Dodgeball

WDBF foam dodgeballs used at the World Dodgeball Championships

There are many different ball types used around the world, including 8.5 inches (220 mm) rubber, "no-sting" rubber, foam and cloth; versions made with rubber or polyvinyl chloride are termed utility balls. USA Dodgeball uses all ball types across multiple tournaments held by them and their member organizations. The World Dodgeball Federation (WDBF) used primarily foam for their first World Championships, but starting with 2022, both cloth and foam categories were introduced.[1]

The WDBF specifies the use of six balls with six players per side for their World Championships.[2] Various rule sets governing number of balls and players are used around the world depending on the court size, level of play, and the organization's discretion.

The WDA specifies the use of five balls; certain national rule sets, such as in Austria, specify six.[3] Amateur games typically use from three to ten balls, the number tailored to the size of the court and the number of players. More balls generally adds to the amount of action in a game, but can result in stalemate with many blocks. If there are too few balls, the element of stealth is removed, as players can see all the balls that might hit them.

An example of a dodgeball court used in the Elite Dodgeball Invitational

Dodgeball can be played on any surface that has clearly marked boundaries and a center line, such as a basketball or volleyball court or fenced area. Elite Dodgeball specifies a court 50 feet (15 m) by 25 feet (7.6 m), where a zone 10 feet (3.0 m) wide at the junction of the areas is a neutral zone.[4]

Games can also be played outdoors on a soccer pitch or football field. The WDBF organizes games on beaches[5] and USA Dodgeball hosts tournaments at trampoline parks.[6] WDBF specifies a court 60 feet (18 m) by 30 feet (9.1 m) with no neutral zone.[7]

The attacking lines and center lines are of vital importance. A team can stand in its attacking area and throw the balls to opponents.[8]

The following basic tactics are useful:[11]

Clutching the ball with one hand

• Thrower location: Move toward the neutral zone to attack; stay on the back line when not attacking. Do not stand in another player's line of sight. Do not turn your back to the opponents.
• Coordinated attack: Call out to teammates to coordinate multiple attacks on the same opponent, preferably from very different angles. Number the opponents, left-to-right, and call out an attack target by number.
• Throwing technique: Throw with one hand. Aim below the waist to avoid getting caught or making a head shot. Throw when the opponent is distracted. Learn to throw balls so that they curve.[9]

Many local teams and international teams develop their own tactics and calling systems specific to their style of play. These become more complex in higher leagues, which often requires specific training for the players in calling positions such that they can make rapid, tactical decisions.

The main dodgeball competition is the Dodgeball World Championship, held by the World Dodgeball Federation (WDBF). The competition takes place annually since 2012. It was initially an open event, but stopped being an open event as the membership grew, and now works by qualification.[12] In 2021, WDBF's membership reached 80 members, all also members of the relevant continental federations.[13]

In some elementary schools in the United States, a version is played using a circular court. The team outside the circle has the ball or balls, and the team inside must evade the thrown balls. The players who are hit with the ball may change places with the person who hit them, or they may be out of the game and the last person remaining unhit may be the winner. There are variants.[14]

• In Iran, this game has long been one of the common cultural theses called “vassati” (وسطی). People of every age group are familiar with the game and especially they play it when going on a picnic. A player from the middle team who is hit by the ball is out of the game and the game continues in each set until all the players in the middle team get out of the field, although the player who is out can return to the game when their teammates catch the ball.
• On the Indian subcontinent, a variation of the game is played called "Sekan-tadi" (सेकन-तड़ी). This is slang used for "slamming the hip." Other names are எறி பந்து, Gend Tadi and Maram Pitti.
• In China, a variation of the game is played called "Diu Sha Bao" (丢沙包). Instead of a ball, the game is played with a small round sand bag, which is also known as the "Sha Bao" (沙包).
• In Belgium and The Netherlands, a variation is known as “Tussen Twee Vuren” (“Between Two Fires”), which is commonly played in schools. It is also called "trefbal" (hit ball).
• In Poland, a variation is known as "Dwa Ognie" ("Two Fires"), which used to be common in schools.
• In Afrikaans South African schools, a variation named "brandbal" (burning ball) is played with a tennis ball inside a designated area such as a rugby field or tennis court. The objective is for the person in possession of the ball to hit any other player with the ball, in which case the person last hit becomes the next one chasing and hitting the others. A secondary objective is to hit players by throwing as hard as possible, leading to the "burning" sensation.
• In Brazil, dodgeball is known as queimada and usually features rules similar to jailball, including players that go out to "jail" behind the opponents' back line. It can be played with a single ball as well.

• International dodgeball day is June 30.[15]
• The 2004 movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, revived interest in the sport, especially among young adults.[16]
• Also in 2004, Extreme Dodgeball, a dodgeball tournament broadcast as a game show, aired.
• The video game Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure (Stikbold being the Danish word for dodgeball) features the sport of dodgeball, although the rules vary slightly from the actual game.[17]
• In the third episode of the 2007 animated series Total Drama Island, the protagonists of a fictional game show have to compete in a game of dodgeball until only player(s) on one of the teams remain(s).[18]

The risks of injury from dodgeball, and the notion that gameplay resembles assault, have led to controversies, lawsuits, and even calls to eliminate the game from school physical education programs.[19][20]

• University of California, Irvine, reclaimed the record for largest game of dodgeball on September 25, 2012, with 6,084 participants.[21] The previous largest game of dodgeball had been played by 4,979 participants at the University of Alberta on February 3, 2012.[22]
• The longest recorded game of dodgeball was played on April 27–29, 2012, at the Castleton State College in Vermont; it lasted for 41 h 3 min 17 s.[23]

• Dodgeball ranking
• List of dodgeball variations
• U.S. intercollegiate dodgeball champions
• Dodgeball World Championship

Notes

Bibliography

• D'Angelo, Chris (2008). If you got the Guts, We got the Balls: A book about Dodgeball. Dangerous Chris Print. ISBN 978-0-578-01564-4
• Keyes, A. (2005). The Complete Book About Dodgeball. AuthorHouse. ISBN 1-4208-7548-5
• Kassock, Isaac (2012). The Philosophy of Dodgeball: A Treatise. Createspace. ISBN 1-4700-4494-3
• YMCA School Playground Partners: Dodgeball Games YMCA of San Diego County

• Media related to Dodgeball at Wikimedia Commons