Co-ed Dodgeball Rules

Unless otherwise noted in the rules, the USA Dodgeball rule book will be followed.

THE TEAM

Teams will be made up of 8-16 players. Out of the eight (8) players, teams may play with four (4) males & four (4) females or five (5) males & three (3) females on each side; others will be available as substitutes.
Substitutes may enter between games in the place of a teammate (male for male, female for female) or during a game in the place of an injured teammate.
If necessary, a team may start a game with fewer than 8 players, but there is a minimum of 6 players.
- The 6 player team may play with four (4) males and two (2) females or three (3) males and three (3) females.
- The 7 player team may play with four (4) males and three (3) females or three (3) males and four (4) females.
Teams may play with fewer than required if both teams are in agreement and the referee approves.

PICK-UP PLAYERS

A team will be allowed to pick-up a maximum of 3 players (either gender) from another team in the league ONLY if they are unable to field a team of 8 players.

THE FIELD

The game may be played indoors or outdoors. The playing field shall be a rectangular surface free from obstructions and 60 ft long and 30 ft wide. The court size may vary by location. The court is then divided into two (2) equal sections by a center-line and two attack-lines 10' from and parallel to the centerline.

THE EQUIPMENT

The official balls used in tournament and league play will be a 7″ weighed foam dodgeball.
Five (5) colored dodgeballs will be used in a regulation game.
Participants must wear shoes, shirts/tops and shorts/pants.
All clothes/uniforms are considered part of the player’s body
Gloves or foreign substances (which can be transferred to the ball) designed to improve catching ability are not allowed on the hands or arms. One cotton wristband on each wrist is acceptable.

THE GAME

Teams will play two 20 minute halves. Teams will play as many games as they can within each half. If there are any players left on the court at the end of 7 minutes, the team with the greater number of players will be declared the winners of that match. If there are an even number of players, the match will result in a draw.
Games will begin with each team occupying opposite ends of the court, by the baselines). Teams will alternate sides following halftime.
The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them “OUT”. This may be done by:
- Hitting an opposing player with a LIVE thrown ball below the neck. (Note: If a player ducks or takes a position with their head below where their neck would normally be when standing, i.e. crouching, kneeling, sitting, diving, rolling or laying and this clearly is the cause for the player being hit above the shoulders, the player is OUT and the throw is considered legal). A LIVE ball is a thrown ball that strikes or is caught by an opposing player without/before contacting the ground, another player, a held ball, a non-held ball, official or other object.
- Legally catching a LIVE ball thrown by your opponent before it touches the ground.
- Causing an opponent to lose control of a held ball as a result of contact by a thrown LIVE ball (usually occurs when a ball is being used to block a thrown ball)
- An opposing player stepping out of bounds.
Head hunting will be strictly enforced. Head Shots is defined as striking an opposing player while in an upright/standing position above the shoulder area which includes the head, face and neck. Any head shots (intentional or not) the thrower is OUT. In addition, multiple head shot offenders are subject to our 3 & OUT policy. For the first headshot, the thrower is OUT and must take his/her spot on the sideline wall. For the second headshot by the same thrower, they are OUT for that game and must exit the dodgeball court into the substitution area and the team will play down a player for the remainder of that game. The third headshot by the same thrower results in ejection from the match, they must exit the dodgeball court and are no longer eligible for the remainder of that evening’s match.
If a player is hit in the head, gameplay will stop to allow them to recompose or sub in another player if needed.
Male players MUST throw the ball past your opponent’s 10′ attack line at all times! Failure to throw past the attack line will result in that players being called out. This rule does not apply if there is a player inside the attack line.
Female players may advance over the center-line up to her opponent’s 10' attack line at any time during the game.
A player may block a thrown ball with a ball being held, provided the holder does not lose possession. If the blocked ball is dropped and hits a dead object (ie the floor, another player, another ball,) the player is out.
The ball is live until it hits a dead object (wall or ground) so if you block into yourself or another player, they are out. One out per ball deflection.
A live ball deflecting off the body of Player “A” remains live to all teammates. If Player “A” or any other teammate legally catches the deflected ball, only the thrower is OUT.
Once a player is OUT, they must drop any balls in hand and exit the playing field at the sideline determined by the official. If an OUT player intentionally contacts a live ball or interferes in any way with play before exiting the playing field, the player is out for the match. A 2nd offense will result in the player being disqualified for the night.
Players that are OUT or eliminated need to line up side-by-side in the order they are OUT at the sideline wall. Once a teammate makes a legal catch (defined below) the first eliminated player in line may re-enter the game and is inactive/safe for 3 seconds, however, if they pick up a ball within that 3 seconds - they will be considered 'active'.
During the three (3) second grace period, the player re-entering is not yet eligible to throw balls at the opposing team, nor can they catch the opposing team ball until the grace period has ended.
Players that are OUT or eliminated are not allowed to "shag" balls to keep them on their side of the court. First offense is a warning, 2nd offense and the player is out for the match. 3rd offense, the player is disqualified for the game.
Kicking the dodgeball is not allowed at any time during the game, balls must be thrown, tossed or rolled by hand. A warning will be passed onto a player who kicks any ball. A second violation, that player will be OUT.

