Occidental Intramural Sports

Dodgeball Rules

OccidentalCollege Intramural Dodgeball Rules are based on the National Dodgeball League Rules. Some of

the more important rules as well as rules unique to the Oxy Intramural Sports Program are included herein. All

players are responsible for reading this document prior to participating in Oxy IM Dodgeball.

Team Size

  • Five (5) players constitute a full team.
  • You may start and finish the game with four (4) players.

Equipment

  • Players must wear proper attire (athletic type shoes, shirts etc.).
  • Official "dodgeballs" will be supplied.
  • Six dodgeballs will be used per court.

Playing Time, Time-outs, and Player Substitutions

  • Matches will be decided using the best of 5 format. The first team to win 3 games willbe declared the winner of the match.
  • There is a 10-minute time limit for each game.
  • Games not finished in the allotted time will be decided by a head count. If there is atie, then Sudden Death will be played.
  • If the match ends in a tie then a Sudden Death overtime period will be played. Inovertime the first team to legally eliminate a player will be declared the winner.
  • Each team is allowed one 60 second time-out per match.

Beginning Play

Play begins with all players positioned behind their team's endline.

The Rush

  • The Rush occurs at the beginning of each game or reset.
  • Upon the official's signal, both teams rush to center court and attempt to retrieve as many balls as possible.
  • A team may rush with as many or as few players as it wants, but at least one person from each team has to Rush.
  • There is no limit to how many balls an individual player may retrieve.
  • Players may not slide or dive head first into the neutral zone or they will be called out.
  • Crossing over the neutral zone will result in an "out."
  • Players may not physically grab and pull another player across the neutral zone or prevent them from returning to their side of the court.

Putting a Ball in Play

The player and the ball must go completely behind the attack line. During the Rush, any ball retrieved from the neutral zone must be returned behind the attack line before it may be thrown at an opponent. A ball that hasn't crossed the attack line is considered a dead ball, any hits or catches are voided plays.

There are several ways to put a ball into play following a Rush.

  • A player carries the ball across the attack line.
  • A player passes the ball a teammate who is behind or carries it across the attack line.
  • A player rebounds the ball off the back wall of a closed court.

Time Outs

  • Each team is allowed one 60 second time-out per match.

Headshots – ARE NOT ALLOWED

  • A headshot occurs when a player is hit directly in the head by a high thrown ball.
  • Any thrower committing a headshot will be deemed "out."
  • A player CAN NOT intentionally lower (duck) their head in order to cause a head shot.

Outs

  • Player shall be deemed "out" when a live ball hits any part of the player's body, clothing, or uniform.
  • If a player is hit by a live ball rebounding off another player or ball lying on the court.
  • A defending player catches a live ball they have thrown
  • If a thrown ball is deflected off a player/ball and then caught before it hits the ground, the thrower is out.
  • Players shall return from the Queue in the order they were put "out" (i.e. first "out," first "in").

Miscellaneous

  • Out-Of-Bounds: A player hit, a ball caught, or a ball thrown outside the boundaries of the court does not count as an out.
  • A ball rebounding off a wall, backboard, etc. and caught or hitting a player does not eliminate any players.
  • When all the players of a team have been declared out, the other team wins the game and the score is reported to the official. A new game begins if time is remaining.

Blocking

  • Players can defend themselves by blocking the ball in flight with another ball but must retain control over the ball they are blocking with.
  • A player dropping or losing possession of the blocking ball is deemed "out."
  • Any blocked ball rebounding off another ball is considered live.
  • Any player hit by the rebounding ball is deemed "out."

Area of Eliminated Players

  • Eliminated players will form line on their side of the court next to the end line. These players must remain in the order that they were eliminated with the first person eliminated closest to the end line. Every time a ball is “caught” the eliminated players from that team can re-enter the game in the order eliminated.
  • Eliminated players may throw an out-of-bounds ball back to their team; they may not throw a ball at the other team or hold on to the ball. If an eliminated player holds on to a ball, the official or supervisor will warn them to throw the ball to a teammate or roll it away from them. If they do not comply within 5 seconds after the warning, one of their teammates will be eliminated by the opposing team’s choice.
  • Players who are substitutes may enter the game any time a ball is “caught” in place of an eliminated player. Substitutes must be in the “queue” in order to enter the game. Anyone not involved in the game is only allowed to retrieve dodgeballs that go beyond the boundaries of the court.

Boundaries

  • During play, all players must remain in the boundary lines.
  • Players must pass through their end line only to retrieve stray balls. A stray ball is one that has not been picked up and is lying on the ground.
  • When retrieving a ball, the player must also immediately re-enter the playing area only through their end line.

Note: A player not immediately re-entering the playing area may be declared out.

  • A player may be handed a ball, provided the player receiving the ball remains completely within their teams’ field boundaries.
  • A player may be declared out if:

• Any part of their body contacts the playing surface on or over sideline.

• They enter or re-enter the field through the sideline.

• They leave the playing area to avoid being hit by or attempt to catch a ball.

• They have any part of their body cross the centerline and contact the ground on their opponents’ side of the court.

Pinching - The act of squeezing the ball in order to alter the thrown or blocked ball is not allowed.

Stalling - The act of intentionally delaying the game.

  • If a referee determines that a player or team is stalling, the referee will warn player or team. If the stalling continues, at the referees discretion, player or team will lose possession of all balls on their side.
  • If both teams are stalling a reset should occur

Out of Bounds Rule

  • If any part of the player's body touches the endlines or far neutral zone line, the player shall be deemed "out".
  • Momentum may carry a player out of bounds while making a catch. Providing control of the ball was established prior going out of bounds.

Neutral Zone Rule

The neutral zone the area centered around the centerline. Any player crossing over the neutral zone is deemed "out."

Sacrifice Fly

An airborne attack, where an attacking player may legally cross the neutral zone to hit an opponent but the ball must leave the attacker's hand before any part of the attacker's body touches the opponent's territory. If successful, the player hit is out and Attacking player remains in.

*Only the captain or designated captain can approach officials or activity supervisors during or after the game.