the ultimate pocket guide to dodgeball.

the ultimate pocket guide to

dodgeball edited by Kristen Harlin

2 ] the basics

[

u lt i m a t e p o c k e t g u i d e t o d o d g e b a l l

the ultimate pocket guide to

dodgeball edited by Kristen Harlin

table of contents t he basics

08

v a r i at i o n s

24

o f f i c i at i n g

30

h i story

40

s t r at e gy

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this is not a book about your beloved movie.

This is a serious guide to playing the world’s most overlooked sport.

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dodgeball basics the team

equipment

Teams will be made up of 6–10 players. Six players will compete on each side; additional team members will be available as substitutes. Substitutes may enter the game only during timeouts or in the case of an injury.

Court

Ideal Measurements: 60ˇ x 30ˇ. Identical to a volleyball court.

Ball

The official ball used in tournament and league play is an 8.25 inch rubber-coated foam ball.

Winning Attitude

Good sportsmanship is the key to any sport!

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the goal

The game may be played indoors or outdoors. The playing field shall be a rectangle at least 50 feet long and at least 30 feet wide, divided into two equal sections by a centerline and attack-lines 3 meters from, and parallel to the centerline.

A typical dodgeball game is usually played on a basketball court, volleyball court, fenced area or even an Australian Rules Football oval or soccer pitch. There is no fixed dodgeball court design. The game is picked on the best available surface that is usually one of the above-mentioned. Unless it is a variation of dodgeball, the court must have a centerline .

The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them “o u t ”. This may be done by: • Hitting an opposing player with a live* thrown ball below the shoulders.

• Catching a live ball thrown by your opponent before it touches the ground.

Live – A ball that has been

thrown and has not touched anything, including the floor/ground, another ball, another player, official or other item outside of the playing field (wall, ceiling, etc.).

[ THE BASICS ]

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the field

schematics

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th e cou rt

l ay o u t

The traditional dodgeball court is 30 feet by 60 feet.

This is the same as a volleyball court. There is a perimeter which signifies the live areas for balls and a center line dividing the teams.

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centerline

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neutral zone

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attack line

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end line

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queue

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sideline official

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centerline official

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x

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x

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[ THE BASICS ]

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y

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dodgeball basics boundaries

opening rush

During play, all players must remain within the boundary lines. Players may leave the boundaries through their end line o n ly to retrieve stray balls.

They must also return through their end line.

Game begins by placing the dodgeballs along the centerline, three on one side of the center hash and three on the other. Players then take a position behind their end line.

Following a signal by the official, teams may approach the centerline to retrieve the balls. This signal officially starts the contest. Teams may only retrieve the three balls to their right of the center hash. Once a ball is retrieved it must be taken behind the attack-line before it can be legally thrown.

time outs Each team will be allowed one 30-second timeout per game.

At this time a team may substitute players into the game.

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*NOTE:

During tournament play, all matches will be officiated by no less than two Officials.

These officials will rule on all legal hits , out-of-bounds and 5-second violations .

National Amateur Dodgeball Association. See page 54 .

v i o l at i o n s

timing

During pool play or regular season matches, rules will be enforced primarily by the “honor system.”* Players will be expected to rule whether or not a hit was legal or whether they were legally eliminated.

All contests will be supervised by a court monitor. The court monitor’s responsibility will be to rule on any situation in which teams cannot agree.

The court monitor’s decision is final.

& winning

The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be declared the winner.

[ THE BASICS ]

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In order to reduce stalling, a violation will be called if a team in the lead controls all six balls on their side of the court for more than five seconds. This also applies to teams in a tie situation. More details can be found in the NADA Rule Book.* The greater number of players remaining will be declared the winner. Details on overtime can be found in the NADA Rule Book.

rule enforcement

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the rules

1 0 r u l e s t h at c a p t u r e t h e b a s i c s 1

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Dodgeball is primarily self refereed, and played with the honor rules. During league play, there are 4 referees, in which 2 are stationed at the end of the centerline, that help facilitate the game. Referees start the game, confirm hits and catches, and count ball possession time.

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You are out if: • You step on or over a sideline or centerline • A thrown live ball hits your body • You throw a live ball and an opponent catches it.

