Dodgeball

• A team can be comprised of 8 players. 6 may play at one time. A minimum of 5 players is required to start the match. A team that begins with 5 players may not add the 6th player until the beginning of the next game. If co-ed, there must be a minimum of 2 players of each gender represented on a team.
• Sneakers/Running Shoes must be worn by all participants. There are no exceptions.
• Teams must be represented by a captain who will be ultimately responsible for the behavior of the team.
• RULE ENFORCEMENT  - We want players to play by the "honor" system and rule whether or not a hit was legal or whether they were legally eliminated. All contests will be officiated. The official's responsibility will be to rule on any situation in which teams cannot agree. The official’s decision is final.
• The official shall toss a coin and offer the winning captain the choice of sides.
• A game will be won when all of the opposing team members have been declared  out.

To begin play, all players will take a position behind their end line. Following a signal by the official, teams may approach their designated line to retrieve the balls. Teams will not approach the centerline. Each/every ball retrieved at the opening rush must first be taken beyond the attack line and into the team's backcourt before it may be legally thrown at an opponent.South London

The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them OUT.

An OUT is scored by:

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

b)     Catching a LIVE ball thrown by your opponent.

c)      Causing an opponent to drop a held ball as a result of contact by a thrown LIVE ball.

d)  An opposing player stepping out of bounds. A player may legally leave the playing court to retrieve a ball through the end line, and return through the end line only. Any other type of leaving the field of play will be declared an out.

A LIVE ball is a thrown ball that strikes, or is caught by, an opposing player without/before contacting the ground, walls, or another player.

A LIVE ball becomes DEAD when it strikes any player (player is out). A teammate cannot save you by catching deflection off you - the ball is dead when you are hit.

A LIVE ball becomes DEAD when it is caught by an opponent  (thrower is out). A live ball can be deflected by a ball and caught by a teammate, thereby eliminating the opponent (thrower). In these situations, the thrower is out and the catcher can bring in the first teammate to go out from their team. Note: Head hits do not count and the player remains in the game, unless the player ducks into the ball causing it to hit their head.

There are no timeouts during a game. Substitutions will be allowed only between games or due to an injury.

The following penalties and infractions will be called by the official:

a)    Stalling - a team trailing during a regulation game must be given the opportunity to eliminate an opposing player. This requires a ball to be at the disposal of the trailing team. It is illegal for the leading team to control all the balls for more than five seconds. If the leading team controls all the balls, they must make a legitimate effort to get at least one ball across the attack line and into the opponent's backcourt. If this is not done within 5 seconds, a "5-second violation"  will be called. A team may avoid a 5-second violation by throwing or rolling a ball into the opponent's backcourt. This does not include throwing a ball over and through an opponent's end line. PENALTY: Stoppage of play and balls will be divided evenly between the teams. Play will continue with "balls in hand."

b)    Unsportsmanlike conduct - all unsportsmanlike conduct will be assessed by the game supervisor. It may include, but is not limited to:
    1. Abuse of the "honor system"
    2. Foul language
    3. Unnecessary roughness
    4. Arguing with game officials

*Any player receiving two unsportsmanlike penalties during a match will be ejected and subject to further penalties.