BlackMountain Recreation & Parks
2009 Recreational, Open & Coed Dodgeball Rules
OFFICIAL RULES
The Dodgeball World Cup will follow the rules set forth by the National Amateur Dodgeball Association (NADA). The following is an abbreviated version of the rules printed in the Official NADA Rule Book
THE TEAM
Teams will be made up of 6-10 players. Six (6) players will compete on a side; others will be available as substitutes. Substitutes may enter the game only during timeouts or in the case of injury.
THE FIELD
The game may be played indoors or outdoors. The playing field shall be a rectangle at least 50 ft long and at least 30 ft wide, divided into two (2) equal sections by a center-line and attack-lines 3m from, and parallel to the centerline.
IDEAL MEASUREMENTS: 60’ x 30’ – Identical to a volleyball court.
THE EQUIPMENT
The official ball used in tournament and league play will be an 8" rubber-coated foam ball.
THE GAME
The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them "OUT". This may be done by:
1. Hitting an opposing player with a LIVE thrown ball below the shoulders.
2. Catching a LIVE ball thrown by your opponent before it touches the ground.
Definition: LIVE: A ball that has been thrown and has not touched anything, including the floor/ground, another ball, another player, official or other item outside of the playing field (wall, ceiling, etc)
BOUNDARIES
During play, all players must remain within the boundary lines. Players may leave the boundaries through their end-line only to retrieve stray balls. They must also return through their end-line.
THE OPENING RUSH
Game begins by placing the dodgeballs along the center line – three (3) on one side of the center hash and three (3) on the other. Players then take a position behind their end line. Following a signal by the official, teams may approach the centerline to retrieve the balls. This signal officially starts the contest. Teams may only retrieve the three (3) balls to their right of the center hash. Once a ball is retrieved it must be taken behind the attack-line before it can be legally thrown.
TIMING AND WINNING A GAME
The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be declared the winner. A 5-minute time limit has been established for each contest. If neither team has been eliminated at the end of the 5 minutes, the team with the greater number of players remaining will be declared the winner. In the case of an equal number of players remaining after regulation, a 1-minute sudden-death overtime period will be played. Details on overtime can be found in the NADA Rule Book.
TIME-OUTS & SUBSTITUTIONS
Each team will be allowed one (1) 30 second timeout per game. At this time a team may substitute players into the game.
5-SECOND VIOLATION
In order to reduce stalling, a violation will be called if a team in the lead controls the majority of balls on their side of the court for more than 5 seconds. More details can be found in the NADA Rule Book
RULE ENFORCEMENT
During pool play or regular-season matches, rules will be enforced primarily by the "honor system"*. Players will be expected to rule whether or not a hit was legal or whether they were legally eliminated. All contests will be supervised by a court monitor*. The court monitor’s responsibility will be to rule on any situation in which teams cannot agree.
THE COURT MONITOR’S DECISION IS FINAL – NO EXCEPTIONS.
The following rules are in addition to or amendments to the 2009 NADA dodgeball rules:
RULE 1 PLAYERS, FIELD & EQUIPMENT
Section 1: Team
Teams will be made up of 5 – 10 players. A minimum of 3 players will compete on a side with a 5 player maximum per game; others will be available as substitutes. CO-ED At least two players must be female to start game.
Substitutes may enter the match only between games or in the case of injury.
Players may be added to the roster at any time. A player may not be on more than one team’s roster. Players must play in regular season to be eligible for playoffs.
Section 3: Boundaries
During play, all players must remain within the boundary lines.
When retrieving a ball that has left the play area, the player must immediately re-enter the playing field only through the Back Line.
NOTE: A player not immediately re-entering the playing area may be declared out.
A player shall not leave the playing field to avoid being hit by, or attempt to catch, a ball. A player that is out of bounds retrieving a ball that is struck by a ball thrown by an opponent will be declared out.
RESULT: Player Is OUT.
A player shall not have any part of their body cross over the center-line and contact the ground on their opponent’s side of the court except during opening rush.
RESULT: Player is OUT.
Balls that leave the playing area can only be rolled into the playing area.
