Dodgeball PDX is using modified USA Dodgeball Rules, which you can read in its entirety here: https://www.usadodgeball.com/rules

However, If you read nothing else, read the following:

Rule Changes (Beginning Winter 2024):

1. All matches will end with No-Blocking to better prepare for the finals format. No-Blocking means just that: you cannot block with a ball during this time. You can only dodge, throw, or catch.

1. If you block a ball and then catch it, you are safe and the other person is out.

2. No part of your hand is safe for blocking. If the ball touches your finger, you are out. This rule is being changed to be in line with other Rec Leagues and Tournaments around the country.

Only Captains can dispute calls with Refs. Refs are there to keep the game safe and moving. This league is primarily about fun, community, and growing skills.

Head shots are illegal. A player who is hit by a live ball in the head and does NOT have three points of contact with the floor will be ruled safe. 

1. Jumping and dropping down are not considered three points of contact. 

2. The person who threw the ball gets a warning and remains in the game.

3. If they get an additional head shot, they will step out for that game only and cannot come back in until the next game.

4. Confirmed headshots are dead balls and cannot get people out on a rebound. They CAN be caught, however, and the thrower can get out.

5. Refs make the final call on headshots. Respect their decision and move on.

Court Boundaries are hard lines.

1. This means if any part of your foot goes over the center or side lines OR you fall into the bleachers, you are OUT.

2. However, we are a Rec League and Refs will be issuing warnings to Novice/Beginner players and enforcing them more strictly with experienced players.

3. Finals will have strict hard line rules.

The Start & Game Flow

1. Each team starts on the back line on their respective sides.

2. There are seven balls in the game and they will be lined up on the center line- three on one side and four on the other side. The fourth ball will switch sides each game. This is called majority.

3. The ref will clarify that both teams are ready and then shout DODGEBALL to start the game. Each team’s runners will run to grab the three or four balls designated for their side.

4. Each team will ONLY go for the balls to their right. 

5. Off the initial rush, a player must get two feet behind the check line before they can throw a ball. A non-checked ball that is thrown is considered a dead ball and cannot result in an out.

6.. The team with the majority of the balls will have 10 seconds to release the majority. If you have four balls, you must throw at least one. If you have five balls, you must throw at least two, etc.

1. A team that fails to relieve the majority of balls before the 10 second countdown will result in a forfeiture of all the balls.

7. Final players reset the burden counter with every ball thrown until burden is relieved.  

For Example: if a player has 5 balls and the count is down to five, they can throw one to reset the count to 10. The thrower must release the second ball within the second 10 seconds.

Rules of Getting Out

1. When a player is out, they will line up in the order they were eliminated on the side line of the court.

2. Whenever a player is hit by a live ball, that player is out once the ball dies.

1. The ball is live until it hits a dead object (the wall, ceiling, floor, basketball hoops, etc).

2. If a live ball hits multiple players before becoming a dead ball, then all of those players are out.

3. A ball deflected/blocked by a ball is still live and can still get you or your teammate(s) out.

3. If a player catches an opposing player’s throw, the thrower is out and a player from the catcher’s team out line can come in. Players will re-enter the game in the order they were eliminated.

1. A player is able to catch any live ball thrown by the opposing team

2. Both feet must be in bounds for a catch to count. 

4. A player is out when they step over the center line or over the side line.

5. Head shots are illegal. A player who is hit by a live ball in the head and does NOT have three points of contact with the floor will be ruled safe.

Game & Match Structure

1. A match is when two teams face off in either a timed match or a best of series. There are individual games within a match or series.

2. A team scores a point every time they successfully eliminate all the players on the opposing team‍.

3. Matches are either timed or a “best of” series

1. At the end of a timed match, whichever team has more points will be declared the winner.

2. If the final buzzer goes off before a game is complete, the side with the most players will be awarded the point. 

The Court

1. The court is divided into two halves with an outline on one side of the court. The walls along the one side and the back are the considered the boundary lines for those parts of the court.

2. Players must remain on the court during gameplay. 

3. A player cannot cross over the center line or the side line at any time unless given permission by a ref.