2026 Dodgeball Tournament Official Handbook

HANDBOOK & RULES

Event Registration ●​ Check in begins at 4:30 pm. Games will start at 5:30 pm. ●​ You will need your whole team to be present before you can register. ●​ If your teammates have not yet signed a liability form, they will need to do so at this time. ●​ If you are the team captain registering for your team, you will receive a team packet with the rules packet, bracket, game time slots, food, and drink tickets. The time slots will indicate what field and times your team will be playing. ●​ You must present your ID at Registration for a wristband to be served alcohol. ●​ When your entire team arrives, take some time to go over the rules with them and make sure everyone understands how to play.

The Bracket ●​ All teams will begin with pool play in their group. ●​ Every team will play the three other teams in their group. ●​ In every group the 1st and 2nd seeded teams will advance. ●​ In the event of a tie in, whichever team beat the other in pool play will be considered the higher seed. For example: team blue and team red both scored 6 points in pool play. Blue beat Red, so Blue would be 1st seed and Red 2nd.

SAMPLE BRACKET

The Game and Rules Details Team Composition ●​ Teams: Each side has 6 players. ●​ Substitutes/Retrievers: Remaining team members (up to 4) can act as retrievers. Substitutions can only be made before the game starts, except for injuries. ●​ Retrievers: Retrieve and throw balls back into play. They cannot enter the court.

Officials ●​ Scorekeeper: Times the game, keeps score, and interacts with referees. Signals the start of games. ●​ Referee: Ensures rules are followed, blows the whistle to indicate out players.

Game Structure ●​ Round Duration: Each round lasts 9 minutes with a 1-minute changeover between rounds. ●​ Games per Round: Up to 3 games per round, each lasting 3 minutes. ○​ Timing: Scorekeeper blows the whistle three times after 3 minutes. ○​ Scoring: Team with the most players “in” wins. Best 2 out of 3 games wins the round. ○​ Tie: If tied, teams play until the next player is out.

Court Layout ●​ Dimensions: Court is 60' long (two 30' sections) and 30' wide. ●​ Attack Line: 10' from the center line. ●​ Out of Bounds Area: 2’-3’ for officials to move.

Equipment ●​ Balls: 7 regulation size balls placed on the centerline at the start.

Game Play ●​ Starting Position: Players start behind their end line. ●​ Rush: On the official's signal, teams rush to the center to retrieve balls. Balls must be taken behind the attack line before being thrown. ●​ Live Ball: A ball is live once it crosses the attack line and is thrown. ●​ Dead Ball: A ball is dead after it hits a player or object, with the exception of Bobbling.

Bobbling the Ball ●​ Definition: Bobbling occurs when a player fails to catch or control a ball cleanly on the first attempt and the ball is momentarily juggled or fumbled. ●​ Out Rule: ○​ If a player attempts to catch a live ball and bobbles it but does not secure it before it touches the ground, the player is out. ○​ If the player successfully gains control of the ball before it touches the ground, the catch is considered valid, and the thrower is out. ●​ Blocking and Bobbling: ○​ If a player blocks a thrown ball with another ball and then bobbles the blocked ball, the player must retain control of the blocking ball. If the player drops the blocking ball while bobbling the other ball, they are out. ●​ Continuation of Play: Bobbling a ball does not make it dead. If a bobbled ball is subsequently caught by the player who bobbled before touching the ground, the catch is valid, and the thrower is out. ●​ Out of Bounds: If a player bobbles a ball and it goes out of bounds without being secured, the player is out.

Outs ●​ Hit: A player is out when hit by a live ball on any part of their body, clothing, or uniform. ●​ Catch: A player is out when an opponent catches a live ball they threw. ●​ Blocking: A ball blocked with another ball is dead. Dropping the blocking ball means the player is out. ●​ Out of Bounds: Players are out if their foot completely crosses the boundary line or if they cross the centerline.

Special Rules ●​ Headshots: Headshots do not count if the player is standing. ●​ No Re-entry: Players do not re-enter the game if a ball is caught. ●​ 5-Second Rule: Players must throw within 5 seconds or be out. The side with more balls (4/7) must throw all their balls to the other side. ●​ Interference: Leaving players cannot interfere with balls.

Rule Enforcement ●​ Honor System: Players are expected to call themselves out. ●​ Referee's Decision: Final and no exceptions. Unsportsmanlike conduct or arguing results in a game forfeiture.