Redball Dodgeball Rules
DODGEBALL LEAGUE RULES 1.18.23
Redball Shirts
- Redball Dodgeball shirts must be worn every game, including when wearing an outfit for the social theme.
Teams
- In general, teams will comprise of:
- 8-9 males.
- 3-4 females.
- Team compositions may change season-to-season depending on league numbers.
Minimum Players On Field
- Male: minimum 5 players.
- Female: minimum 2 players.
- If these minimums are not met, a number of points are given to the opposing team depending on how many players are available to play:
- 4 males: 1 point.
- 2 males: 2 points.
- 1 female: 1 point.
- 0 females: 2 points.
Substitutes
- If a team is missing players, they may take a sub from another team.
- Subs do not count toward player minimums.
- Subs may only be vetoed by the league commissioner.
- The opposing team does not have a right-by-rule to deny a sub.
- In the event the league commissioner is unavailable, refs are given veto power.
- Individuals who are not currently registered with the league may sub for a fee determined by the league commissioner.
- Subs are not permitted for the playoffs.
Team Captains
- Team captains should know the rules of the game and make sure their players follow them.
- Only team captains are allowed to interact with the refs
o This should be done during a timeout, between games or if the ref has stopped play.
Field
- The game may be played indoors or outdoors.
- The playing field shall be a rectangle divided into two equal sections by a center-line.
- The playing field shall have two attack lines running parallel to and 5 feet away from the center line.
- Boundaries:
- Players may move up to the farthest attack line to throw.
- Partially crossing this line results in a line warning for the entire team. Any player who crosses the line after this first warning is out.
- Fully crossing this line results in an out, regardless of whether there was a line warning. If there was no line warning, a line warning is now issued.
- Any throw made by a player who crosses this line is considered a live-ball as long as the player�¢??s foot was behind the line before the ball was released.
- If playing outdoors, players who cross the sidelines are out.
- Players may cross the backline in order to shag balls, however, they must also return to the field of play through this backline or they are out.
- Players may move up to the farthest attack line to throw.
Equipment
- Ball size: 8' ball, inflated to 7'.
- Ball type: Soft rubber.
- Pinching:
- Players will be given two warnings for pinching a ball.
- After the second warning, pinching will result in an out.
- Pinching is up to the refs discretion.
Match/Game Start
- Ball placement:
- At the start of the first game of the match, 3 balls will be placed on the left and right side of the center line, with 1 ball placed in the middle.
- For all subsequent games after the first, 4 balls will be placed on the side of the losing team from the prior game.
- Players must stand on their sides back line prior to the start of the game.
- Games begin after the refs announce 3-2-1 Dodgeball
- Opening rush:
- Players may rush to the balls on their right.
- If there is a center ball, it is available for any team to grab.
- Ball activation:
- A ball must be activated before it can be considered a live ball.
- A ball must be carried or passed to within 5 feet of the back line before they are activated.
Gameplay
- 7 balls are used during the game.
- Ball control:
- A team is considered to have ball majority if they have 4 or more balls.
- Teams have 10 seconds to throw, toss, roll, etc. enough balls across the center line to no longer have ball majority.
- Balls Over:
- If a team fails to relinquish majority before 10 seconds then they must give all the balls to the opposing team. This is called balls over.
- Balls Over:
- A team wins a game when all of the opposing team's players are out.
- 1 point is then awarded to the winning team.
- If only one man on each team remains, or one woman on each team remains, then a 1v1 will commence to determine the winner of the point.
- If one man remains on one team and one woman on the other team, there is no 1v1 and the game will be played to normal completion.
- The team with the most points at the end of regulation wins the match.
Regulation Time
- Match length: 40 minutes or 50 minutes.
- Match length may change season-to-season.
- Half time:
- Teams will switch sides after around half of regulation time has passed.
- End of regulation:
- Matches separated by 1 or more points: the game ends.
- Tied games:
- Regular Season:
- If less than half of the players remain for both teams, then the game will be played to completion.
- If more than half of the players remain for both teams, the game ends and a 2v2 will commence. The winners of the 2v2 will win the match.
- If time is not permitting then a game may end in a tie during the regular season, at the discretion of the league commissioner.
- Playoffs:
- The final game will be played to completion regardless of how many players remain.
- Regular Season:
- Time outs:
- Each team has one 30 second timeout for the match that may be called in-between games.
- Refs may pause a game at any point for any reason
- Examples (but not limited to):
- Injuries.
- To discuss a call with other refs.
- Team's will resume play with the same number of balls as when play was paused.
- Unless the refs make a call stating otherwise.
- Examples (but not limited to):
1v1 and 2v2
- 1v1 occurs when there is only one player remaining on both teams of the same sex.
- If one man remains on one team and one woman remains on the other team, then 1v1 does not commence and the game will continue until normal conclusion.
- 2v2 occurs at the end of regulation in the event of a tie.
- One man and one woman from each team will participate.
- Rules:
- Each player starts with two balls.
- These are the only balls that will be considered in play for the duration of the 1v1/2v2.
- Players may only pick up and throw balls that were in play at the start of the 1v1/2v2.
- Only players in the 1v1/2v2 may pick up balls. Teammates not in play may not shag balls.
- Players may utilize the entire field; there is no penalty for crossing the throwing line.
