Dodgeball

Fast, high-energy matches with full rulebook play.

Overview

Diamond City Sports Dodgeball is an elimination-style game played 6-on-6 on a divided court. Teams aim to eliminate all opposing players by hitting them with thrown balls while catching, blocking, and dodging to stay in play. A regulation match lasts 30 minutes, and the team that wins the most games wins overall.

Rules

The Court

The court divides into two 30’ x 30’ areas with a 4’ x 30’ neutral zone at center court.
An attack line runs parallel 10’ from the center line.
Total court length: 60’ endline to endline. Width: 30’ sideline to sideline.

Equipment

Six regulation-size balls are used.
Ball layout: Blocker, Stinger, Blocker, Blocker, Stinger, Blocker.

Players & Substitutions

Teams consist of up to 12 players with 6 per game.
Substitutions must be made before the start of a game (except for injury).

Retrievers

Retrievers retrieve out-of-play balls and are provided by each team from non-active players.
Retrievers may not enter the court and may only field balls from their side.

Matches

A regulation match lasts 30 minutes; the team winning the most games wins overall.
Game type is elimination: play continues until one team eliminates all opponents.

The Rush

At the official’s signal, both teams rush to center court to retrieve balls. At least one player per team must rush; no limit on balls per player.
Players may not slide or dive head-first into the neutral zone (called out). Crossing the neutral zone is an out. Players may not grab and pull an opponent across the neutral zone.

Putting a Ball in Play

The player and ball must go completely behind the attack line. Balls from the neutral zone must return behind the attack line before being thrown. A ball not crossing the attack line is dead; hits/catches are voided.

Outs

A player is out when:

A live ball hits any part of their body, clothing, or uniform.
They’re hit by a ball rebounding off another player or ball.
A defender catches their thrown ball.
Out of bounds: touching the out-of-bounds or attack-zone line is an out (momentum on a catch is at the referee’s discretion).
Kamikaze: an attacker may cross the attack line to hit an opponent, but the ball must leave their hand before any part of their body touches the opponent’s territory - success eliminates the opponent; failure eliminates the attacker.
Headshots: a high ball hitting a player directly in the head puts the thrower out; the receiver stays in.

Revival, Blocking & Other

Revival: an eliminated player returns when a teammate catches an opposing throw (in order of elimination).
Blocking: players may block a ball with another ball but must keep control of the blocking ball; dropping it is an out. Rebounds are live.
Pinching: squeezing the ball to alter a throw or block is not allowed.
Stalling: when no balls are in motion, the referee counts to 10, then resets with a new Rush.
There are no team timeouts.

Council

The Dodgeball Council monitors finances, rules, and league structure to ensure continued success and charitable endeavors.

Kevin Sickle (President), Nick Budzyn, Andy Peck