | Professional |
| National Dodgeball League Amateur Association | USA/Canada | Amateur |
| Youth Dodgeball League | USA | Youth |
| World Dodgeball Federation | Global | Professional |
| Premier League | United Kingdom | Professional |
Brands
Listed below are some brands associated with the game of dodgeball.
| WEBSITE | CATEGORY |
|---|---|
| http://thendl.com/ | Professional Dodgeball League |
| http://www.nationaldodgeball.org/ndo/ | National Dodgeball Organization |
| https://worlddodgeballfederation.com/ | World Dodgeball Federation |
Youth Organizations
Listed below are some youth dodgeball leagues.
| WEBSITE | CATEGORY |
|---|---|
| National Dodgeball League Amateur Association | Amateur Dodgeball League |
| National Dodgeball Organization | Youth |
Tournaments
Listed below are two professional dodgeball tournaments.
| TOURNAMENT | LEVEL |
|---|---|
| Dodgeball World Championship | Professional |
| World Championship | Professional |
| Ultimate Dodgeball Championships | Professional |
Books About Dodgeball
Below are some of the best books to read if you are interested in dodgeball.
| BOOK | AUTHOR |
|---|---|
| The Complete Book About Dodgeball | Andy Keyes |
| Beginning Sports: Dodgeball | Kara L. Laughlin |
| This Ain't Your Daddy's Dodgeball | Greta McClain |
| Dodgeball: True Underdog Story (Movie) | Rawson Marshall Thurber |
Websites
Listed below are the main websites for the game of dodgeball.
| WEBSITE | CATEGORY |
|---|---|
| http://thendl.com/ | Professional Dodgeball League |
| http://www.nationaldodgeball.org/ndo/ | National Dodgeball Organization |
| https://worlddodgeballfederation.com/ | World Dodgeball Federation |
| https://usadodgeball.com/teamusa/ | USA Dodgeball |
FAQ
What is dodgeball?
Dodgeball is a competition between two teams consisting of 3-6 players each. One of the fastest growing sports in the United States and the United Kingdom, dodgeball is simple to learn and requires only a playing surface and several foam balls. In addition to being a fast-paced game that is fun for all ages, dodgeball can be enjoyed by players with mixed abilities. It's easy for everyone to get involved in playing dodgeball whether you are a beginner or expert.
What are the 5 rules of dodgeball?
- If you are struck by a ball thrown by the other team you are eliminated.
- If you catch a ball thrown by the other team then the player that through the bar is eliminated.
- If a player causes a fault such as stepping out of bounds or over the center line they are eliminated.
- If a player is hit in the neck or head area they are not eliminated.
- The game begins with the referee yelling "3-2-1 Dodgeball".
How do you play dodgeball?
A dodgeball game begins with teams being divided up evenly. Once the teams are set, each team will go to different sides of the court while the balls are positioned along the centerline. The amount of balls needed for the game will depend on how many people are playing. Once the balls are lined up the ref who is standing at the center line will yell out, "3-2-1 dodgeball" which allows players to rush toward the center line to gain the balls. Each team tries to throw balls at the other teams eliminating them. If you are hit by a ball you have been eliminated and should go stand next to the ref on their side of the court. If the other team throws a ball and the opposing team catches it the person that threw the ball is eliminated while a person on the catching team can come back into the game. This is how you play the game of dodgeball.
The start of a dodgeball game begins with teams being divided up evenly onto different sides of the court. Once this is done the balls are placed on the center line. The number of balls depends on how many people are playing the game. There should be about 2/3 as many balls as players. When the balls are lined up each team goes to the baseline of their end and waits for the ref to yell out "3-2-1 Dodgeball" signifying the start of the game. Each team runs to the center of the court to try and retrieve balls for their team. The game continues until one team eliminates all the players on the other team. A player is eliminated when he or she is hit by a ball thrown by the opposing team or a ball he or she threw has been caught.
Is dodgeball a real sport?
Yes, dodgeball is in fact a real sport. This is because there are two teams trying to compete against each other with the goal of winning.