Northern Montana’s Cultural & Visitor Center Dodgeball Tournament Rules

The Team will consist of 6-10 players. Six (6) players will compete on a side; others will be available as substitutes.  Substitutes may enter the game only during timeouts or in the case of an injury.

The object of the Game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them “out”.  This may be done by:

1.        Hitting an opposing player with a LIVE thrown ball below the shoulders.

2.        Catching a LIVE ball thrown by your opponent before it touches the ground.

3.        Uniforms are considered part of a player's body.

4.        Any ball that touches the floor, ceiling or wall is a dead ball.

5.        If a defender catches a "live" thrown ball the thrower is out and one player then returns to the defender’s

side in order of first out, first in.                 

6.        If a defender attempts to catch a live ball, but drops it, the defender is out.

7.        The defender may block a live ball with another ball. That ball is still a live ball however, until it hits the

floor, wall or ceiling.       

8.        If a blocking ball is dropped as a result of contact from a live ball, then the player who drops the ball is out.

9.        A player may block a live ball, then throw the blocking ball down and catch a live ball.

10.     A player shall not leave the playing field to avoid being hit or in an attempt to catch a ball.

11.     Players who have been called out may retrieve stray balls for their teammates.

12.     Any team intentionally delaying the game is subject to a penalty.

13.     Headshots resulting from a high thrown ball, result in the thrower being called out.

14.     A player hit in the head while ducking or dodging is out.

Definition: LIVE Ball:  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)

A Match will consist of a Double Elimination format.  The team that wins the best of three (3) games wins the Match.

Boundaries during play, all players must remain within the boundary lines.  If a player is called out they must immediately go to the sidelines.

The Opening Rush starts the game.  Three dodgeballs are placed on each side of the center line.  Players then take their positions behind their end-lines.  Following a signal by the official, the teams charge the center line to retrieve balls.  Once a ball is retrieved it must be taken back behind the attack-line before it can be legally thrown.  If the ball is not taken behind the attack-line before it is thrown, the throw will not count.

Time Limit:  The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be declared winner of the game.  A 5 minute time limit has been established for each game.  If neither team has been eliminated at the end of 5 minutes, the team with the greater number of players remaining on the court will be declared the winner of the game.  In the case of an equal number of players left after regulation, a one minute Sudden Death will take place and the winner will be declared from the results.

Time outs and substitutions:  Each team will be allowed one 30 second time-out per game.  At this time a team may substitute players for the remaining players on the court.

A 5 second violation will be enforced in order to reduce stalling.  If a team controls all six balls on their side of the court for more than 5 seconds they will lose one of their players to penalty.

Unsportsmanlike conduct will result in the player being immediately ejected from the game and potentially from the rest of the tournament.

Rule enforcement:  All players are expected to respect the court monitors decisions.  The court monitors decision is final and will not be overturned

Code of Conduct

1.        Understand, appreciate and abide by the rules of the game.

2.        Respect the integrity and judgment of Court Monitors and Event Staff

3.        Respect your opponent.

4.        Be responsible for your actions and maintain self-control.