Dodgeball Rules

I. Governing Rules

The rules of The National Dodgeball League will apply in all cases except where a special Oregon State University Intramurals rule applies.

II. Eligibility

All participants must be either students registered at Oregon State University or Faculty/Staff/Affiliate with a Recreational Sports Membership. For more information on eligibility, consult the Intramurals Handbook. Only two Club Dodgeball members will be allowed per team.

III. Uniforms/Equipment

  • No jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, etc.) is allowed on the court at any time. Players must remove items immediately or leave the game.
  • No shoes that leave black or scuff marks, boots, or sandals are permitted on the court. Athletic, closed-toe shoes must be worn.
  • No hats or gloves are allowed. Players may wear headbands or stocking caps provided they do not contain any hard, unyielding, or stiff material.
  • No braces or supports that may cause other players harm are permitted.

IV. Pregame

  • All participants must bring their ID card to play.
  • Team managers need to check in with the supervisor on duty before each game.

V. Format

  • Teams consist of six (6) players. Teams may start a game with five (5) players.
  • Substitutions must be made prior to the start of the game. No substitutions can be made during the game, except in cases of injury.
  • Substitutes may help retrieve balls that go out of play on their court. They may not enter the court at any time, nor field balls on any side of the court other than their own. The number of retrievers allowed per team is three (3).
  • Matches consist of five (5) games. The first team to win three (3) games will be declared the winner.
  • Games will be played until all opponents are eliminated or until the five-minute time limit expires. If both teams have an equal number of players remaining when time expires, a sudden death overtime will take place. The first team to eliminate an opponent will win the game.
  • If sudden death occurs and there is one (1) person on each team still remaining, use the half-court green lines. If there is more than one (1) player on each team during sudden death, then use the full court.

VI. The Game

  • Play begins with all players positioned behind their team’s endline and the balls laid out on the half line.
  • Upon the official’s or supervisor’s signal, both teams may rush to the center of the court in an attempt to retrieve as many balls as possible.
  • Teams may rush with as many or as few players as they want, but at least one player from each team has to rush.

Rush and retrieval

  • Once a player picks up a ball, they must cross back over the green line before throwing the ball at an opponent.
  • Players may not slide or dive headfirst to retrieve the balls. If they do so, they will be called out.
  • Players may not physically grab, push, or pull an opponent in an effort to retrieve or prevent the other team from retrieving the balls.

Lines and violations

  • Players may not cross or touch the regulated line (half-court line during regulation play and sudden death with 2v2 or more players, or the green line when it’s 1v1 sudden death).
  • If a player crosses or touches the line, the ball that is thrown is a dead ball and the player will receive a warning.
  • If a player crosses or steps on the line again, the player will be deemed out.

Outs and live balls

  • A player is out when a live ball hits any part of the player’s body or clothing. Exception: A headshot will result in the thrower being ruled out. A headshot occurs when a player is hit directly in the head by a high thrown ball. If a player ducks, dives, etc. and is then hit in the head, it is not ruled a headshot and the player hit will be ruled out.
  • A player is out when hit by a live ball rebounding off another player.
  • A catch occurs when a defending player catches a live ball thrown by an opponent. A catch also results in the return of one eliminated player from the team that completed the catch. Players must return in the order they were eliminated (for example, the first player out is first in line to return in the case of a catch).
  • Players can defend themselves by blocking a ball in flight with another ball, but must retain control of the ball they are blocking with. A player dropping or losing possession of the blocking ball will be deemed out. Any ball rebounding off another ball is considered live.
  • If a player throws a ball and is then struck by a ball thrown by an opposing player, the thrown ball will remain live and able to eliminate opposing players until it hits the ground or wall.

Stalling

  • Stalling is not allowed. If the supervisor or official determines a player or team is stalling (intentionally delaying the game), they will warn the player or team. If stalling continues, at the supervisor or official’s discretion, the player or team will lose possession of all their dodgeballs.
  • If both teams are stalling, a reset should occur.

VII. Conduct

The Intramurals program promotes positive sportsmanship at all contests and activities. Unsportsmanlike conduct includes actions which are unbecoming to an ethical, fair, and honorable individual. It consists of acts of deceit, disrespect, or vulgarity and includes taunting.

VIII. Ejections

Any player ejected from a game will be immediately suspended from participating in all Intramurals activities. The ejected player must then make an appointment with the Coordinator of Intramurals and Sports Coordinator to determine the length of suspension and any other sanctions. The following actions can result in ejections from Intramurals:

  • Improper language
  • Unsporting conduct

Contact: Sport Programs Office, (541) 737-4083, 111 Dixon Recreation Center
Revised: 5/3/2023