Teams will be made up of 8 players. 8 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 injury. Teams must field at least 6 players in order to avoid a forfeit. In the event that a team can only field 6 players the opposing team has the right to play 6-8.

Coed teams must field at least 2 females or 2 males when fielding 6 players and must field at least 3 females or 3 males when fielding 8 players.

THE COURT

The game may be played indoors or outdoors. The playing field shall be a rectangle at least 50 ft long and at least 30 ft wide, divided into two (2) equal sections by a center-line and attack-lines 3m from, and parallel to the centerline.

IDEAL MEASUREMENTS: 60’ x 30’ – Identical to a volleyball court.

THE EQUIPMENT

The official ball used in tournament and league play will be an 8.5". Balls have a coated foam construction that is lighter and softer than traditional rubber playground balls.

THE GAME

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. Any player hit above the shoulders while ducking or diving is still considered out.

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

3. Blocking a ball with a ball in hand is legal and players who use a ball block are not out.

Points are awarded for outs.

Regardless of points scored eliminating all of the players on a team wins a 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)

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.

THE OPENING RUSH

Game begins by placing the dodgeballs along the center line – three (3) on one side of the center hash and three (3) on the other. Players then take a position behind their end line. Following a signal by the court monitor, teams may approach the centerline to retrieve the balls. This signal officially starts the contest. Teams may only retrieve the three (3) 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.

TIMING AND WINNING A GAME

The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be declared the winner of the match games will consist of multiple matches until time runs out. Each game will consist of a 30 minute rolling time clock. The team with the most points at the end of 30 minutes wins the game. Standings will track points and total wins. 

TIME-OUTS & SUBSTITUTIONS

Each team will be allowed one (1) 30 second timeout per match. At this time a team may substitute players into the game.

5-SECOND VIOLATION

In order to reduce stalling, a violation will be called if a team in the lead controls all six (6) balls on their side of the court for more than 5 seconds. This also applies to tied teams. More details can be found in the NADA Rule Book

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*. 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.

*NOTE: During tournament play, All Semi-Final and Final Round matches will be officiated by no less than three (2) Officials. These officials will rule on all legal hits, out-of-bounds and 5-second violations.

Sportsmanship

Players are expected to display good sportsmanship towards fellow competitors, officials, and staff. Any display of poor sportsmanship will be met with disciplinary actions. The yellow/red card system will be in effect.

Protests
The supervisor, on the field, will accept protests of rule interpretations only. Protests must be filed immediately after the play in question, once the ball is put back into play after the play in question, no protests will be honored. To file a protest, the team captain should ask the game official, at this point the supervisor will hear the scenario, explain the rule that applies, and render a decision. Decisions made by supervisors are final. There is no further appeals process. Supervisors will not listen to protests of officials judgment calls or competency.