Dodgeball 

is a team sport in which players on two teams try to throw balls and hit opponents while
avoiding being hit themselves. The objective of each team is to eliminate all members of the
opposing team by hitting them with thrown balls, catching a ball thrown by an opponent, or inducing
an opponent to commit a violation, such as stepping outside the court.
The sport is mostly played in schools under varying rules, and also formally as an international sport,
under rules that vary among international governing bodies, such as the World Dodgeball
Federation (WDBF), which runs the Dodgeball World Championship and the World Dodgeball
Association (WDA). USA Dodgeball is the governing entity for dodgeball in the United States, with
member leagues and clubs across the nation.

Equipment[edit]

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.

Court[edit]
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]

Matchplay[edit]
Length of game[edit]
Informal matches of dodgeball are typically played until all players on one side are out. In WDBF
guidelines, matches last a total of 40 minutes. These are split into two 20-minute halves, during
which as many sets as possible are played. A set lasts until all players on one side are out. One
point is awarded for every set won. Teams switch sides at halftime.[7]

Starting the game[edit]

In informal dodgeball, balls are initially distributed to players by one of the following methods:

 By even distribution to the two teams.

 By being lined up on the central dividing line.
In this latter option, players then rush toward the center line to grab one of the balls. This is called
the opening rush. It is never legal to immediately throw such a ball at an opponent; a player grabbing
a ball on the center line retreats or throws it back to a teammate.
In WDBF regulations, the ball must be returned behind an "attack line", roughly a third of the way
from the back of court. Players may only run for the balls on the left side of the court, while the
middle ball will be contested.[7]

Gameplay[edit]
Following distribution, players aim to hit one another. A ball is considered "live" from the moment it
leaves a player's hand up until it touches the floor, wall, or ceiling, when it becomes "dead". If a
player is hit by an opponent's live ball, they are "out"; if the ball is dead, there is no hit. If a player
catches a live ball, the opponent who threw the ball is out and a player on the catcher's team is
"revived" from the outbox; however, if they fail to secure the catch, leading to them dropping the ball,
the failed catcher is out.
In WDBF regulations, players may "block" a throw with another ball. In this situation, the thrown ball
remains live, as it has not hit the floor or a wall, and so can be caught or can still hit a player out. If
the blocker drops the ball used to block, they have failed to keep their ball secure and are out.

Azalea Donche, preparing to counter at the World Dodgeball Championships in Los Angeles in 2018

Dead balls that leave the court can only be returned to players by each team's designated ball
retrievers. Stepping outside the court, including stepping on a boundary line or entering the
opponents' zone, is a violation. Other violations include kicking a ball, displaying bad sportsmanship,
and stalling (having a ball for over ten seconds and doing nothing with it).[9] The penalty is that the
violator is out.[7]

Optional rules