Benfield Sportscenter Dodgeball Rules
The Court
· The official dimensions for a regulation court are as follows:
· The court is divided into two 30' X 30' areas, with a 4' X 30' neutral zone located at center court separating the two sides, an attack line located parallel and 10' from the center line, for a total court length of 60' from endline to endline, and a total width of 30' from sideline to sideline.
Equipment
· 6 regulation size balls should be used
Players
· Teams consist of six players with up to four substitutes. All players must be in uniform.
· Coed teams may consist of either gender, however at least two players of each gender must participate at the start of each game.
· Open teams may consist of either gender. Any ratio of men and women may participate, including all male and all female teams.
Substitutions
Substitutions must be made prior to the start of the game. No substitutions can be made during a game, except in cases of injury.
Retrievers
Retrievers are individuals designated to retrieve balls that go out of play. Teams are responsible for providing retrievers. The number of retrievers required will determined by the tournament director.
Or you may use players that are out as retrievers.
· Retrievers may not enter the court at any time.
· Retrievers may not wear jerseys of the same style as their team uniform.
· Retrievers are only allowed to field balls from their side of the court.
Matches
A regulation match consists of a pre-determined odd number of games of a single game type. The number of games and/or the time allotted may be altered to best suit time and attendance.
Scoring/Matches
Teams will play as many games as possible in allotted time. After time has passed team with the most wins will be considered the winner of the match-up. If game is tied, a 5 minute overtime will be played.
Overtime
Overtime will be 5 minutes in length. Team with the most players remaining after 5 minutes will be considered the winner. If both teams have the same amount of players remaining. Play will begin with 3 balls given to each team. First team to "out" another player will be considered the winner.
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
Teams will be allowed 1x30second time out per game
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
· Players shall return from the Queue in the order they were put "out" (i.e. first "out," first "in").
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."
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 is a 4' by 30' area centered around the centerline. A player may safely step into the neutral zone but not across. 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.
Headshots
· 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."
· The official dimensions for a regulation court are as follows:
· The court is divided into two 30' X 30' areas, with a 4' X 30' neutral zone located at center court separating the two sides, an attack line located parallel and 10' from the center line, for a total court length of 60' from endline to endline, and a total width of 30' from sideline to sideline.
Equipment
· 6 regulation size balls should be used
Players
· Teams consist of six players with up to four substitutes. All players must be in uniform.
· Coed teams may consist of either gender, however at least two players of each gender must participate at the start of each game.
· Open teams may consist of either gender. Any ratio of men and women may participate, including all male and all female teams.
Substitutions
Substitutions must be made prior to the start of the game. No substitutions can be made during a game, except in cases of injury.
Retrievers
Retrievers are individuals designated to retrieve balls that go out of play. Teams are responsible for providing retrievers. The number of retrievers required will determined by the tournament director.
Or you may use players that are out as retrievers.
· Retrievers may not enter the court at any time.
· Retrievers may not wear jerseys of the same style as their team uniform.
· Retrievers are only allowed to field balls from their side of the court.
Matches
A regulation match consists of a pre-determined odd number of games of a single game type. The number of games and/or the time allotted may be altered to best suit time and attendance.
Scoring/Matches
Teams will play as many games as possible in allotted time. After time has passed team with the most wins will be considered the winner of the match-up. If game is tied, a 5 minute overtime will be played.
Overtime
Overtime will be 5 minutes in length. Team with the most players remaining after 5 minutes will be considered the winner. If both teams have the same amount of players remaining. Play will begin with 3 balls given to each team. First team to "out" another player will be considered the winner.
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
Teams will be allowed 1x30second time out per game
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
· Players shall return from the Queue in the order they were put "out" (i.e. first "out," first "in").
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."
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 is a 4' by 30' area centered around the centerline. A player may safely step into the neutral zone but not across. 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.
Headshots
· 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."
