Game Play
- Players cannot cross the centerline. Players will be called out if part of their body touches across the center line (even if part of the body is still touching the line) onto their opponent's side of the court. If a player jumps across the line they will be called out immediately (no suicide rule allowed).
- To eliminate an opponent with the ball, a player must throw the ball and hit an opposing player anywhere below the head, clothing included. Headshots will not result in any players being called out; unless a player is ducking (knowingly making themselves smaller) or jumps (knowingly making themselves taller) and gets hit in the head. If a player blocks a ball from striking them in the head with their hands; it is a referee's discretionary call to decide if the player is out or not. WE WANT OUR PLAYERS TO BE SAFE AND THUS ALLOWED TO PROTECT THEIR HEADS!
i. HEAD SHOT IMPLEMENTATION (Fall 2010) – THREE STRIKE RULE. – The first two occurrences of a team hitting the opposing team’s player in the head will not result in the thrower being called out. On the team’s third infraction and there after, the thrower will be called out. – If a player is deemed to be “intentionally leading with their head”, then the ref can allow the thrower to remain in the game. - When a player is called out they can pass any balls held to a team-mate but must leave the playing area. The safest way is to raise your hand if you are out thus the opposing team can identify you as an "out player".
- Any ball thrown by a player already called out will be considered a dead ball. No one hit by these balls will be out until an active player is the one who throws it. Any ball that hits a dead player is a dead ball immediately, no outs can be made after this occurrence.
- All intentional interferences may result in a player being called out at the referee's discretion. Examples of interference include:
i. A player intentionally blocking a ball while on his/her way to the bench.
ii. Players on the bench intentionally stopping balls, passing/bumping balls to their teammates, or keeping balls from crossing the center line on the playing area.
iii. if balls are unavoidable, players should let balls bounce off them as naturally as possible. - If a player is struck with a ball anywhere below the head (including loose clothing) the struck player will be called out. However, if a player is struck but the ball is caught either by the struck player or by a teammate before it touches the ground, wall, ceiling (etc), the player who threw the ball will be called out.
- If a player catches an opponent's throw, the player who threw the ball will be called out, and a team member on the catcher's side will be allowed back into the game. If there are already six players still on the floor, the thrower will still be out, but no new player will be allowed back in. The league does not enforce who the next player back on is but if 4 of one gender are playing, then the next player must be of the opposite gender.
- A player can only be called out by direct hits. However, it is the referee's discretion during a close call and/or "trapped ball". A trapped ball is when a player is hit and/or catches a ball essentially at the same time it hits the ground. All referee decisions are final!
- Rebounds off of the walls and/or court netting separation are considered dead balls and do not count towards getting a player out if hit. At the same time if a ball strikes a player and then the ball hits a wall or the separating divider, his team cannot save the hit player nor can the thrower be caught out.
- No player can catch anyone on his or her own team out; nor will they be called out if they drop a pass from his or her own teammate
- Players re-entering the game are considered active as soon as their teammate makes a catch and both feet touch the active playing area.
- Players may hold as many balls as they please. They can also make a valid catch while holding another ball.
- i. A player may block an oncoming ball with another ball. If a thrown ball is deflected upward and is caught by a teammate, the thrower of the ball will be called out.
ii. If a player deflects a ball with another, but drops their ball in trying to deflect the on-coming ball, the player who dropped their ball will be called out (even if the deflected ball is eventually caught).
iii. If a thrown ball is deflected of their blocking ball but then hit it hits the blocker or one of their team-mates (even in the head), the player is called out (live ball until it hits the ground, wall, etc.) - Players must keep the game in play. If referees feel any team/player is delaying the game by not throwing/holding too many balls, they may order a team/player to throw any number of balls. This is done by a 3 second countdown; either team may throw during the countdown, which resets the play. If the required team does not throw at the end of the countdown all balls will be provided to the opposing team.
- If a ball hits more than one player on any throw, all players hit will be called out. If a player throws the ball striking an opposing player, and the ball is caught either by the thrower or another player on the thrower's team, only the struck player will be called out. Players cannot catch themselves or teammates out.
- Balls are always to be thrown, not kicked. Any kicked ball that hits the opposing team means that the kicker will be called out (even if the ball is not caught). (Exception 1: The reasonable use of all limbs is acceptable to deflect balls upward in attempt to make a catch. Exception 2: A player may lightly kick a ball over the centre line to beat out a count-down.)
- A legal throw involves the player having full control of the ball before throwing. A ball swatted from the air/ground will not count as a throw.
- Honesty is essential in dodgeball. If a player is hit, it is the player’s responsibility to call themselves out, whether the referee sees it or not. The referee has the final say in any hit.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct will result in a removal from the game, as judged by the referees.
- If the last player on each team is eliminated in the same play, the team with the player struck last will win the game. In the event that no referee can make a call on any play and no player admits first elimination, the referees can make the decision to have the game continue with no one being called out.
- Both the head referee and the league commissioner have the right to amend any rule, as they feel necessary. They must provide a valid reason for the rule amendment, and their decision will be expected to be followed and respected. The individual making the call will be expected to have that rule implemented immediately, publicly announced, and added to the written official rule list as soon as possible.