A thrown live ball can only hit out 1 player. Thrown balls that hit the ground, the wall, other balls, or other objects before hitting the opponent are considered dead balls, and are ineligible to hit players out.

There are 6 balls, split into 2 even groups near the ends of the centerline. During the opening rush (when the game starts), you may only grab the balls to your right .

[ THE BASICS ]

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The typical Dodgeball court is about the size of a small Volleyball court, with a centerline and two sidelines.

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6

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You may block a thrown ball with a held ball. However, if you drop the blocking ball during the act of blocking, or if you fail to make a clean block (as in the thrown ball still ends up hitting or grazing your body afterwards), you are out.

If you are out, line up on the side in the order you got out (think of it as being in an “resurrection” line). If your teammate catches a ball, the player at the start of your team’s “resurrection” line comes back into play after touching the wall (the teammate must be in the line at the time of the catch to be eligible to be brought back in).

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You can o n l y hold a ball for 10 seconds, afterwards, it will be considered dead . Dead balls need to be rolled over immediately to the other team.

If the game comes down to 1 player per side, they have 10 seconds to hit each other out; if not, “Showdown” comes into effect. The game is paused, each player gets two balls, two balls are lined up at the ends of the centerline, and the centerline is dissolved.

The last player standing is the winner .

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Have fun, shake hands, make friends and be spirited. [ THE BASICS ]

elimination

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h o w t o e l i m i n at e o p p o s i t i o n If a player c atc h e s a ball thrown by the opposing team on the full, then the player who threw the ball is eliminated, and the team that caught the ball can reinstate the player that has been out the longest (though some variations change the reinstatement limit). As long as the ball has been caught in any way and is held for at least two seconds, the thrower is out (i.e. even if the ball is caught between the legs, the thrower is still out).

If a dodgeball h i t s an opposing player but gets caught by one of the hit player’s teammates, the thrower is out, a player gets reinstated, and the player who got hit stays in.

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In dodgeball games that are played on a basketball court, if a player throws the ball and it goes into the opposing basket and /or it hits the basketball backboard on the full, t h e w h o l e t e a m g e t s r e s u r r e ct e d . The ball is still counted to have scored a basket or hit the backboard on the full if it rebounded off another dodgeball or it was deflected into the backboard by an opposing player. If the ball hits the backboard supports and /or the ring but fails to hit the backboard or go into the hoop, there is n o effect. Players cannot be caught out if the ball hits the backboard , backboard supports, and/or the ring.

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winning

b lo c k i n g

Players can pick up dead balls and throw them back at the other team. Players are allowed to leave the confines of the court to gather balls that have rolled out of bounds, but cannot throw the ball until they are back inside the court. A ball thrown from outside the court cannot eliminate an opponent who is hit. It only succeeds in getting the thrower automatically eliminated. However, if that ball is caught on the full, the opposition can reinstate the player that has been out the longest from their team. A player who moves completely out of bounds when a ball is thrown at them and does not catch that ball is also eliminated. If a player moves into the opponent’s zone or picks up a ball from inside the opponent’s zone without it fully rolling inside their zone, that player is out. Players can also get eliminated if their throw hits an opponent on the head, displays bad sportsmanship, or cheats.

Kicking the balls is prohibited .

Depending on the rules of a particular game, a ball in the possession of a player can be used to block incoming balls thrown by the opposing team. Depending on the rules of the game being played, if a player gets a dodgeball knocked out of their hands from an opposition throw, or drops the dodgeball when it is used to deflect oncoming balls, the player is eliminated.

[ THE BASICS ]

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dead balls

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non-traditional dodgeball games Bombardment

12-16 dodgeballs Gymnasium

12 - 16 dodgeballs Gymnasium

S et U p : 2 equal teams. Each team is assigned to one half of the gym.

S et U p : 2 equal teams. Each team is assigned to one half of the gym.

P lay : The basic dodgeball rules apply. If a player is hit from shoulders to feet they are out, a ball caught in the air results in the thrower being out and any ball that hits another object is a free ball.

Out players must sit in a designated area. Play continues until only one team is left. The twist in this game is that “out” players may get back in if one of their team mates hits a net on the opposing teams side of the gym. When the net is hit then all players tor that team are allowed to get back in the game. Rims and backboards don’t count.

