1. Equipment/Set-Up:  Team captains are responsible for bringing the 2 supplied dodgeballs to each game.  Teams are responsible for keeping track of the score.  Please designate one person/team to keep score.  Each team should bring both light and dark coloured shirt to each and every game. 

2. Game Time/Default:  Please arrive 15 minutes early to ensure that your games start on time. Games are 55 minutes in length, with a stoppage for halftime if teams want one. Please agree on one person to act as a timekeeper. Teams are compromised of 6 players with a minimum of 2 women and two men.  A default will occur if any team cannot field a squad by 10 minutes after the official start time. A team can play with a minimum of 4 people, as long as 2 of the players are women and 2 are men.  Captains may agree to waive the rules regarding minimum people but this should be decided before the game starts.  IF IT IS AGREED THAT THE GAME COUNTS, IT COUNTS! The 6 players that start each game are the ONLY players that can play during that particular game (i.e. for that point).  Substitute players must wait until the next game before playing.  Teams can alter their roster for each game, as long as the gender requirements are met.  EXCEPTION: Injured players can be substituted midway during a game if necessary (males for male, female for female only)

3. Starting the Game and General Rules:

1.     4 dodgeballs will be used for each game.

2.     To start the game, each team stands at their respective back wall with two dodgeballs each. The    timekeeper (or a substitute player) will start the match by shouting, "Ready, Set, Dodgeball".

3.     Once play has started, players must remain on their own side of half.

4.     Players can lean over the half line to retrieve a ball, but the player cannot touch the middle line or any part of their opponents half of the court. If any part of a player touches the line or other half, that person is out. As well, if a ball is thrown by a player who steps on/over the line, the ball is considered dead and cannot eliminate an opponent. Players can also not jump form their own side of half and land on their opponent's side in the attempt of getting an opponent out. Only the thrower is out in this scenario.

5.     Teammates can pass other teammates a ball without it counting if dropped.

6.     Players cannot remain static in areas that conceal or partially conceal their body. e.g. door entrance ways, climbers, etc. Also players cannot lie down, kneel or crouch before a ball is thrown. Players can dive out of the way of thrown balls and land on the floor (or kneel down), but they must get back up right away. This is to avoid as many head shots as possible.

7.      A ball is considered "dead" as soon as it hits the floor, walls, ceiling or any other obstacles around the court (e.g. basketball hoops, etc). A player is not eliminated after being hit by a dead ball. All other balls are considered "live"

8.     Eliminated/Substitute players should stand/sit in the corner at the back wall, and should do their best to no interfere with play. A bench area should be defined (using a bench turned on its side) and this area is out of bounds. Live players may only enter this area to retrieve balls. You are considered a live player as soon as the ball is caught.

9.     If you have been tagged, it's recommended that you raise your hand while you are exiting the floor. That way your opponents will not intentionally strike you again

10.   Teams will switch sides of the court after each completed game.

11.   Players cannot kick the ball.

12.   Do not squeeze all of the air out of the dodgeballs before throwing them. This causes the skin/cover of the dodgeballs to become loose and requires constant replacement.

4. Throwing the Balls and Eliminating Players:

1.     To eliminate an opposing player, a "live" ball must hit the player from the SHOULDERS downwards. An opponent that is hit in the head is NOT eliminated - but the thrower of the head ball IS eliminated. (if a ball first hits the player in the legs, and the bounces up and hits their head, the player is OUT - the ball's first point of contact is what matters). Players cannot purposely use their head to block a ball

2.      You can also play with optional head shot rules which must be agreed upon before the game starts 1): If a player ducks (or jumps) and the player is hit in the head with a dodgeball, the thrower nor the player hit are out. 2) If a player ducks (or jumps) and the player is hit in the head with a dodgeball, the player that is hit is out. Please note that trying to get hit in the head should not be used as a strategy to get an opponent out at any time.

3.     If a "live" ball hits a player then rebounds and hits another player on the court (who unsuccessfully catches it), both players are out

4.     If a player catches a "live" ball that is thrown at him/her, the thrower is OUT. IN ADDITION, the team that caught the ball can return a previously eliminated player to the court. The player that returns to the game MUST be the first player who was ruled “out” during that particular game (and the order of returning players should be maintained...i.e. the third player to be eliminated will be the third player to return to the court). Reminder: substitute players must wait until the next game.

5.     Players can only be in possession of ONE ball at any given time. If a players catches a 2nd ball, then the thrower is NOT out and the catcher must immediately drop the 2nd ball. As well the team whose player caught the 2nd ball is NOT allowed to bring a player back onto the court. The player can throw this ball in any manner from anywhere on their own side of the court.

6.     Players should not be in possession of a ball longer than 10 seconds (good sportsmanship). This rules applies as soon as a player touches a ball (excluding stopping the ball with foot), therefore if they put it back down, bounce it etc, they still need to throw it within 10 seconds. Teams should also not be "stockpiling" the balls on their own side of the court if it causes players to be in possession of a ball for longer than 10 seconds. If all 4 balls are one side of the court, the remaining players need to throw at least one ball within 10 seconds. Please abide by this rule as it will speed up the pace of play.

7.      A player that is holding a ball can use it to deflect/block another ball that is thrown at them by an opponent. However, if the ball being held is dropped due to the second ball, the person who dropped the ball is OUT. A deflected ball is still considered "live" until it hits the ground. i.e. if it hits another player before hitting the ground, the hit player is out.

8.      A live ball that rebounds off of a player (ie. from an unsuccessful catch, hits off their body, is deflected by another ball, etc) may be caught by any other in-bounds player prior to the ball becoming dead (hitting ground or wall). As usual, the thrower is OUT, and the catching team can retrieve a player. Also first player the ball first, is NOT out.

9.     If a player has caught a ball, deflects a thrown ball, PLACES (not drops) current ball down, and catches new ball. The thrower is out, player is safe.

10.   If a thrown ball hits an opponent and comes back across the centre line, the ball is considered to be dead and only the person who is hit is out.

11.   It is the responsibility of all players to make a fair and honest call as to whether or not they were hit. If a player/team accuses another player of being out, it is up to the player in question to decide whether they were hit or not. Please remember, "it's just dodgeball" and sportsmanship is considered integral to the game. Ultra-competitive players are not welcome. Clothing is considered part of your body if hit by a ball.

12.   Every time that only 2 players remain on the court (1 from each team), the timekeeper should announce that the two players have "one-minute" to eliminate each other. After the one minute has expired, if the game has not yet ended, each team will return one player to the court. (Again, each team must abide by their order of returning players).