Northeast Regional Dodgeball Rules

 

Playing Area

1. The playing area consists of the basketball court boundaries during the first 4 minutes and the volleyball court boundaries for the last minute and any overtime play. Players must be inside these lines at all times, unless retrieving a stray ball.

2. Players that are retrieving a ball out of bounds must re-enter the court as soon as possible. A player that is out of bounds cannot be hit by a ball, catch a ball or hit anyone on the opposing team while out of bounds. Prolonged time out of bounds or multiple boundary infractions may eliminate a player at the official’s discretion.

3. A player that steps on or over the boundary line when trying to avoid being hit by a ball will be called out by the official.

a. In the event of a player being hit, that player or a teammate has an opportunity to save the hit player by catching the ball. The player attempting to catch the ball may travel out of bounds; however, a ball striking the walls will still be considered dead. A player that steps out-of-bounds and does not catch that ball will be called out.

4. Players that step on or over the centerline or ten-foot line (when inside volleyball court) in an attempt to throw or retrieve a ball will be called out.

a. On the initial face-off, officials will consider players momentum in crossing the centerline while retrieving balls.

5. A ball that hits the floor, walls, curtain, officials, baskets, backboards, and ceiling are “dead balls” and will not be counted if a player is hit or for a catch.

 

Length of Match

1. Matches will be best of 3 games series.

2. 5 minute time limit for each game:

a. If neither team has been eliminated at the end of the 4 minutes, a 1-minute period will be played using the white volleyball lines as boundaries. Play will be stopped after the duration of 4 minutes so that the remaining players will move inside the white volleyball lines. During that time opponents may cross the mid-court line and advance to the 10 foot line.

b. At the end of the 5 minutes the team with the greater number of players remaining will be declared the winner.

c. If each team has the same number of players remaining after regulation time expires, a one minute sudden death overtime period will take place. This period will take place using the volleyball court boundaries, and the first team to successfully get an opposing player out will be declared the winner.

• If teams successfully eliminate players simultaneously, the players will be considered out and the remaining players will continue the sudden-death overtime. In the event that each team only has one player in overtime and there is a simultaneous out, a second overtime period will begin.

3. Each team is permitted one (1) sixty (60) second time-out per game. Time-outs can only be called when all balls are in player possession and not in the air. All balls will remain in the team/player possession on their back court lines after the time-out expires.

a. No substitutions will be allowed during time-outs unless there is an injury to a remaining player.

Players

1. Each team will consist of six (6) players. Co-Rec teams must have 3 males and 3 females.

a. If a team has extra players, they may choose to use the players as the first players to re-enter the game on a catch. No more then six players from a team are permitted on a court at once. In the event that an extra player does enter the court, that player and an additional player will be eliminated.

2. Teams may begin play with four (4) players. Co-Rec teams must have at least 2 females to start.

Substitutions

1. Substitutions can only be made during a timeout in the case of an injury.

Equipment

1. The Intramural Department will supply the dodgeballs and officials.

2. Players must have proper athletic footwear and athletic apparel to participate.

a. No players are permitted to wear jewelry of any type during their games.

The Game

1. The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them “OUT”. Players will be called out when:

• A player hitting an opposing player with a thrown ball below the shoulders
• A player catching a ball thrown by your opponent before touching the ground
• A player dropping a ball being used to deflect
• A player dodging out of bounds
• A player crossing the centerlines
• Discretional infractions called by the referee (intentional headshot, extra player entering the court, unsportsmanlike behavior, etc)
• The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them “OUT”. Players will be called out when:

2. If a player catches a live ball (one that has not hit the ground), the thrower is out and everyone hit by the thrown ball remains in. Additionally an eliminated player may enter the game because of the caught ball.

Example:  Player A1 throws a ball and hits his/her opponent, Player B1.  The ball bounces off of Player B1 and is caught by Player B2.  Because the ball is still live and caught, Player A1 is out and both Player B1 and Player B2 remain in the game, with an additional player from B team allowed in for the caught ball.

3. Every player hit by an opponents ball (including a deflection from one player to another) with be called out providing that ball is not caught by another teammate.

Example: Player A1 throws a ball and hits his/her opponent, Player B1. That ball continues to be airborne and hits Player B2 and is not caught by a Player on team B. Both Player B1 and Player B2 are out.

4. Using the ball to shield. When a thrown ball is deflected from a ball held by a player, that ball becomes dead. (A caught deflected ball will not count to get opposing team’s thrower out or an additional player’s re-entry).

a. If the ball being used for the deflection is dislodged from the player’s grasp that player is out. (The ball will remain dead and the player cannot be saved by that ball being caught.)

Starting The Game

1. The game will begin by placing the dodgeballs (6) along the center line.  Players will take a position behind their respective back lines.

2. The intramural official will count 1, 2, and 3 and then blow their whistle to start the game.

3. When the whistle is blown each team will sprint to the centerline to retrieve the balls – only minimal contact will be allowed during the start of the game. The officials will allow some discretion in crossing the centerline when retrieving balls, but at their discretion, if a player grossly crosses the line or engages in excessive contact, they may be called out.

4. Once the balls are retrieved from the centerline, the balls must be checked back to the team’s respective back lines before making an attempt to throw the ball.

5. Players may not step on or cross the centerline and will be eliminated if their foot touches or crosses the line.

6. Players may lean over the centerline to retrieve dodgeballs.

a. The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players or if time runs out, the team with the most remaining players will be declared the winner.

Re-Entry

1. Eliminated and extra players should line up on the sideline. They should remain in order with the next player entering being closest to the endline. This will prevent players from being immediately hit during re-entry.

2. Any player that has been eliminated or a substitute may not interfere with the game. Any attempts to obstruct the opponent or retrieve a ball will result in elimination of a player on the court. This decision will be at the discretion of the official.

3. Players re-entering the court incorrectly (elimination-substitution order) will cause the player who caught the ball to additionally be out due to the illegal procedure.

Delay of Game

1. Delaying the game (i.e. holding all of the balls, standing in the corner) is not allowed. If a player holds a ball for more than 10 seconds, that player is out. Any player deemed to be not actively making an attempt to engage an opponent (hiding to protect players) shall be declared out by an official.
2. Players may not roll balls to the other side of the court on purpose or lob the balls into areas where the opponents are not standing. AN ATTEMPT MUST BE MADE TO THROW THE BALLS AT THE OPPONENT AND GET THEM OUT. If this is not done, the officials may declare a player out for not attempting to throw the ball at the opponents.

Safety

1. “Head Shots” are not allowed, but obviously accidental “head shots” will occur. Rulings on “head shots” will be at the official’s discretion.

a. If the hit player was standing up when the accidental hit in the head occurred then both players, the thrower and player hit, will remain in the game.

b. If the hit player was bending over or dodging the ball and the ball accidentally hits the players head then that player is out, just like if the ball hit any other part of their body.

c. Any player that is deemed throwing at the opponents’ head will be warned and those that intentionally throw at the head will be automatically ejected and suspended. That participant must then meet with the Tournament Director in order to be eligible to play in additional games.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

1. Any player that demonstrates unsportsmanlike conduct, on or off the court, including arguing with the referee is subject to ejection from the game.

2. Two warnings will result in an ejection, team warnings with be given to the Captain.

3. If a player is ejected from the game that participant must meet with the Tournament Direct in order to be eligible to play in additional games.