Tournament Rules

Click here to download the rules in a Word Document

Starting the Game

1. Four (4) balls will be used in the game; each team will begin by holding 2 balls at their back line.
   
   
2. Teams will start each game with exactly 6 players on the floor; 2 players of each gender are required to start any game.
   - All active players will start inside the court boundaries
   - All non-active players must remain clear of the playing area.
   
   
3. If a team has less then 6 players at the start of a game, the opposing team gains the advantage of playing with more players (The Co-ed rule MUST apply or the team forfeits)
   
   
4. The game begins at the sound of the referee's whistle or action.
   
   
5. Game format is as many wins a team can earn in 18 minutes. Certain rounds of the playoffs become "best-of" format.
   
   

Game Rules - Game play

1. Players cannot cross the centre line.  Players will be called out if their entire foot crosses the center line onto their opponent's side of the court.  If a player falls across the center line that player will be called out either when their entire foot lands on their opponent's side of the court or any other body part touches the other side of the court. If a player jumps across the line they will be called out immediately (no suicide rule allowed).
   
   
2. 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; however if a player is ducking or knowingly making themselves smaller and gets hit in the head then they may be called out on the referee’s discretion.
   
   
3. A player may only crouch with a ball for 5 seconds and then is forced to throw or give the ball to a teammate.
   
   
4. When a player is called out they must drop any balls held and immediately leave the playing area.
   
   
5. Any ball thrown by a player already called out will be considered a dead ball.  No one can be called out by that ball until it's touched by another player.
   
   
6. 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 or passing/bumping a ball to a teammate 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.
   
   
7. 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, the player who threw the ball will be called out.
   
   
8. 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.
   
   
9. 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!
   
   
10. Rebounds off of the ground are considered dead balls and do not count towards getting a player out if hit. At the same time if a player is struck by a ball and then the ball hits the ground, the hit player cannot be saved by his team nor can the thrower be caught out.
    
    
11. 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.
    
    
12. Players re-entering the game are considered active as soon as their teammate catches and one foot touches the active playing area. Players must re-enter play as soon as the teammate catches the ball.
    
    
13. Players may hold as many balls as they please. They can also make a valid catch while holding another ball.
    
    
14. 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.  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).
    
    
15. 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 4 balls will be provided to the opposing team.
    
    
16. 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.
    
    
17. Balls are always to be thrown, not kicked.  Any kicked ball may result in the player being called out from the game at hand and suspended from any future games at the referee's and commissioner's discretion. (Exception: The reasonable use of all limbs is acceptable to deflect balls upward in attempt to make a catch).
    
    
18. 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.
    
    
19. 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.
    
    
20. Unsportsmanlike conduct will result in a removal from the game, as judged by the referees.
    
    
21. 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.
    
    
22. Out of Bounds:
    i. There is a set boundary on the court, if a player intentionally jumps out of bounds to dodge a ball they will be called out. Unintentional steps out of bounds during a non active moment of play are allowed.
    ii.If a player falls out of bounds during a catch a couple rules apply:
    
    - If one foot/arm remain in bounds then it is a valid catch and the player remains in the game (no matter where the remainder of the body lays).
    -If a player catches the ball in the air and then their full body lands out of bounds, the catch will be valid; however the catching player will be called out as well (so the catching team does get a different player on). If the team has no subs and this is their 6^th active player then he will be allowed to remain in the game.
    
    iii.Players are allowed to step out of bounds to retrieve a ball. They must exit the court on the back end of it and raise their hand showing intent to retrieve a ball. We advise asking a non-active teammate or spectator to retrieve the ball first.
    iv. If a player remains out of bounds for a pro-longed period of time then deemed necessary they will be called out.
    
    
23. 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.
     

    Game Rules - Uniform

    1. The recommended uniform includes : 
       i. Shirt
       ii. Shorts/pants
       ii. Safety gear optional (mouth guard, jock strap, helmet, knee pads, etc.)

    Game Rules - Substitutions

    1. If a team has non-active players starting a game (players who start on the bench), these players should start the next game BUT NOT MANDATORY.  If a team starts a game with less than 6 players and the 6th player arrives late, that player must wait until the next game to play.
    2. Non-active players may not switch with active players unless in the event of an injury.
    3. It is up to the team's discretion as to how they want to rotate through their players if they have more than 6 players on a team. Non-active players at the start of the game can come in for a caught ball during a game. 

    Game Rules - Violence

    1. Any player crossing half-court as a result of any dispute may be ejected indefinitely. 
    2. Any player leaving their non-active players area as a result of a dispute may be ejected indefinitely.

    Game Rules - Penalties

    1. Early Start Penalty:  An early start is when at the beginning of each game, a team throws one of their balls prior to the referee's whistle. 
       PENALTY:
       i. The team being called for an early start will be penalized by having all 6 balls on the court automatically being handed over to their opponents.
    2. Honesty Penalty:  As noted, 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.  A player is expected to leave the game upon an obvious and/or direct hit/catch on their own honesty and volition.  If a player does not leave the playing area in a timely fashion after an obvious and/or direct hit/catch regardless of a referee's call then it is at the referee's discretion to remove that player and/or call a penalty.
       PENALTY:
       1) The player who refused to their remove themselves after an obvious and/or direct hit/catch will be removed from the current game and the possibility of future games within the match.
       2) All 4 balls may be provided to the other team at that point in time.
       3) At the referee's discretion, the team may be further penalized by having to play the rest of the games within the match with only 5 players (regardless of how many players the team may have on their roster).