Intramural Sports

Dodgeball Rules

Dodgeball Equipment

"Rhino skin" dodge balls - colored pennies/jerseys (optional)

The Players

The game is played by two teams with six (6) players on each team.

The Court

The game will be played on a basketball court. The basketball court and the surrounding out-of-bounds areas are in play including the curtain. The dividing line for teams will be the division line (mid court line) of the basketball court, with the line remaining neutral.

Dodgeball Court


The Ball and Equipment

A round "Rhino Skin" ball will be used. All players must wear court shoes to be eligible to participate. Running shoes, turf shoes, and any non-athletic shoe will NOT BE ALLOWED. Players must remove all jewelry before each match.

The Game

  1. The game will begin by placing dodge balls on the division line. 6 vs 6 games will have six (6) balls on the division line. 4 vs 4 games (in racquetball court) will have four (4) balls to begin the game.
  2. Before match play, both captains have two (2 minutes) to agree upon one of three "Jail" formats (see below) they will play during the match. The chosen format will apply all games in a match. If captains can come to an agreement within the two minutes, then the Intramural officials/recreational supervisors will select the format.
  3. The participants will then line up behind the BASE LINES of the basketball court.
  4. The Rec Staff or official starts the game by blowing the whistle.
  5. Players run to the division line to retrieve balls. A player may not run to the other side of the court to get a ball, but a player may reach over the division line to get a ball as long as no part of his/her body touches the other side.
  6. The game is won if all players on a team are in jail or whoever has the most people not in jail at the end of the 10 minute time limit.
  7. A match is won by the first team to win three of five games.
  8. If the game is tied at the end of the time limit, the teams will play sudden death. The first team to legally strike a player of the opposing team will be declared the winner of the game.

The Rules

  1. The object is to throw the ball at a playing opponent and strike them anywhere between the shoulders and feet. Getting hit off of a deflection does not count as a hit. When throwing the ball at the other team, a player may not:
    • hit a player in the head with a ball
    • step over the division line.
    1. VIOLATION of these rules results in the player going to jail. The player who is hit in the head remains in the game. However, if a player dives in front of a ball on purpose just to get hit in the head, that player will be sent to jail.
  2. A player struck by a thrown ball remains in the game if he/she catches the ball or if it is caught by a teammate before it touches the ground. Catching a ball off a deflection does not count as a catch or hit. As a result of a caught dodge ball, the player who threw the ball is sent to jail.
  3. A player may block a thrown ball with a ball currently in possession.
  4. If a player drops a "blocking ball" (a ball used to block a throw) then that player will be sent to jail.
  5. If any part of your body crosses the center line, you're out and must go to jail.
  6. From the beginning rush, you cannot get the other team out with a throw until you cross back over the mid-zone line on your court. However, if you throw before you cross and the ball is caught, you are out.
  7. The only time you may exit the court is to retrieve a ball. You must exit and enter from the base line.
  8. In the spirit of the game, it is best to keep the dodge balls moving at all times. Holding the dodge balls for more than 15 seconds will result in a forfeit of the ball to the other team. All forfeit dodge balls must be rolled to the other side.
  9. The referee's decision is absolute at all times, and there is no arguing with the referees.
  10. THE CAPTAINS FOR EACH TEAM ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO MAY TALK TO OFFICIALS.
  11. The Intramural officials/recreational supervisors will have absolute control of the game. Teams are responsible for keeping their players and spectators under control. Misconduct of players, coaches, or spectators, can result in assessment of a penalty, ejection or forfeiture of the game. Spectators must also remain in the area designated by the Intramural official/recreational staff. The Intramural officials/recreational supervisors will have the power to make decisions on any matter or questions not specifically covered in the rules.
  12. Good sportsmanship is a requirement of all participants. Players are to conduct themselves properly at all times. The Intramural Office reserves the right to suspend or disqualify individuals or groups for unsportsmanlike conduct. The team captain assumes full responsibility for the conduct of the team and spectators. Captains are responsible for their behavior of their teams at all times. Failure to observe the rules, being rude to the referees and other players, and damaging equipment will not be tolerated and could result in your teams forfeit from the tournament.
  13. Any player ejected from a game due to unsportsmanlike conduct must vacate the facility and will be ineligible to participate in the next game (see discipline policy below).
Unsportsmanlike Behavior
  1. Lewd, indecent or obscene conduct
  2. Disorderly conduct that interferes with intramural or recreational (university) activity
  3. Failure to comply with the directions of a representative of the intramural and recreational sports program and failure to identify oneself when requested by a representative of the intramural and recreational sports program.
  4. Unauthorized entry and refusal to vacate the facility when directed to do so by a representative of the intramural and recreational sports program.
  5. Verbal abuse of another person, including racial harassment (defined in section I.A.3 of Indiana University Code of Student Ethics), and fighting words spoken face-to-face as a personal insult to the listener or listeners and in personally abusive language.
  6. All unsportsmanlike conduct which includes actions that are unbecoming to an ethical, fair, honorable individual, and disrespect or vulgarity, including taunting.
  7. Illegal substitution
  8. Grasp either basket or net
  9. Damage to or destruction of university property

FIGHTING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Players involved will be ejected from the game, suspended from further play and reported to the Dean of Students. Captain is responsible for the conduct of the team members.

Offenders who fight will be suspended from all informal recreation and barred from participation in intramural sports until conference between the offender and the director is arranged within three (3) days of the offense (may be reported to both the Dean of Students and campus police). A second offense will result in being barred from open recreation and intramural participation for the remainder of the semester (and may carry over to the next semester), offenders will be reported to both the university police and reported to the Dean of Students.

The Jail 1

A person struck by a legally thrown ball must go to jail. Jail is located behind the base line. Once a player is hit, then that player is out for the remainder of the game. There is no coming back into the current game.

The Jail 2

A person struck by a legally thrown ball must go to jail. Jail is located on the opponent's side of the court, the bottom half of the free throw lane underneath the basket, with the lines being outside the jail. A player may get out of jail if one of the following occurs:

  • Catch a ball thrown by a teammate without the player's feet leaving the jail area. If the ball is caught by a player, that player may take the ball and return to his/her team's side of the court.
  • If a ball rolls into the jail area, a player in jail may throw it to a teammate on the other side of the court. This does not release a player from jail.
  • A player makes a basket from behind the division line. Everyone standing in jail at the time of the basket gets out of jail but may not take any balls to the other side of the court. A player on the way to jail but not yet in jail at the time the basket is made, remains in jail.

The Jail 3

Same rules for Jail 2 apply with the exception of "back board play." If a team member throws a ball into the opponent's basket, then jailed teammates are allowed to return to their side.

There are no "free backs." The returning "freed" players are eligible to be hit while returning to their side. A hit will result in returning to jail.

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