Balls that cross the center-line out of bounds can only be retrieved by the team on that side of the court.
Result: A player that is in the game will be declared OUT.
To leave the playing area you must exit through the back line, once you are outside the cones you are not eligible to be put out.
Section 4: Equipment
The official ball will be supplied by BMRP and will be an 8” rubber coated foam ball.
There will be 6 balls (co-ed) 6 (open league) in play for all official games.
Participants must wear shoes, numbered shirt (3” Numbers min.), & shorts/pants.
RULE 2 GAME PLAY
Live Ball (Def.) – A thrown ball that strikes, or is caught by, an opposing player without/before contacting the ground, a wall, a dead ball or another player.
Section 1: The Game
Art. 3 Head shots will be counted as an out only when a players head is below their normal shoulder height. (Co-ed) (i.e. crouching or kneeling). A head shot will not result in the thrower being called out, unless there have been previous warnings. See unsportsmanlike conduct R3S7
Head Shots in Open League will count as an out to the player that was hit.
Intentionally kicking the ball into the other teams area will result in the kicker being called out.
A ball that is blocked into anyone’s head will be declared an out.
Attack Lines:The ball must cross behind the attack line before it can be legally thrown at an opponent.
The suicide attack will be a legal attack.
A ball must cross the attack line before it is declared in one team’s possession.
Ex. A player may not place the ball just across the center line to start a 5 second count.
Section 2: Timing, Timeouts, & Substitutions
Art. 1 A 20-minute time limit has been established for each match.
Art. 2 Each team will be allowed TWO 45-second timeouts per match. Can be called at any time, must be granted by referee.
Section 3: Beginning the Game
Art. 1 A standard game will have6 balls, 3 on each side of hash mark.
Art. 2 Players will take a position entirely behind the back line.
Section 5: Declaring a winner
Art. 2 Games that begin before the end of regulation time will be played out.
Section 6: Overtime
Art. 1 Game Overtime—When a game is down to one on one the remaining players will have 1 minute to complete the game. At the end of that one minute overtime will begin play up to the other teams attack line.
Art. 2 Match Overtime--Only used in playoffs if match is tied after twenty minute regulation. One standard game will be played to determine winner.
Section 7: Stalling & 5 second violation
Art. 1 It is illegal for ANY team controlling majority of the balls for more than 5 seconds. See NADA rule book for penalties. EX. If there is one player left on Team A & Team B, the player from Team A controls all balls. This player has 5-seconds to get rid of one ball, then the count begins to get rid of second ball.
The balls must be in a playable area for the count to begin. i.e. No placing the balls just over the center line to get a count on a player that is in the back of the playing area.
Art. 2 For the first violation of this rule all balls are evenly distributed among both teams. Also the violating team will be penalized one ball. For the second violation of this rule the player closest to the referee from the violating team will be put out of the game.
Art. 3 When there is even disbursement of balls between the teams, the team with the most players will be counted down by the referee.
If there are equal numbers between the two teams the team on the home (north side) will be counted down by the referee.
RULE 3 OFFICIALS & THEIR DUTIES
See NADA Rule Book for Details.
(An official is part of the playing field and WILL not move when a ball is going to strike them.)
RULE 4 LEAGUE FORMAT & TIE-BREAKERS
Playoffs, Standings & Matches:
Matches: will be 20 minutes in length. Winner of most games in time limit will be match winner. If there is a tie after the time limit (Ex. 2 games a piece) the match will end in a tie. At the end of the match each team mgr or player representative will be required to sign off the results of the match in the standings & results book.
Standings: will be determined on a points system.
2 points = match win
1 point = match tie
0 points = match loss
Standings tie-breakers will be as follows:
1. Head to head matches won
2. Head to head games won.
3. Overall match wins
4. Total games won
5. Coin flip
Forfeits
Teams are expected to be ready to play immediately at scheduled time. Clock will start at game time. If a team is not able to field 3 players after 5 minutes the first game will be a forfeit, after 7 minutes the second game, and after 10 minutes the match will be considered a forfeit. The winning team of a forfeited match will be given a 11-0 match victory.