Official Rules
The following is an abbreviated version of the rules printed in the Official NADA Rule Book. The Monday Night Dodgeball league will follow the NADA Rule Book for all league play, with the exception of any additional rules shown below.
THE TEAM
Teams will be made up of 6-10 players. Six players will compete on each side; additional team members will be available as substitutes. Substitutes may enter the game only during timeouts or in the case of an injury. Coed teams may consist of either gender, however at least two players of each gender must participate at the start of each individual match within the best of five series game. Each team is required to wear the same color of uniforms, but it is not necessary to wear the same exact style or make of uniform, although it is encouraged!
THE FIELD
The game will be played indoors, on either the turf or VersaCourt surface. The playing field shall be a rectangle at least 50 feet long and at least 30 feet wide, divided into two equal sections by a center-line and attack-lines 3 meters from, and parallel to the centerline.
THE EQUIPMENT
The official ball used in tournament and league play is an 8.25 inch rubber-coated foam ball. Players are not allowed to wear cleats inside the building, however, turf shoes will be allowed. Turf shoes are identified by having no fewer than 30 studs on the bottom of each shoe.
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 LIVE thrown ball below the shoulders.
- Catching a LIVE ball thrown by your opponent before it touches the ground.
In the event of a caught ball, a player from the team which caught the ball is allowed to re-enter the match. Players shall return into the match from the bench in the order they were put “out” (i.e. first “out,” first “in”). The player whom shall be re-entering the match in the occurrence of a caught ball must be present within the substitution circle at the time the ball is caught in order to be able to re-enter the match.
Definition: LIVE: A ball that has been thrown and has not touched anything, including the floor/ground, another ball, another player, official or other item outside of the playing field (wall, ceiling, etc).
SCHEDULED GAME FORMAT
Each “Scheduled Game” will be a “best-of-five” matches, where the winner will be determined from the team that is able to win three of the five matches. Each individual match within the 5 game series will run no longer than 6 minutes.
BOUNDARIES
During play, all players must remain within the boundary lines. Players may leave the boundaries through their end-line only to retrieve stray balls. They must also return through their end-line. Failing to follow this procedure will result in that player being deemed “out” at the discretion of the referee.
THE OPENING RUSH
Game begins by placing the dodgeballs along the center line – three on one side of the center hash and three on the other. Players then take a position behind their end line. Following a signal by the official, teams may approach the centerline to retrieve the balls. This signal officially starts the contest. Teams may only retrieve the three balls to their right of the center hash. Once a ball is retrieved it must be taken behind the attack-line before it can be legally thrown (see below).
Putting a Ball in Play: The player and the ball must go completely behind the attack line. During the Rush, any ball retrieved from the neutral zone must be returned behind the attack line before it may be thrown at an opponent. A ball that hasn’t crossed the attack line is considered a dead ball, any hits or catches are voided plays.There are several ways to put a ball into play following a Rush.
- A player carries the ball across the attack line.
- A player passes the ball a teammate who is behind or carries it across the attack line.
- A player rebounds the ball off the back wall of a closed court.
TIMING AND WINNING A GAME
The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be declared the winner of the individual match. A six-minute time limit has been established for each contest. If neither team has been eliminated at the end of the three minutes, the team with the greater number of players remaining will be declared the winner. In the event of both teams having an equal number of players remaining on the court at the end of time regulation, a “sudden death” format will be used, in which the first team to knock out one additional player from the opposing team will be declared the winner, regardless of players still remaining. Each winner will be declared by the court monitor at the end of each match and each scheduled game. In the event that a team is able to be declared as the winner before all 5 individual matches are played, both teams shall be allowed to finish the remaining matches if they wish to do so, regardless of if it effects the outcome
TIME-OUTS & SUBSTITUTIONS
Each team will be allowed one 30-second timeout per each best of five series scheduled game, NOT during each individual one of the five matches. At this time a team may substitute players into the game. A team is also allowed to make Substitutions during the 5 minute intermission which takes place after the 3rd of five matches within a scheduled game.
5-SECOND VIOLATION
In order to reduce stalling, a violation will be called if a team in the lead controls all six balls on their side of the court for more than five seconds. The opposing team is responsible for stating the count of “1-stall, 2-stall, 3-stall, 4-stall, 5-stall” out loud to determine whether or not the opposing team has committed a stall. It is NOT the responsibility of the court monitor to determine if a stall has occurred by performing the count. If a player commits a stall, they are to immediately roll the ball onto the ground across the playing court to the opposing team’s side of play. If a player fails to do this immediately, they shall be declared “out” by the court monitor.
RULE ENFORCEMENT
During pool play or regular-season matches, 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 legally eliminated. All contests will be supervised by a court monitor, or referee. The court monitor’s responsibility will be to rule on any situation in which teams cannot agree. THE COURT MONITOR’S DECISION IS FINAL – NO EXCEPTIONS!
NADA Code of Conduct
- Understand, appreciate and abide by the rules of the game.
- Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials and CY Sports staff.
- Respect your opponent and congratulate them in a courteous manner following each match whether in victory or defeat.
- Be responsible for your actions and maintain self-control.
Do not taunt or bait opponents and refrain from using foul or abusive language.