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Intramural Dodgeball Rules

THE COURT

  • The dodgeball courts at UR feature several important lines of play
    • End Line (2)
      • Located at the end of each court, these lines mark the end of the playable area
      • Players will line up with at least one foot on this line at the start of the match
        • Players may step into the court
    • Attack Lines (2)
      • Located on each side of the court between the center line and end lines.
      • At the start of the match balls must be cleared behind this line before they become active and can be thrown.
      • All players must stand behind this line before play can resume if a timeout is called by a ref.
    • Center Lines (1) and Warning Lines (2)
      • Six balls will be placed on the centerline at the start of the match at equal distances apart from each other.
      • Players will be called out if they cross the center line with both feet or cross one of the opposite dotted warning lines with a single foot.

START OF PLAY

  • Games will be played with a maximum of 8 players on the court. Teams may choose to compete with less if necessary.
  • Players must start the game with at least one foot on their respective end line. Players may step into the court.
  • Six dodgeballs are placed on the centerline at equal distances apart.
  • At the start of each game the ref will ask both teams if they are ready and then countdown.
  • Players will then rush towards the centerlines to collect balls.
    • There is no limit to the number of balls each player or team can collect.
  • Balls must be cleared past the attack line before they can be thrown.
    • An eligible thrower is one who has both feet and the ball cleared past the attack line.

ACTIVE PLAY

  • BALLS
    • Live Balls
      • Any balls thrown by a player that have not yet touched the ground, wall, or any other stationary object (i.e. basketball hoops or balls on the ground) are considered to be 'live'.
      • Balls bouncing off of players or other balls (in the air or in a person's hand) are live.
      • Balls thrown by a player who subsequently becomes out are still live.
    • Dead Balls
      • Any balls that have touched the ground, wall, ceiling, a person who is out, or any other stationary object are considered to be 'dead'.
      • Dead balls also include balls thrown from out of bounds, a failed Suicide Jump attempt, or balls that have not been cleared at the start of a match.
    • Any one team may not possess all six balls for more than 15 seconds.
  • BLOCKING
    • Players may block incoming balls by deflecting with another ball.
    • If a player attempts a block, but accidentally drops the ball or has the ball knocked from his or her hands, then the player is out.
    • If during a block the ball hits the player (either as a result of a missed block or deflection into one's self), that player is out.
    • Blocked balls are still live.
  • BOUNDARIES
    • A player may leave the boundaries in the retrieval of a ball.
    • Upon retrieval of the ball, players must immediately return to the field of play.
    • Players may not throw a ball outside of the boundaries.
    • Players may be hit by balls when outside of the boundaries.
    • When either team has only one player remaining, the sole remaining player may cross over the centerline to the attack line on the opposing side.
  • CATCHING
    • Live balls may be caught.
      • If a ball is caught with at least one foot in bounds, the person who threw the ball is out and one player on the catcher's team may return to the game.
      • If a ball is caught with both feet out of bounds, the thrower is not out and no players on the catcher's team may return to the game. Any players hit by the ball, however, are safe.
  • DELAY OF GAME
    • If either or both sides have not thrown a ball within 15 seconds, a delay of game can be called.
    • point at least one player from the offending team(s) must throw a ball.
  • HEADSHOTS
    • Headshots (balls that hit a player's head) are permitted.
  • OUTS
    • Players hit by a live ball are not considered out until the ball is dead and may continue playing until such point.
    • A ball is not considered dead after hitting an active player. Multiple players can be taken out by a single ball.
    • A ball can still be safely caught after hitting a player. If a ball is caught in this situation, any hit players are not out and the thrower is out.
    • If a player catches a ball in the air, then the player who threw the ball is out and one 'out' player on the catcher's team is allowed to reenter the match.
  • RE-ENTRY INTO THE MATCH
    • Players must re-enter on a 'first-out, first-in' basis.
    • If a player catches a ball in the air with at least one foot in bounds, then one 'out' player on the catcher's team is allowed to return to the match.
  • SUBSTITUTIONS
    • Substitutions of players can only be made between games, with the exception of injury substitutions.
  • SUICIDE JUMPS
    • A suicide jump is performed when a player jumps in the air across the centerline.
    • The player may throw the ball while in the air before he/she lands.
      • If the ball is thrown before the player lands on the opposing side the ball is live and the rules described under 'OUTS' apply.
      • If the ball is thrown after the player lands on the opposing side, the ball is considered dead and any players hit by the ball will not be out.
    • Upon landing, the player is out for crossing the centerline and landing on the opponent's side.
  • TIME OUTS
    • Only refs may call time-outs.
    • Time outs may be called to explain controversial calls or in the event of injury.
    • Before play resumes, all players must stand behind the attack lines on the court.

    END OF PLAY

    • Play continues until all players on one team are out.
    • Regular season matches are played best-of-five.
    • Playoff matches are played best-of-seven.
    • There is a time limit of one hour. If the match has not concluded by then, then the team that is ahead will be declared the winner.

    Revised 7/8/09

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