LEGAL CATCHES

A player demonstrates control of a live thrown ball (by opponent) with at least one foot inbounds, on the playing surface, and no other part of the player out of bounds. Result: thrower is out.
An inbound, airborne player/catcher demonstrates control of a live thrown ball (by opponent) Result: thrower is out. Airborne Catcher: A player that leaves the playing surface from inbounds-prior to catching the ball in an attempt to catch a thrown ball. If the ball is controlled while airborne and before going out of bounds, the catch is legal.
If an airborne player lands out of bounds they are immediately OUT. Note: In this case, if control is demonstrated by the catcher before landing out of bounds both the thrower and catcher are OUT – in that order.
A player that contacts (is hit with) a live thrown ball inbounds and in an attempt to catch it leaves the floor, the player must control the ball with one foot inbounds for the catch to be legal. Note: A player may not become airborne (even if they control the ball while airborne) following the initial contact with the live ball and subsequently land out of bounds. The player must land inbounds.
Momentum Catches are out, i.e. a player makes a catch with one foot in bounds, then immediately steps out of bounds, that catching player and thrower are out.

BOUNDARIES

During play, all players must remain within the boundary lines.
Any ball able to be retrieved by a player still in bounds on their side of the court is considered legal. You can reach over the center line to retrieve a ball from the opponent’s court, as long as no part of the body touches the opponent's court. Reaching over the line will result in the ball being forfeited.
A player shall not have any part of their body cross over the center-line and contact the ground on their opponents’ side of the court. (Officials will take exception during the opening rush if some players cross the center-line. Players will only be called OUT at this time if they have crossed the line and a definite advantage is gained by the action).
When only one male player remains on each team, those male players may advance over the center-line up to their opponents Attack Line. If one male player remains on one team and one female player remains on the opposing team the male player can only advance up to the center line.
Note: Any player initiating physical contact with an opponent will be ejected, forfeit the game and face possible suspension.

THE OPENING RUSH

Game begins by placing the 5 dodgeballs along the center-line. Players then take a position against the end wall with a hand or a foot placed against that wall. Following a signal by the official, 2-3 players from each team may approach the center-line to retrieve the 2-3 balls on their right side. This signal officially starts the contest. Players MAY NOT LEAVE THEIR FEET when retrieving the ball. Once a ball is retrieved it must be taken behind the attack-line before it can be legally thrown. The thrower must also get both feet behind the attack-line before the ball can be legally thrown. A retriever may toss the ball to a teammate standing behind the attack-line and they may legally throw the ball.
If a team fails to retrieve their 2-3 dodgeballs in the initial rush, the opposing team may grab their opponents dodgeballs after their 2-3 dodgeballs have been brought back or thrown behind their attack line.
A False Start will be called if players leave the end wall prior to the official’s signal to start the game. Result: Play will be stopped, players must reset at the end wall and await the next official’s signal. A second offense, and the player is out.