P lay : Basic dodgeball rules apply. This game requires constant awareness of what is going on around the gym.

Players must watch for balls from the opponents side and from behind them as well.

The objective is to get all players out on the opposing team. The fun in this game is that even when a player is “out”, they are not. Any player who is “out” must go to the other side of the gym.

“Out” players may get back to their side of the gym by hitting an opposing player.

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Net Dodgeball

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Final Four Elimination

6-8 dodgeballs Gymnasium

4 dodgeballs, Gymnasium

S et U p : No teams, “every man for himself.” There needs to be a designated “out” area.

S et U p : No teams, “every man for himself.” There needs to be a designated “out” area.

P lay : Everyone spreads out in the gym. Play starts when the official throws out the balls. Regular rules apply. Players without a ball may move anywhere in gym. If someone has a ball they cannot move with it. They can throw it and try to get someone out or drop it and move on. Anyone can pick up any loose ball and try to get someone out. If a player (player 1) gets out they go to the designated “out” area.

When player 2 (the one who got player 1 out) gets out then player 2 sits out and player 1 gets back in the game. Play continues until only one player remains.

P lay : Play starts when the official throws out the four balls.

Players must hold ball until given the signal to start, which allows for the other players to move away from the balls. Regular rules apply. Players may relocate in the gym by rolling ball on ground and picking it back up. Once a player is out they sit in designated “out” area until new game starts.

When only 4 players are left the game stops briefly so that each player can get a ball.

When play resumes, players may run with ball in hand until only one player is left.

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Elimination

[ VA R I AT I O N S ]

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36 Pin Dodgeball

Soccer Dodgeball

12-16 dodgeballs 6 bowling pins

6 - 8 dodgeballs Field

Set Up: 2 equal teams, each on 1 half of the gym. Each team will have 3 pins on their half of the gym, placed about 10 feet or so from the wall.

Set Up: You choose. Split into 2 separate teams, 4 smaller teams or no teams, everyone plays for themselves.

Play: Normal dodgeball rules apply. The objective in this game is to knock over the center pin to win. If a pin on the outside is knocked over then all players from the team that knocked it over get back in the game. Outside pins may be set back up after being knocked over. Players may protect their pins, but only 1 player may protect pins at any time.

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Play: The basic rules remain the same . If you have a ball, your objective is to kick the ball soccer style (inside or outside of foot) at another player to get them out. Any player hit below the knees or feet is out; body and head shots do not count. (This ensures that the ball stays low to the ground.) Out players go sit in a designated area until a new game starts.

Quidditch

6 d odgeballs (sam e colo r) 1 sm all ball 6 hoop goals 4 co nes 1 pin g pong ball S E T U P : 2 d if f ere nt tea ms.

P LAY : Each team will have players on the court and some on the sides so each team will have to be divided again.

Each sub-team will play both on and off the court though.

Half of each team will start on the court on their side of the field. To start play the referee will toss the small ball (quaffle) into the air, like a jump ball. Players on the court then try to gain possession of the ball and pass to their team mates and score. Players may not run with the ball. They may have a step to pass or shoot the ball. A goal is scored when the ball passes through

any hoop. Goals are worth 1 point each. The players on the sideline use the dodgeballs ( bludgers) to get players from the other team out on the court. Any player that is hit shoulders to feet must join the sideline team for that rotation. When ever the referee is ready they can toss the really small ball (golden snitch) onto the court. Once the snitch is released the designated chaser from each team tries to get control of the snitch and score a goal.

No one but chasers may touch the snitch. A goal scored with the snitch is worth 10 points.

Now, how do you become a referee?

become a referee MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES 1

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The two teams that play shall referee the next match, and set up the balls on the court.

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Calling the opening rush (3-2-1-Dodgeball!) and making sure balls touch the wall.

Counting players down when they are holding the ball for too long, and announcing when counted-down balls are ‘ dead ’.

Counting down ten seconds when only one player is remaining from each team to initiate a Showdown .

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Making sure eliminated players are lined up in the correct order and that players returning to the game come back in order such that the first out is the first in.

Calling players o u t when they have been hit and do not leave the court — or, conversely — keeping players in the game when they mistakenly think they have been hit.

