Dodgeball Tournament
Rules of the Game

General Information

• The game shall be played between two teams of 6 players.
• The co-ed rule is in effect for all games: two members of any under-represented gender must be on the field of play at all times. A team may start and play with one member of any under-represented gender but must play a person-down until the second person of any under-represented gender arrives at the game. Participants are not permitted to "jump" teams and must stay on only one team. Failure to observe these guidelines will result in a forfeit by the offending team.
• The team may start the game with 5 players but the co-ed rule must still be observed.
• A match will be 45 minutes in length with the clock running continuously. The match will be won by the team who, after the time limit has expired, won the most number of games.
• In the case that time has expired and both teams have won the same number of games, there will be one winner-takes-all game to determine the match winner.

Boundaries

• All games will be played in the Aux Gym which is located on the middle level of the El Pomar Sports Center.
• The field will be divided into two equal sections by a center boundary line.
• An attack line will be highlighted 10 feet to each side of the center line - female-identifying players are permitted to enter this area to throw balls at any time during the game. Male-identifying players can only approach an opponent's attack line when either team is down to 2 players.
• During play, all players must remain within the boundary lines.
• When retrieving a ball that has been thrown out of bounds, an active player may retrieve the ball and must re-enter on their side of the field via the end line.
• Players going out of bounds will be declared out unless they are attempting to retrieve a ball that has gone out of bounds.
• All balls are live until they hit the ground; balls off the side and back wall are live.
• The 3 walls are "in play" in the Small Gym -- the sideline wall/line in which the players hang out is out of play.

The Game

• 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 thrown ball below the shoulders.
• Catching a ball thrown by your opponent before it touches the ground.
• Causing an opponent to drop a held ball as a result of contact from a live ball.
• If a player steps out of bounds attempting to avoid a live ball.
• A player may block a thrown ball with a ball being held, provided the held ball is not dropped as a result of the contact with the thrown ball. If the ball is dropped, the player is declared out.
• If a player catches a live ball (one that has not hit the ground), the thrower is out and everyone hit by the thrown ball remains in. (Example. Player A throws a ball and hits their opponent, Player B. The ball bounces off of Player B and is caught by Player C. Because the ball is still live and caught, Player A is out and both Player B and Player C remain in the game.
• The game will begin with eight dodgeballs being placed along the center line, 4 balls on the far right and 4 balls on the far left of the center line.
• Players take a position touching their respective back walls.
• On the whistle from the official, teams may approach the center line to retrieve the balls. Teams may only retrieve the balls to the far right on the center line. Any ball not retrieved after the initial rush may be picked up by either team.
• Each and every ball that is retrieved from the center line on the opening rush must be taken back beyond the attack line before the ball may be legally thrown at an opponent.
• The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be declared the winner of the game.
• At any point of the game when either team gets down to two or less players in the field, both teams are permitted to go up to the opposing team's attack line. This line, in effect, becomes the new center line until the game is concluded.

Rule Enforcement

• 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 illegally eliminated.
• An intramural official will be present to start the game, score games and match results, and offer clarification and final decisions in situations where teams cannot agree.
  
  Rev. 3/17/2022