League Rules

The Toronto Dodgeball League will make every effort to make sure a referee is at your game. However, if there is a circumstance where the referee can not make it at the last minute (due to a last minute emergencies, illness or traffic issues) teams should be prepared to self-officiate. These games should still be scored properly and reported at the end of the night as a completed game.

Starting the Game

1. Six (6) balls will be used in the game; 3 balls will be spaced out evenly on each side of the court approximately 3 feet before the center line.
2. Teams will start each game with a maximum 6 players on the floor; minimum 4 players required to start any game.
3. If a team has less then 6 players at the start of a game, the opposing team decides whether to:

• play at an advantage (i.e. 6 on 5); or
• give the team with fewer players a “life”.

1. The game begins at the sound of the referee's whistle.
2. At the sound of the first whistle, players will run for the balls. Each ball is not in play until it is “cleared”.
3. The "Clear Line" is usually about 12 feet back from the center line.
4. A ball is cleared when it is controlled by a player with at least one foot behind the clear line. If the ball is thrown before it has been cleared the ball will be given to the other team. If the thrower is caught, he is out, but anyone hit by this un-cleared ball is still safe.

Game Rules – Game Play

1. Players cannot cross the center line. Players will be called out if any part of their body touches across the center 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).
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 (for the first two occurrences – SEE BELOW); 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!
3. HEAD SHOT IMPLEMENTATION – 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. The team's headshot count resets to zero at the end of each 35 minute session.
4. When a player is called out they can pass any balls held to a teammate 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".
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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 (must be one of the players that started that game). If there are already six players 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 gender min/max must be maintained.
8. Players re-entering the game after a teammate’s catch are considered active as soon as they touch the back wall. If this player intentionally touches any ball before touching the wall they will be out.
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 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.
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 may hold as many balls as they please. They can also make a valid catch while holding another ball.
13. 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). If a thrown ball is deflected off of their blocking ball but then it hits the blocker, the player is called out (live ball until it hits the ground, wall, etc.)
14. If a ball hits more than one player on any throw, all players hit will be called out.
15. Balls are always to be thrown, not kicked. Any kicked ball may result in the player being called out. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. Unsportsmanlike conduct will result in a removal from the game, as judged by the referees.
19. 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.
20. When there is one player remaining on each team the “bounces count” rule will be in effect for the remainder of that game. During this period a player can be called out by a thrown ball even if the ball touches the ground first. That ball is still live until it either touches a wall/ceiling/etc, or it is blocked into the ground. A player cannot be caught out on a bounced ball.

Game Rules - Substitutions

1. If a team starts a game with less than 6 players and a player arrives late, that player must wait until the next game to play.
2. If a team has more than 6 players, those on the bench to start each game are “non-active players” for that game.
3. Non-active players may not switch with active players unless in the event of an injury.
4. Only active players (on at the start of that 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 the bench 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 player runs for the balls prior to the referee's whistle.
2. PENALTY:
3. i. The team being called for an early start may be penalized by having all 6 balls on the court automatically being handed over to their opponents. Most of the time the balls are re-set and the start of the game is re-done.
4. 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.
5. PENALTY:

• 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.
• All 6 balls may be provided to the other team at that point in time.
• 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).

1. A player is not allowed to deflate a ball by squeezing it. Pinching the ball to throw it is allowed but if the ball is crumpled and then thrown the team will receive an initial warning. The second this action is conducted by any player on the team, that player will be removed from the game.
2. Suicide play: A suicide is NEVER allowed. This entails jumping from you side into the air, throwing the ball in mid-air and landing on the other team’s half. This will result in an immediate out of the player who attempted the suicide player, a 2 game suspension and no results of the play can benefit the throwing team.
3. Non-cleared ball: A non-cleared ball is one that is not brought behind the clear line at the start of a game. If this ball is thrown and hits a player, the player is not out. If the non-cleared ball is caught, then the thrower is still out. The team who throws the non-cleared ball, cannot benefit from the play.

Ejections

1. Any player crossing half-court as a result of any dispute may be ejected indefinitely.
2. Any player leaving the bench as a result of a dispute may be ejected indefinitely.

Playoff Eligibility

1. To be eligible for playoffs, a player must be all of the following:

• A registered player on the team's roster submitted to the league
• Played at least 3 regular season games for the team (exception: if the player missed games due to injury and receives a league approved exception).

Alcohol & Drug Policy

Toronto Dodgeball imposes a very strict NO ALCOHOL & DRUG POLICY. Any players/team found using either substance in one of our venues will be removed and banned from the league immediately without refund!

Should players request an explanation from a ref on why a call was made, please direct your team captain to discuss this with the ref on your behalf. Team captain's are required to ask in a calm and concise manner (yelling or berating a ref will not be tolerated). The only permitted time to discuss calls with referees is prior to the game, during a break in play, or after your game has concluded. Questioning referee calls during a game is not permitted (as they will not take time to stop the game to discuss calls with you).

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