Pausing the game to settle on-court altercations and disagreements.

Assist in moving dead balls to the appropriate sides of the court.

9.Ensuring

EDITED BY KRISTEN HARLIN

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players do not cross over the boundaries or step on or over the centerline.

become a referee PROTOCOLS

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In order to ensure officiating consistency during games, below are some protocols that all peer referees should understand and apply while refereeing: 1

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The signal to start a Showdown is : “3,2,1, Showdown!”

Please be audible, clear, and alert.

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The signal to start a game is “3,2,1, Dodgeball!”

Have the courage to make the right call. b e a s s e r t i v e .

Take your time in making the right call if it’s controversial.

S t o p the game if necessary to regroup with other referees and decide. If there are unsportsmanlike plays or spirit breaches, p a u s e the game and address the issue.

Due to the subtleties involved with the game of dodgeball, referees are encouraged to use all senses (i.e. visual and auditory), ideally simultaneously, when refereeing.

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Start the 10-second count as soon as one ball touches a wall during the Opening Rush.

Referees are not to deny a player from calling themselves out, unless the referee is absolutely certain that the player is safe. In that case, referees should inform the player to continue playing by verbally and/or signaling the “safe hand signal.”

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Referees have the right to restart a play if a call cannot be determined. They s h a l l n o t restart a game unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Asking h i g h throwers to keep it l o w .

Although the four referees start in the center, we encourage referees to move laterally along the walls/sidelines to get a better view of the game.

Please try to s tay o f f t h e c o u r t whenever possible (unless reffing on the wall side of the court – however, referees should stay as close to the wall as possible).

Ideally, you and your teammate (each team needs to provide two referees) would face each other while refereeing (one on the wall, one on the sideline) rather than referee side by side.

Chances are you will know each other better than the other two referees, so it should be easier for you to communicate with each other as you referee.

[ O F F I C I AT I N G ]

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Referees are not to consult with any other parties (audiences/ other players) on a call, however they are encouraged to consult with each other. They can also consult any league representative for rules clarification.

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Focus on one side of the game while occasionally looking to the other side to follow throws.

As players move closer to boundaries, move towards them and w a t c h for any body parts crossing/touching boundaries.

How to count balls picked up at different times: As one referee counts down a ball, another player could pick up another ball during the initial count. At this point, another ref should pick up the new count instead of having all referees count down one ball.

If referees miss a play, or if a definitive ruling cannot be made, it will go by the honor system. If the player is uncertain, then it defaults to “when in doubt, you are out.�

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“when in doubt, you are out.”

EDITED BY KRISTEN HARLIN

corner referees

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Four corner referees are used only at the playoffs for the final matches between 1st and 2nd place, and 2nd and 3rd place in the Finals.

Each corner referee is to stand at their respective corner of the court. Lateral movements along the sidelines is encouraged for a better view.

The final definitive ruling is to be made by the center referees and their decision may override the corner referees.

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Responsibility of corner referees include: • Watching for players that cross or touch the sideline • Observing the game the same way as center referees, as they may be asked for confirmation on a call • Calling players out (if necessary i.e.. center refs missed the play or to echo the center referees call) Corner referees are n o t responsible for: • The 10 second ball count

beginning the game When a player has been hit by a dodgeball “on the full” (i.e. without hitting the roof, the floor, any of the walls, or an outside object and rebounding off ) and no one catches it before it becomes dead, that player has been eliminated and must move to his team’s designated bench area (players are still out if the ball rebounds off another dodgeball and/or player and hits them on the full). The same rule applies if any number of people tries to catch the ball but drop it.

Depending on the rules and variation, headshots (balls thrown in dodgeball that hit an opposing player in the head) may either result in the thrower being out, or the person being hit being out, or both.

[ O F F I C I AT I N G ]

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At the beginning of a dodgeball game, the balls are lined up on the central dividing line (in some versions of the game, the balls are thrown in the air for the players to catch or divided evenly to both teams pre-match). The players then simultaneously rush towards the centerline and try to grab one of the dodgeballs and throw or roll it backwards to their teammates.

In some versions there is a “check line” that the dodgeballs have to be behind before they can be considered “live.” Players cannot pick up a ball and throw it instantly.