TIMING AND WINNING A MATCH

Teams will play two 20 minute halves. Teams will play as many games as they can within each half. If there are any players left on the court at the end of 7 minutes, the team with the greater number of players will be declared the winners of that match. If there are an even number of players, the match will result in a draw.
The team with more games won out of the 40 minutes will be declared the winner of the match.
Matches ending in an equal amount of games won will be scored as a tie.
Please note, FXA Sports reserves the right to shorten game times if necessary. i.e. started late, injury timeout, facility constraints, etc.

RETRIEVING BALLS

During play, any ball able to be retrieved by a player still in bounds on there side of the court is considered legal. You cannot reach over the center line to retrieve a ball from the opponent’s court. If a player makes this offense, that ball will be forfeited to the other team.
Balls may also re-enter the playing field from the sideline by an eliminated player (passed, rolled or handed to active players). Eliminated players must maintain a hand or a foot placed against the sideline wall.

TEAM ADVANTAGE & STALLING

The team with the advantage at any time during the game will be instructed to throw by the official and cannot hold the balls in an attempt to run time clock down, which is stalling. The team with the advantage has 10 seconds to throw the ball, otherwise they will forfeit (and roll) all their balls to the opposing team. Team Advantage includes the following:
- The team that has more live players on the court anytime following the opening rush. If a team is playing down a player at the start of a game the opposing team will begin that game with the advantage and be instructed to throw following the opening rush.
- The team that has more dodgeballs in their possession when both teams have the same amount of live players on the court anytime following the opening rush. (e.g. both teams have 4 live players and one team has 4 or more dodgeballs in their possession the team with more dodgeballs will be instructed to throw by the official)
In order to reduce stalling, a violation will be called if a team in the lead holds any ball(s) on their side of the court for more than 10 seconds.
Players on the team with the advantage must throw the ball over into the opponent’s court. Male players must attempt throws beyond the opponent’s attack line. Females that continually toss or roll the balls back to their opponent will result in a warning. If a team continues this act, an eliminated player from the opposing team will be allowed to re-enter the game.
Balls must be thrown in range to hit a person in the game (10 feet or lower). By the discretion of the referees, balls aimed above this height will count as stalling and the player will be issued a warning and then will be eliminated if it continues. (In the MOTT Center, balls must be aimed below the mats on the wall).

RULE ENFORCEMENT

The honor code will be in place to assist referees in making close calls. Be respectful of the game and remove yourself when you know you’ve been hit.

UNSPORTMANLIKE CONDUCT

FXA Sports endorses the principles of good sportsmanship, and is committed to fostering a community of respect, tolerance and safety for all participants. Please see our Code of Conduct for our community expectations. Violations will not be tolerated by FXA Sports.

Unsportsmanlike actions can include, but are not limited to, the following:

Fighting, pushing or excessively violent fouls,
Verbal/physical abuse directed toward an official or opponent,
Profanity or obscene gestures,
Racially, ethnically, gender, or other identity-motivated language,
Sexual Harassment,
Taunting, trash talking, baiting or physically intimidating an official or opponent,
Cheating,
Throwing or abusing equipment.

Penalties for Select Unsportsmanlike Conduct:

1st offense is a verbal warning
2nd offense, the player(s) are OUT for that match and must exit the dodgeball court into the substitution area and the team will play down a player for the remainder of that match.
3rd offense results in ejection from the game, the player(s) must exit the dodgeball court & facility and are no longer eligible for the remainder of the game (all matches). This may also result in a league suspension.

Last Updated 4-6-23