Rules

Equipment / Setup

The referee will supply the balls for each game. The referee will keep score for each game they ref. There will be a total of 6 balls on the court at one time. There will be a referee onsite for all games to assist in making calls and two refs in playoffs. It is still up to all players to be honest and make fair calls on themselves or fellow teammates, if you get hit and the ref doesn’t see, please go off. The referee cannot see up to 12 players at the same time.

Game Time / Default

Please arrive 15 minutes early so that you can start your games on time. Games are 55 minutes in length, with no stoppage for halftime. If one side of a potential advantage (example: stage at one end, etc.), teams should agree BEFORE the game that they will be switching sides approximately midway through the game (and agree on switch time). A captain that requests a switch pre-game MUST be accommodated. The referee will be the time keeper.

Teams are comprised of 6 players with a minimum of 2 women and 2 men. A default will occur if any team cannot field a squad by 10 minutes after the official start time. A team can play with a minimum of 4 people, as long as 2 of the players are women and 2 are men. Captains may agree to waive the rules regarding minimum people but this should be decided before the games starts. IF IT IS AGREED THAT THE GAME COUNTS, IT COUNTS!

The 6 players that start each game are the ONLY players that can play during that particular game (example: for that point). Substitute players must wait until the next game before playing. Teams can alter their roster for each game, as long as the gender requirements are met. Exception: Injured players can be substituted midway during a game if necessary (male for male, female for female only).

Starting The Game / General Rules

6 balls will be used for each game. All 6 dodgeballs will be placed on the court each game. The balls will be staggered off the center line, 3 balls to the right and 3 balls to the left. The game will then be started with a signal from the referee. Each team can only run/charge and retrieve the 3 balls to their right side of their half court. The other 3 balls on the left side are for the other team to retrieve and cannot be picked up by your team at the start of each match.

Once play has started, players must remain on their own side of the court.

Players can lean over the half line to retrieve a ball but the player cannot touch any part of their opponents half of the court. If any part of a player touches their opponents’ side, that person will get one warning and the second time is out.

Player cannot remain static in areas that conceal or partially conceal their body (example: door entrance ways, climbers, etc.) A ball is considered “dead” as soon as it hits the floor, walls, ceiling, or any other obstacles around the court (example: basketball hoops, etc.). A player is not eliminated after being hit by a dead ball (example: if the ball hits the wall then hits the player, the player is not eliminated). All other balls are considered “live”. Eliminated players should stand or sit on the opposite side of their team bench (in an effort to clarify who is participating in that point). If you are not playing in that game please remain on the stage/bench. Player cannot lean up or jump against the walls in an effort to avoid being hit.

Team captains are responsible for enforcing the rules and ensuring fair play.

Throwing The Balls And Eliminating Players

Players can be in possession of more than one ball at any given time. A player that is already in possession of a ball can catch/touch another “live” ball. A player that touches two or more “live” balls is not eliminated. However, players can block a 2nd ball that is already in their hands and “dead” balls that are on the floor are okay to be thrown or rolled to a teammate.

NOTE: Since the player who attempts a ‘second catch’ is out, the thrower is not eliminated if the ball is indeed caught.

NOTE: Under no circumstances can a player (with or without a ball in their hands) be eliminated by being hit with a “dead” ball.

NOTE: If a player holding a ball is hit by a second ball, that player is out. However, if a teammate catches the second ball while it is still “live”, then the teammate has effectively ‘saved’ the hit player, the thrower is out and team that caught the ball returns a player to the court as usual. Also note that the deflection of the second ball into the hands of a teammate can occur either accidentally (example: the hit player was unaware that the second ball was coming) or on purpose (example: the hit player purposely tries to deflect the ball into the air for a teammate to catch).

Players can throw a ball in any manner (with the exception of squeezing the air out of the ball) from anywhere on their own side of the court. No scooping balls or kicking balls at your opponents.

A player cannot hold a ball in their hands in an effort to “stockpile” the balls on their own side of the court, therefore players must release their ball(s) within 10 seconds of taking possession (which includes touching with hands and/or feet). Teams cannot use delay tactics by hoarding balls on their side of the court. This includes, but is not limited to, not picking up balls, throwing a high ball against the backboard to get it back, throwing a ball with spin against the side wall so that it comes back to your side of the court, bouncing a ball on the other side of the court so it comes back or can be retrieved by your team. It is up to the ref and inactive players that are off to keep the games fair and throw in dead balls on the sides of the gyms in efforts to keep the game moving along.

Players may pass a ball to their teammates. If the receiving player does not catch or fumbles the ball, the player that attempted the catch is NOT eliminated. Furthermore, since a team only has 10 seconds to throw the ball, a pass to a teammate does NOT reset the 10 second clock and the ball must be thrown from within 10 seconds from the time the first teammate touched the ball.

NOTE: A ball is “live” once released, unless thrown or passed to your own team mate. (If for some reason you throw a ball at your own player on your own team, they are not considered out, but you will be laughed at).

To eliminate an opposing player, a “live” ball must hit a player. Jerseys, shirts, shoes, hair, shorts or any piece of your clothing are considered as an out if hit by a live ball.