This is known as the opening rush.

Once the game has commenced, players throw balls at members of the opposing team in an attempt to eliminate the players.

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[ T H Edo B Ayou SICS Now, how

become a referee?

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history

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where it all began Games used as cultural pastime and social recreation have long held an honored place in mankind’s history. They also have held an auspicious dual role. Each of the Greek games and competitions of the early Olympiads modeled a unique role in the warfare of the period; from accuracy & proficiency with the throwing javelin, tests of strength & agility in wrestling, to simple speed & endurance in running. As stated by President George Washington, “To be prepared for war is one of the most e f f e ct i v e means of preserving peace.” The longtime practice and honing of wartime skills has been a historical footnote in every great empire of history, and it is this exercise of martial skill — first as practice, then as competition, which gave way to sport as recreation. The placement of ball games shares

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an equally ancient place in mankind’s history. The development of some sort of ball, in most cases an early amalgamation of rubber, is shared by numerous cultures throughout the globe. One of the earliest instances of the use of balls for organized recreation lay in the ball courts of Mayan cities found in Copan, Tikal, and Piedras. In these early civic centers, an early form of soccer was played as far back as the l6th century BC. Christopher Columbus observed native Taino youths on the island of Hispaniola playing a cross between basketball and soccer with a ball that far outperformed the balls used by his own sailors.

While the innocence of the use of balls for sport and recreation initially seem divorced from martial practice and custom, reports of s e v e r e d h e a d soccer games stem from accounts of Mayan and Danish victories in battle history.

It would take a major motion picture to hammer the final nails in the coffin of dodgeball’s place in the eyes of the world. Featured

by Hollywood in a movie titled and themed about the sport, the ideals and projected values of ‘the S t R o n G against the W e A K ’ sent a message so powerful and long lasting through base humor that it would take years for the sport to climb out of the hegemony established for it by Hollywood agents looking to cash in on what they saw as a quirky joke sport. Any legitimacy the sport had in the national circuit would be s t u n t e d by immature iterations of the rules, generalizations of its techniques, and stereotypical representations of archetypal players.

[ HISTORY ]

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National popularity of dodgeball would be matched by attempts to remove it from public schools. The rise of school accountability paired with the explosion of parental concern for their child’s safety would see dodgeball [and in some extreme cases, tag] banned from some school districts in Maine, Maryland, New York, Virginia, Texas. Massachusetts and Utah on account of in-class injury (MSNBC) .

The involvement of Hollywood would make for an important step in the popularity of dodgeball.

Depictions of the sport, lightly touched upon in many movies and television, would solidify dodgeball’s place in popular culture as a h u m o r o u s novelty, a painful memory to mock in prime time cartoons and children’s movies.

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“A movie about dodgeball with such a short sold and humorous attitude quite possibly may have been the worst thing to happen to it in the history of the sport.� the

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pro leagues such as the National Dodgeball League* with big business sponsorship draw attention and money to the sport.

With rising popularity and continued endorsement from growing numbers of players and supporters, the future of dodgeball is poised to grow from its simple roots. Every game challenges the player, and every situation prompts the player to action. At the start of each game, there are an u n l i m i t e d number of possibilities to the outcome of play. Every occurrence places a demand upon the player to either affirm or step away from the self. The player is then tested by every turn of fortune, good or ill. The various occurrences that fall upon a player are then not important — the importance lies in the player’s reaction to these happenings.

*NOTE:

This object is typically a wrench. Wrenches are not allowed in sanctioned play.

See page 54 for more Dodgeball Associations in the United States.

[ HISTORY ]

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The movie made popular a mantra that would become a widely accepted caricature of the spirit of the game, where “If you can dodge a [whatever random object]...” * A movie about dodgeball with such a short sold and humorous attitude quite possibly may have been the worst thing to happen to it in the history of the sport.

Games revolving around the play and use of balls in more recent history provide a cleaner path of the sport’s progression. European football, more commonly known as soccer, popularly traces its origins to mid-19th century Britain, though the FIFA organization cites the oldest known reference to similar rules is a 2nd century BC. Chinese military drill called cuju. Modern soccer also likely demonstrates the first appearance of the 8" ball that is used in most dodgeball settings. Charity tournaments and

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[ T H Edo B Ayou SICS Now, how

become a referee?

