How to Play Dodgeball
Dodgeball is a fast-paced elimination game played between two teams on a divided court. Players throw balls at opponents to knock them out of the game while simultaneously diving, ducking, and sprinting to avoid being hit themselves. It demands quick reflexes, spatial awareness, and teamwork in equal measure.
It is a staple of school PE lessons and playground sessions across the UK because it needs minimal equipment, scales easily to available space, and gets every player physically active from the first whistle. Games are short enough to run several rounds in a single break time, keeping energy and interest high throughout.
A little history
The precise origins of Dodgeball are unclear. A version of the game has been played in school playgrounds and physical education programmes across the United States and the United Kingdom for well over a century, and similar ball-avoidance games appear in various cultures worldwide. It became a fixture of organised school sport during the twentieth century, and standardised competitive rulesets were formalised by governing bodies in the early 2000s, most notably with the formation of the National Dodgeball League in the USA in 2004 and the World Dodgeball Federation, which now oversees international play.
Setting up
- Mark out a rectangular court and divide it in half with a clearly visible centre line. A badminton court or similar space works well; for larger groups, a sports hall or outdoor tarmac area is ideal.
- Divide players into two equal teams. If numbers are uneven, the team with the extra player has no disadvantage in standard play.
- Place the balls (typically 3 to 5) on or beside the centre line before the game starts.
- Each team starts at their own back line, facing the centre line.
- Agree before play begins on the number of rounds, time limit, or total games that will decide the overall winner.
How to play
- On the starting signal, both teams rush forward to collect balls from the centre line. A ball must be taken back behind the attack line (if used) before it can be legally thrown at opponents.
- Players throw balls across the centre line, aiming to hit opponents on the body below the shoulders. Head and neck shots do not count as hits and are discouraged for safety.
- A player who is struck by a thrown ball and it has not touched any other surface or player first is out and must leave the court immediately, moving to a designated out zone or sideline.
- A player may catch a ball thrown at them. A clean catch (the ball does not touch the ground or another surface) eliminates the player who threw it, not the catcher. The catching team may also return one previously eliminated teammate to the court.
- Players may deflect or block a thrown ball using another ball held in their hands. If the deflected ball is then caught by a teammate before it hits the ground, the thrower is still out.
- Players must not cross the centre line at any time. Stepping over the line results in that player being called out.
- Players must not step outside the court boundary lines. Stepping out counts as being eliminated.
- A ball that bounces off the floor, a wall, or any surface before hitting a player does not count as a hit; that player is safe.
- Play continues until all players on one team have been eliminated, or until a set time limit expires.
- If a time limit is used, the team with more players remaining on court when time is called wins that round.
Winning and scoring
The team that eliminates every player on the opposing team wins the round. In a timed format, the team with the greater number of active players remaining on court at the end of the period wins. Matches are typically played as a best-of-three or best-of-five series of rounds, with the team winning the most rounds declared the overall winner.
The fine points
The most common dispute concerns whether a catch was clean. If the ball grazes the floor, a player's clothing, or any surface before the catcher secures it, it does not count as a catch; the catcher is out if they were the intended target and the ball struck them. Referees or agreed spotters should call this immediately. When in doubt in informal play, the safest ruling is to call it not a clean catch and assess whether the catcher was hit.
Simultaneous throws that appear to eliminate players from both teams at the same time are another frequent flashpoint. The standard ruling is that both players are out. Shirt grabs and deliberate use of clothing to slow or deflect a ball are not permitted; a ball that strikes any part of a player's clothing or body below the shoulders counts as a hit. Players who linger at the boundary line to force opponents out should be warned; habitual boundary-baiting in informal games is generally settled by a simple fair play ruling from a neutral referee or teacher.
How to win more often
- Aim low and at the feet. Balls thrown at knee or ankle height are far harder to dodge or catch than chest-height throws, and a stumble counts the same as any other hit.
- Coordinate throws with teammates. A simultaneous volley from two or three players at a single target leaves that player almost no room to dodge or catch cleanly.
- Hold a ball for defence as well as offence. A ball in your hands can deflect incoming throws, buying you time and protecting you from elimination.
- Target the strongest throwers on the opposing team first. Removing their most accurate players early reduces the pressure on your own team significantly.
- Stay mobile and unpredictable. Standing still makes you an easy target; constant lateral movement forces opponents to adjust their aim and increases their chance of error.
Variations
Prison Dodgeball
Eliminated players do not simply sit out; they move to a designated zone behind the opposing team's back line. A player in prison can re-enter the game by catching a ball thrown over from their own team. This variation keeps all players active throughout and is particularly popular in primary school settings.
Dr Dodgeball
Each team secretly nominates one player as the Doctor. When a teammate is hit and eliminated, the Doctor may tag them to bring them back into play. If the Doctor is hit and eliminated, they cannot be revived. The round ends when the Doctor is out or all non-Doctor players on a team have been eliminated and cannot be revived. Teams must balance protecting their Doctor with aggressive play.
Pin Dodgeball
A skittle or cone is placed at the back of each team's court. Teams aim to knock over the opposing team's pin with a thrown ball as well as eliminating players in the normal way. Hitting the pin wins the round instantly, regardless of how many players remain on either side, which adds a second tactical target and encourages defenders to guard their pin.
Colour Dodgeball
Multiple teams of three or four players each compete simultaneously on a larger court, with each team wearing a different coloured bib. Players are eliminated by the standard rules, but teams may form temporary alliances to target the strongest team. The last team with at least one player standing wins. This format works well with larger groups of 15 or more players and adds a negotiation element rarely found in the standard two-team game.
Dodgeball: frequently asked questions
How many players do you need to play Dodgeball?
You need a minimum of six players to have a meaningful game, giving three per side. The game scales well up to around 20 players per side, and larger groups can be accommodated by widening the court or splitting into multiple simultaneous games.
Is a headshot a valid hit in Dodgeball?
In standard recreational and most competitive rulesets, a ball that strikes a player on the head or neck does not count as a hit and the player is safe. This rule exists primarily for safety. The player who threw the ball is not penalised unless repeated headshots are judged deliberate, in which case a referee can rule them out.
Can you be eliminated by a ball that has bounced off the floor?
No. A ball must travel directly from the thrower's hand and hit you without bouncing off any surface first. If the ball has touched the floor, a wall, another player, or any other surface before hitting you, you are not out.
What happens if you step over the centre line?
You are immediately eliminated. Players must stay within their own half at all times. Stepping on the line itself is generally called as a violation in competitive play; in informal games, teams often agree that the line itself is neutral and only a clear step over counts.
Does a catch have to be held with two hands to count?
No, there is no requirement to use two hands. A catch is valid as long as the player secures the ball before it touches any surface. One-handed catches are entirely legal and count the same as any other clean catch.
Can you use another ball to block an incoming throw?
Yes. Holding a ball and using it to deflect an incoming throw is a legal defensive move. If the deflected ball is then caught cleanly by one of your teammates before it hits the ground, the original thrower is eliminated.
What is the right ball to use for Dodgeball with young children?
A soft foam ball, size 3 or 4, is strongly recommended for players aged 6 to 10. Hard rubber balls are more appropriate for older players and structured competitive play. Avoid any ball with a hard casing in informal or junior games.
Can an eliminated player return to the game?
In standard rules, no: once you are out, you sit out for the remainder of that round. However, the catch-and-return rule allows one eliminated teammate to re-enter the court whenever a player on your team takes a clean catch. Variations such as Prison Dodgeball and Dr Dodgeball create additional ways for eliminated players to return.