#1 Rule: Don’t Be a Dick
Since the first dodgeball was thrown, the Eagle Rock Yacht Club has lived by one rule: Don’t Be a Dick.
It’s more than a slogan. It’s pretty much our Golden Rule. We deal with dicks all day in regular life, from the grocery store line-cutter to the freeway maniac laying on their horn. And, if we’re being fair, every one of us crosses the dick-line from time to time.
But for a couple hours each week, when we get together in a rec center and throw rubber balls at each other, we try to leave that shit at the door.
Some dickery is obvious. If you’re blasting people in the face as hard as you can and never apologizing, congratulations, you’re being a dick.
Other dickery is a little more subtle. A ball grazed somebody’s shoulder? You can probably sort that out without screaming across the court. Somebody made a bad throw? They already know. Someone’s new and doesn’t understand a rule? Help them out.
None of this means dodgeball shouldn’t be competitive. Competition is fun. Play hard. Try to win. Just remember that we’re still adults playing a children’s game in a public rec center. Nobody’s curing disease with a catch and no nuclear weapons will be launched if your team loses.
When something goes wrong, let the little stuff go. Talk it out when you need to. Treat people the way you’d want to be treated.
On the court, in the car, at work, wherever: don’t be a dick.
Game Play Rules
Don’t Shout.
The gym is loud, echoey and generally terrible at carrying anything resembling the English language. If you’re calling someone out and they disagree, don’t yell across the court. Step aside, talk it out and explain what happened. Most disagreements are just misunderstandings of the rules or what somebody saw.
The Court
The court is divided in half by a Center Line. On either side of, and parallel to, the Center Line is a Throw Line several feet away. This might help.
General Game Play
Seven balls are placed on the Center Line before each game, and each team lines up at the opposite end of the court.
When the game starts (“REAAAADDYY GOOOOO!”), players may run for the balls.
Any ball retrieved at the start of the game must be taken behind the Throw Line before it can be thrown at the opposing team. Once the ball has cleared the Throw Line, players may throw from anywhere on their side of the Center Line.
Clearing the Throw Line is only required at the beginning of each game.
Crossing the Center Line
You’re out if any part of your body crosses the Center Line.
We’re not looking to call someone out because their shoelace drifted across it, but don’t be surprised if an obvious crossing gets called.
Catches
Catching a live ball thrown by an opposing player brings one player from your team back into the game.
Live Ball
A live ball is a ball thrown by an opposing player. A ball that is kicked or spiked is not considered a live ball.
You’re Out If…
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- Your throw is caught by an opposing player.
- You’re hit by a live ball thrown by an opposing player.
- A live ball hits your teammate and then hits you without touching the ground.
- A live ball knocks the ball you’re holding out of your hands.
- You’re a dick.
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That’s a Dead Ball…
Once a live ball touches the ground, net, wall, ceiling or another inanimate object, it becomes dead.
A ball also becomes dead when it hits an out player, another ball in flight, or a player cleanly in the head.
More on that…
Headshots!
If a player is hit cleanly in the head, that player is not out and the ball is considered dead.
The exception is if that same player is able to catch the ball.
Anything that happens after a clean headshot does not count, but anything that happens before it does.
So if a ball hits you in the shoulder or neck and then hits you in the face, and you don’t catch it, you’re out. Please be honest.
Basically, headshots are a huge no-no.
If you hit someone in the face…
APOLOGIZE.
Yes, we mean it.
If your team captain feels the headshot was the result of a reckless or unnecessarily hard throw, they may ask you to take an out.
For real.
Hoarding Balls
Don’t do it.
We’re here to play dodgeball, not stare at each other. Throw the balls or give them to the other side so they can throw them at you.
Deflecting / Ricochets
You may use a ball in your hands to deflect another live ball.
If you drop the ball you’re holding while attempting the deflection, you’re out.
If the deflected ball hits you anywhere on your body, you’re also out.
If your thrown ball is caught after deflecting off another ball or another player, the catch still counts and you’re out.
Once a ball hits an inanimate object such as the wall, floor or basketball hoop, however, it is dead.
Touching the Ball After You’re Out
Resist the urge.
Once you’re out, please don’t touch, kick or interfere with balls that are still in play.
If a ball rolls completely outside the playing area, it’s fair game to help return it. But let it fully leave the court first.
Subs
Regular season only. No subs during tournaments or playoffs.
Subs are cool with us as long as the opposing team captain is okay with it. But don’t expect to bring in a ringer when the games start to matter.
No subs are allowed during playoffs or finals.
Fun Rules
The rules below aren’t typically used in tournaments unless clearly specified and may vary depending on where we’re playing.
Basketball Shot
The last remaining player on a team gets one chance to shoot a dodgeball into the opposing team’s basketball hoop.
Make the shot and your entire team comes back into the game.