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skills techniques strategies

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i m pr ov i n g yo u r f o r m The Windmill

The Partner Attack

An offensive player will have a ball in each hand. In this move, they get as close to the centerline as possible and throw both balls at the same time. It is not always effective but becomes confusing to the defensive player because they do not know which ball to concentrate on, catch, or dodge.

In this move, players from the same team will partner up to try and get an opponent out. The first partner will throw their ball in an attempt to deceive or distract the opponent. Immediately following the first throw, the second partner, or however many have teamed up, will throw their balls at the same opponent. This is a move that requires cooperation between players and good coordination/timing.

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Charge

Basically a whole bunch of players get together; each one has a ball. On a signal, they all charge the centerline and throw at the same time.

Teams seem to organize this one with no problem and can use it again and again because there is no deception that needs to take place. This play in particular works well when there are only a few players left on a team and they are difficult to eliminate.

[ S T R AT E GY ]

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The Pump Fake

An easy one to master. An offensive player will fake a hard throw at an opponent to get them moving. Once the defensive player has taken the bait, the ball is thrown. It is really fun when the defensive player jumps or hits the floor because they know they were just faked out and about to be out. Players who fall for this strategy are almost always laughing when they get out.

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“To master the art of dodgeball is to study each of its aspects.” the

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Dances With Wolves Move

This is a d e f e n s i v e move to get opponents out. Here, a defensive player who is really good at catching simply sets them self up to get a ball thrown at them and catches the ball. As soon as they catch the ball, they will get rid of it to catch another one. Some players have won games by simply catching balls and never throwing at an opponent. Catching is an underrated advantage in dodgeball games.

A seldom used technique, except for a select few who are willing to sacrifice for the team. A single player will run right along the centerline, almost begging to be hit. They will have one ball and at some point launch it at an opponent. Opposing players get excited about the other team and become targets themselves.

Of course, there is always the possibility the player will get out [but that does not seem to deter players from trying].

[ S T R AT E GY ]

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The ‘Catch and Release’

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The ‘I’m A Tree, Try And Hit Me’

Oops, You’re Out

This is a s t r a n g e move that players will learn all by themselves. When they are the last player on their team and the opposing team has to get them out, they will go to the back of the playing area and not move.

Surprisingly it works! The player using this moves knows that they won’t be able to do much else — so why not make the other team work real hard at getting them out. Players seem to like this because they can laugh at how long it takes to get out.

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This is actually a m i s t a k e made by one offensive player who has not mastered the art of throwing with opposition.

They intend to throw at one player, but because they do not use proper throwing techniques (step with the left foot if throwing with the right hand), they end up hitting someone else altogether. You have to laugh when it happens.

The Sneak Attack

The ‘Use Another Teammate As a Shield’

Also known as “Peek-A-Boo,” this is a f u n n y one made famous from the movie, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.

One player will hide behind another player and use them as a shield, popping out every so often to make a throw. It works even if the shielding player gets hit; the hiding player still has a ball and can make a throw or move and hide behind someone else.

EDITED BY KRISTEN HARLIN

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This is a great d e c e p t i v e throw. A player has to do a good job of setting this up.

The best way to set another player up is to point and charge at them. They will think that they are the intended person to receive the throw. But — at the last second — the thrower will change position at another unsuspecting player. If it is not up right it almost always works. If you are playing with students, this technique is recommended. It teaches students to be aware of what is going on around them; in other words — pay atte ntio n!

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more info o r g a n i z at i o n s

sources

NADA National Amateur Dodgeball Association dodgeballusa.com

Text sourced from Andy Keyes Issac Kassock Photography by Kristen Harlin Holly Clark & James Brosher

IDA International Dodgeball Association playdodgeball.org NDL National Dodgeball League thendl.com WDBF World Dodgeball Federation wdbf.org

The Complete Book About Dodgeball. Andy Keyes. 2005.

The Philosophy Of Dodgeball: A Treatise. Issac Kassock. 2012. hollyclarkphotography.com brosher.com

Special thanks to: Amanda Butcher Claire Connaghan & Emmanuel Favela

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U LT I M AT E P O C K E T G U I D E

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DODGEBALL

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