NOTE: If a player catches a “live” ball that is thrown at him/her, the thrower is OUT. In addition, the team that caught the ball can return a previously eliminated player to the court. The player that returns to the game MUST be the first player who was ruled “out” during that point (and the order of returning players should be maintained, example: the third player to be eliminated will be the third player to return to the court, FIRST OFF, FIRST IN AND SO ON).

**Updated November 2023: Active players are not allowed to sit, stand, lay down or idle on the court during a match for short or long period of time. Instead, players are encouraged to move around and be active during games and matches. If a player is too winded or over exhausted, they can simply raise their hand, which signals that they are out, and they may walk off the court. Other tactics that seem to kill the clock or waste time is also discouraged as the objective during this sport is to move around and have fun. It will be up to the ref to call out to the idling player with a first warning. If the player gets a second warning, the ref is allowed to use their discretion and call them out.**

Reminder: Substitute players must wait until the next point to sub in, UNLESS their is an injury. The ref shall call time as the injured player subs off.

A player that is holding a ball can use it to deflect/block another ball that is thrown at them by an opponent. If the ball being held is dropped due to the second ball, the person who dropped the ball is not out. A deflected ball is still considered “live” until it hits the ground/wall/obstacle (example: if it hits another player or the player using the ball to block before hitting the ground or wall, the hit player is out).

A live ball that rebounds off of another player (from an unsuccessful catch, hits off their body, or is deflected by another ball, etc.) may be caught by another in-bounds player prior to the ball becoming “dead” (hitting ground or wall). As usual, the thrower is OUT and the catching team can return a player.

NOTE: When a player is hit by a ball and the ball deflects, there is a possibility that the original ball will either be caught by a teammate (saving the hit player) or the ball will hit the ground/wall/obstacle (meaning the ball is “dead”) and the hit player is out.

It Is The Responsibility Of All Players To Make A Fair And Honest Call As To Whether Or Not They Were Hit. The Refs Cannot See Every Player At All Times During Games.

Every time that only 2 players on the court (one from each team); the referee must announce that they two players have “10 seconds” to eliminate each other. After the 10 seconds has expired, if the game has not ended, each team will return one player to the court. Again, each team must abide by their order of returning players.

Scoring / Winning

Matches will consist of as many games (points) that can be played in the 55-minutes time period. Each game won will count for one point. Ties are allowed during the regular season. If a match is tied at the end of a playoff game, a 3-minutes overtime session will break the tie (a new game should be started with a full 6 players). If this final game is not completed within the 3 minutes, then the team with the most players remaining on the court will be declared the winner.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct & Complaints

Poor sportsmanship (e.g,.. arguing with the referee, making calls on opponents, verbal abuse, persistent cheating, deliberately blocking shots when out, etc.) can and will result in an ejection from the game.
Taunting an opponent is considered unsportsmanlike and will be addressed in the same manner.
Unsportsmanlike behavior is up to the discretion of the referee.
If a player has an issue with a referee’s call or opposing player the team captain (and only the captain) can approach the referee between sets and state the issue or ask for clarification. Failure to adhere to this rule can result in a game suspension.
If a team or individual has a complaint, they are welcome to email the League Coordinator. However, teams/players must wait 24 hours before sending an email to allow for a “cooling off” period. The League Coordinator will not respond to emails sent within the 24-hour “cooling off” period.

Referees & League Officials

Power and Duties
1. Referees are representatives of the league and are authorized to act on behalf of the York Region Dodgeball League and are required to enforce each section of these rules.
2. Referees may disqualify or eject players at any time.
3. Referees can intervene in a game where they see fit. In the event that a game is unsafe or getting out of hand, referees have been instructed to step in to ensure rules and regulations are being followed.
4. Referees have the authority to make a decision on any situation not specifically covered in the rules.
5. Referees work to protect and develop a positive culture for the YRDBL and we ask that all players and spectators respect them.
Responsibilities
1. Inspect the court, balls, and all equipment in play.
2. Review and verify the team line-ups and rosters.
3. Align all balls on the court and initiate the opening rush.
4. Ensure that all balls are put in play following the opening rush.
5. Calling and verifying a hit, catch, or out, including throwing over the midline.
6. Monitor players exiting and re-entering from the Queue in order.
7. Determine if a ball was thrown illegally.
8. Suspend play or call a “time out”, when an injury occurs.
9. Enforce proper conduct from all participants of the game.
10. Eject or disqualify a player from the game for violation of rules or unsportsmanlike conduct.
11. Declare a forfeit of any game.

Referee’s Judgment

No decision rendered by a referee may be reversed except where the referee unsure of the call and seeks assistance, as outlined below.

Should a team captain of either team seek reversal of a decision based solely on a point of rules, the referee in question, if in doubt, shall confer with other officials (if applicable) or the opposing team captain before rendering a decision. Any decision of the calling official is final.

No person other than the team captain should protest any decision and or seek its reversal on a rule. This should be done politely without yelling at the referee or opposing team.

A referee will not penalize a team for any infraction of a rule when imposing the penalty would be an advantage to the offending team.

Ejections

Referees are allowed to eject a player(s) out of the game if a player(s) are using crude rude language towards another player or referee. Player(s) may also be banned from a future game(s) depending on the referees discretion on how negative a player or team is being.

This Dodgeball League represents fun and recreation and although some games may get heated or competitive, all players should respect others and the referees at all times before, during or after games.