1. Teams will be made up of 6-10 players. A minimum of six players will compete on a side; others will be available as substitutions
2. Substitutes may enter the game only during timeouts, or in the case of injury.
3. During play, all players must remain within the boundary lines. Any player who crosses the center line at anytime is out.
4. Players may pass through their end line only to retrieve stray balls. Stray balls are ones that have not been picked up and are lying on the ground.
5. When retrieving a ball, the player must immediately re-enter the playing field only through their end line. Note: A player not immediately re-entering the playing area may be declared out.
6. A player may be handed a ball, provided the player receiving the ball remains completely within their team's field boundaries. Players may not be handed a ball while standing out of bounds.
7. A player shall not:
● Leave the playing field to avoid being hit by or attempting to catch a ball.
● Have any part of their body cross the center line and contact the ground on their opponents' side of the court.
1. Teams will alternate sides after each match.
2. The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them out. An out is scored by:
●
Hitting an opposing player with
a live thrown ball below the shoulders.
Note: If a player ducks and this clearly is the cause for the player being hit
above the shoulders, the player is out and the throw is legal.
● Catching a live ball thrown by your opponent.
● Causing an opponent to drop a live ball as a result of contact by another thrown live ball. (Usually occurs when a ball is being used to block a thrown ball.)
● An opposing player stepping out of bounds from the momentum of catching the ball. In this case both thrower and catcher are out.
3.
A player may block a thrown ball
with a ball being held, provided the held ball is not dropped as a result of
the contact with the thrown ball. The hands will be considered part of the held
ball.
Note: A ball deflecting off a held ball and striking the holder will no
longer be a live ball. This will help reduce judgment calls for the referees.
1. 5 minute time limit has been established for each game.
2. Each team will be allowed one 60 second time out per game.
3. Only the referee starts and stops the clock.
4.
All players are in jeopardy
until the referee recognizes and signals the beginning of a time out or end of
regulation time.
Exception: All live balls in flight at time of an official's signal (to
end regulation time or begin a time out) remain live, and may eliminate an
opponent until they are declared dead.
5. During time outs, teams may substitute players. Substitutes may be players who did not start the game, or players who wish to re-enter after having been declared out.
1. Prior to beginning a game, an equal number of dodgeballs are placed along the center line on each side of the center hash mark. A standard game consists of 6 balls, 3 on each side of the hash mark.
2. Players then take a position behind their end line.
3. Following a signal by the official, teams may approach the center lines to retrieve the balls. Teams may only retrieve balls placed to the right (as they face the center line) of the hash mark. If balls remain on the center line after a team has retrieved and moved their balls beyond the attack line, those balls may be retrieved by either team.
1.
Each and every ball retrieved at
the opening rush must first be taken beyond the attack line and into the team's
backcourt before it may be legally thrown at an opponent.
Example: Following the opening whistle, a player rushes and is the first
to secure a ball from the center line. That player must then carry or pass the
ball into their backcourt before it may be legally thrown at an opponent.
1. The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be declared the winner.
2. If neither team has been eliminated at the end of regulation, the team with the greater number of remaining players will be declared the winner.
3. In all overtime periods, the same game rules apply.
Note: No time outs during overtime play. No stalling rule is in effect.
The following procedure will be used to prevent overtime:
1. It is illegal for the leading team to control all the balls for more than 5 seconds. If the leading team controls all of the balls, they must make a legitimate effort to get at least one ball across the attack line and into the opponent's backcourt. If this is not done within 5 seconds, a 5 second Violation will be called. A team may avoid a 5 second violation by throwing or rolling a ball into the opponent's backcourt. The ball must remain in the playing area.
Note: Only a referee can call a 5 second violation.
Penalty for 5 second Violation:
First Violation: Stoppage of play and the balls will be divided
evenly between the teams. Play will continue with "Balls in hand."
Second Violation: Free throw for the opposing team - a penalty in
which one player is allowed an obstructed throw at their opponents without risk
of elimination because a caught free throw does not result in an out for the
thrower.
Third violation: Removal of one player from the offending team.
Note: The stalling procedure does not apply to over time periods.
1. All contests will be supervised by 1 or 2 Referees.
2. Rules will be enforced primarily by the honor system. Players will be expected to rule whether or not a hit was legal or they were legally eliminated.
3. The referee’s responsibility will be to rule on any situation in which teams cannot agree. A team may appeal to the referee if they feel a player has violated any rule. THE REFEREE’S DECISION IS FINAL. NO ARGUING.
4. Referee’s may warn players and call technical fouls on those who display unsportsmanlike conduct. Any player receiving 2 technical fouls in a game will be removed and suspended for the next game.