WANT TO KNOW HOW TO PLAY? THIS POST COVERS THE BASICS OF THE UK/EUROPEAN GAME
Dodgeball is a team elimination sport.
Teams can be up to 10* players
6 on court at one time
2 ball retrievers
2 Substitutes
(*A minimum of four players are needed to play)
The objective is to eliminate members of the other team by hitting them out or catching a ball they throw. A catch also gets one of your out teammates back in!
MATCH TIMINGS
Above under 11’s Matches are two 15 minute or 8 minute half's split into 3 minute sets
Under 11 matches consist of two half's of three two minute sets
SCORING
A set is won when the other team is eliminated
Or at the end of the set one team has more players
There are two points for a set win and one for a draw.
OPENING RUSH
Players start the match with one foot on the back line and one foot on the court.
Five balls are placed on the halfway line.
At the start of play players run to claim balls in the opening rush - the two balls to your left are always your teams balls, the two on the right the other teams, and the ball in the middle is contested by players from both sides.
No more than three players from each team can participate in the rush
Balls must pass the return line to be considered ‘live’ and in play
If all ball is thrown that has not been made live hits made by that ball will not count BUT catches will!
OPEN PLAY
Players can go up to the furthest end of the neutral zone from their side of the court
Players who are out must stand in the order they were eliminated in the outbox
Once a player with both feet behind the return line has possession of the ball it is considered live. It remains live until it hits a surface. A ball remains live if it hits a player and is deflected. If a player is subsequently hit they are out. If the ball is caught after hitting a player the throwing player is called out.
CATCHES
Catches win matches!
A catch not only gets one of the other team out but allows one of your teammates to re-enter the game! Catches can change the course and results of games in seconds.
A CATCH ONLY COUNTS WHEN A PLAYER GETS AT LEAST ONE HAND ON THE CAUGHT BALL.
Players who re-enter the game following a catch must do so from the back line in the order they were eliminated.
BLOCKING
A held ball can be used to block a ball thrown at you. In British/European rules your hands up to the wrist count as part of the ball for blocking.
However, a blocked ball is still a live ball, if a ball is blocked and it then touches another part of your body and is not then caught you are out.
A blocked ball that hits another member of your team before touching the floor will count as a hit and they will be called out. A player on either team can make a catch from a blocked ball. If you block a ball and your team catches it - the player who threw at you is out. If you block a ball back towards the other team and they catch it - you are out.
A player is out if they lose control of the ball being used to block while blocking
PLAY BALL AND STALLING
The team with most balls have five seconds following the referees call of “play ball” to use all but one of the balls in their possession
Failure to throw all the balls will result in the players being called out
When throwing, a “valid” attempt must be made to hit one of the opposition players. Rolled balls, or attempts that miss by some distance, will result in the offending player being called out.
Balls CANNOT be kicked across the court to the other team or off the court to reset the playball counter. A player who does this will be called out.
RETRIEVERS
Teams are allowed two ball retrievers to collect balls that are off court and on their half of the court.
Retrievers are a vital part of the team. They help control ball possession and can be instrumental in supporting quick attacks and counters.
Balls that are collected and returned to the court must be returned or taken behind the return line to be live. A ball that is thrown that is not live and hits someone will not result in an out. BUT a ball that is not live and thrown that is caught will result in the throwing player being called out.
A retrieval fault can be called for a retriever interfering with balls on the court, stepping onto court or retrieving a ball that has crossed past halfway. If a retriever fault is called the opposing team can choose how many balls they want to take from the offending team.
If a team doesn’t have the required number of retrievers another team will be asked to provide them.
They are only required to retrieve the ball at a walking pace and cannot be instructed where to return the balls.
SANCTIONS
If the referee awards a blue or yellow card players must stay in the sin bin for the duration of the penalty.
A red card results in expulsion from the game and your team being a player down.
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