- A ball must be thrown in order for it to eliminate an opponent.
- Tagging an opponent with a ball does not count as an out. The ball must be thrown.
- If an opponent takes a ball from your hand then you are out.
- Each player starts with two balls.
- Simultaneous hits
- This only applies during a 1v1 or if there is only one player from each side remaining during a 2v2
- If neither player catches the ball, then the player that was hit first is out.
- If the timing of the hits is too close to determine who was hit first, then the player who was hit by the ball that touches the ground first is out.
- If neither of the above can be determined:
- Redo the 1v1
- Or for a 2v2, have the two remaining players play a 1v1, regardless of sex.
Outs
- You are out if:
- You are hit by a live ball.
- Your ball is caught.
- Your foot fully crosses the farthest throw line.
- Your foot partially crosses the farthest throw line after a line warning has been given to your team.
- Your foot fully crosses the sideline of an outdoor field.
- You block a ball into yourself.
- You trap a ball on the ground.
- A ref calls you out.
- For any reason.
- You are not out if:
- You are hit by a blocked or dead ball. (see blocking)
- Head shots:
- You are out if a ball hits you in the head or face.
- Unless you were standing straight up while not making any dodgeball moves.
- Dodgeball moves:
- Throwing
- Catching
- Dodging
- Ducking
- Dipping
- Diving
- Dodging
- Dodgeball moves:
- Shoulder/Chest:
- If the ball hits your shoulder or chest in addition to your head or face, you are out no matter what.
- Unless you were standing straight up while not making any dodgeball moves.
- Players who are out:
- Players who are knocked out must exit the field and enter the out-line in the order in which they were knocked out.
- If you skip the line or otherwise break the out-line order, your team will be deducted a point for unsportsmanlike conduct.
- Sportsmanlike Conduct:
- Players are expected to call themselves out if they are hit and not wait for a ref to call them out.
- Repeated infractions can result in expulsion from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct.
- Players are expected to call themselves out if they are hit and not wait for a ref to call them out.
- You are out if a ball hits you in the head or face.
Unsportsmanlike conduct
- Unsportsmanlike conduct will first result in one warning.
- A penalty will be issued after the second unsportsmanlike conduct.
- Penalties:
- Different penalties are used depending on the unsportsmanlike conduct.
- Player is called out:
- Arguing with refs.
- Throwing a non-activated ball on the opening rush at a defenseless player.
- Using the out-line, goal posts, or anything other than a ball or active player as a shield.
- Head shots.
- Two warnings are given for head shots before a penalty is issued instead of one warning.
- Player expulsion:
- Not calling yourself out when obviously, blatantly hit by a ball.
- This rule applies to blatant hits above the knee.
- Does not apply to hits below the knee since a player may not know if the ball hit the ground first.
- Does not apply to a ball skimming a player since a player may not feel being hit.
- Blatant hit:
- When a ball squarely hits a person.
- This rule applies to blatant hits above the knee.
- Purposefully interfering with live balls while walking to the out-line.
- Starting a physical altercation with players or refs.
- Excessive or obscene taunting.
- Arguing with a ref after already being called out for arguing with a ref in the match.
- No warnings for this infraction since a warning was already issued for the prior infraction.
- A sub may not replace an expelled player.
- Not calling yourself out when obviously, blatantly hit by a ball.
- Point deduction:
- Altering the out-line order
Live/Dead Balls
- Live balls:
- A ball is live from the moment it is thrown or tossed, whether overhand or underhand.
- Dead balls: a ball is dead if:
- It hits any player.
- It hits any object or surface.
- It hits another ball.
- See blocking.
- It hits the ground.
- It hits the net (side or ceiling).
- It hits the wall.
- It hits a goal post.
- It hits a boundary marker.
- Etc
- It hits another ball.
- It is caught.
Blocking
- You may block an incoming ball with a ball you are holding.
- If you block a ball and it hits you, you are out.
- If you block a ball and you are able to catch it before it becomes dead from touching another surface, then it counts as a catch.
- If a blocked ball hits any object or player other than the player who blocked the ball, then the ball is dead.
- Players hit by a ball that was blocked by a teammate are not out.
Catches
- Catching a ball brings in a teammate from the out line.
- If throw a ball that is caught, you are out.
- A ball is considered caught if the player uses their hands/body to secure the ball in firm control without the ball touching the ground in any way.
- A ball is considered secured when a player is able to manipulate the ball without dropping it.
- Once this milestone is reached the catch is finalized regardless of whether the ball subsequently leaves the player's possession.
- A ball is considered secured when a player is able to manipulate the ball without dropping it.
- Traps are considered out.
- A trap is when the ball hits the floor and the player at the same time.
- Re-entering the game from the outline:
- The moment you take one step onto the field from the outline you are considered a live player and may be hit out.
- Player must re-enter the game in the order they were thrown out or an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will be called.
- Catch and out
- If you catch a ball but are subsequently hit out, the catch still counts but you are out.
- You cannot catch yourself back in.
- You are out if you are unable to secure the ball before being hit.
- If you catch a ball but are subsequently hit out, the catch still counts but you are out.
Shagging Balls
- Definition: interacting with the balls other than blocking, catching, or throwing at an opposing player.
- Players who are out may not shag (roll, toss, throw, etc) balls to the other team.
- Players who are out may shag balls to their own teammates.