Delaware Sports League Dodgeball Rules

About Our Rules...

All DSL Rules are based on traditional rules from the sport and have been amended to fit what WE as a group want them to be in order to create an atmosphere of fair play that is the most fun for everyone.

About Our Officials...

DSL Officials are fellow members that have pledged their time to make sure that you have officials to help run the games and settle disputes. They are present as non baised guides that only want to help you and will answer any question that is asked in a calm and respectful manner. we will protect our officials at all times and all umpire calls are final. Any arguing, yelling, insulting, or otherwise offensive behavior towards an umpire will result in an ejection from the game, a subsequent suspension, and possible termination of DSL membership without refund. So just be nice to them, give them a hug, a five, or a simple thank you will do. They are there to make sure you have fun every night, it's the least you could do.

About Honesty...

The Officials are not going to see everything. DSL is meant to be a community of honest individuals that share in the responsibility of maintaining a level of integrity that we can all be proud to be a part of. Please do not wait for the umpire to call you out. If you know you have been hit or think you have been hit, then please have the maturity and the integrity to remove yourself from the court on your own. This is what seperates a DSL member from the rest of trhe world of sports. We will remove those that continuously undermine the integrity of our league and will always protect the values the rest of us share with a commitment that is never ending. Thank you for your support and commitment...it's what makes DSL great!

The 2010/2011 Delaware Sports League Dodgeball Rules

GAMES:

Running Record

Each match will consist of 14 total games. All 14 games will be played. All 14 games will count towards each team's overall record. There will be no co-ed game. If the game ends 7-7 a tiebreaker will be done for playoff seeding if necessary. In the playoffs, the team first to 7 wins will advance. A coin toss will determine if Males or Females start the match.

PLAYERS:

Each game begins with 5 players competing on a side; there is no minimum players required to play a match however, a forfiet" only applies if both teams agree. If a team wishes to play short, then they may do so. You may have up to 25 players on your roster.

Substitute players may play in place of DSL Members. There will be a $10 per evening fee to play for non DSL Members. The substitute is invited after the game to enjoy the DSL Specials and hang out with DSL Members. We love new people!

During game play you may substitute only at the beginning of each game.

GENDER RULES:

Games will rotate, Female vs. Female, and Male vs Male, starting with the Female game first. As previously stated a coin toss will determine the order in the playoffs. If a team is short a member of one gender, they will play shorthanded.

START OF PLAY:

Prior to beginning a game, all 4 Dodgeballs will be placed at the center line.

Players then take a position with one hand on the gym wall

Following a signal by the official, teams may approach the center ¬line to retrieve the balls. You may inadvertently cross the center line at this time, but if an unfair advantage is gained by doing so, the ref may award the ball to the opposing team. There is also no sliding to retrieve the ball.
A false start will be called if players leave the wall prior to the start of the game. Play will be stopped and one ball from the offending team's side will be moved to opponent's side of the hash mark. This procedure will be repeated for each infraction. If a team is awarded a ball the umpire will give the opposing team the ball once play has begun. If both teams are guilty of the infraction, no balls will be rewarded.

Once the ball is retrieved the ball itself must make contact with your wall. That is you can run it back and touch it yourself, or throw it to a teammate who can then touch the wall with it, or you can throw against the wall and play it yourself. Once again the ball must make contact with your wall before it is thrown.

GAME PLAY:

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

An out is scored by:

Hitting an opposing player with a live thrown ball below the shoulders. (If a player ducks or takes a position with their head below where their shoulders would normally be when standing is the cause for the player being hit above the shoulders, the player will be called out.) Clothes are part of the person.

Catching a ball thrown by your opponent.

A catch can be made off of a ricochet off a fellow teammate. This saves the teammate, causes the thrower to be out, and another teammate will enter the game.

Upon reentry the player must touch the wall before resuming play. Only players who started the game can re-enter.

A ball is considered "dead" if it hits an inanimate object or a player that has been knocked out. A ball is considered live if it is the hands of an opponent. For a ball to be considered blocked it must be completely blocked. That means if you partially block it and it directly hits you, then you are out. However if it is partially blocked and hits you directly then either you or a teammate catches it, it is considered a catch. If a blocked ball does not hit you directly after it is blocked, it is considered blocked and a dead ball.

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

If you are the last player left on the court, you may hold the ball more than 5 seconds.

There is no safety zone or throwing line. There is just the center line and at no point (other than the initial rush) are you allowed to touch the line. Your plant foot, your follow through foot cannot touch or cross the center line. Stay away from the center line when throwing it.

BOUNDARY RULES:

During play, all players must remain within boundary lines at all times.

If a player goes out of bounds they will be called out of the game. The line is considered as part of the playing area.

Players may retrieve stray balls so long as one foot or hand (if sliding) remains in bounds. Players may not leave the field of play to retrieve stray balls. Any player completely exiting the playing field will be called out.

A player may be handed a ball from out of bounds, provided the player receiving the ball remains completely within their team's field boundaries.

A player may not cross the center line to retrieve a ball. Both feet must be on the players side of the center line to retrieve the ball during game play.

TIE BREAKER:

In the event there is tie a tie breaker will occur. The tiebreaker will only apply to those who are on the court when time expires. A coin toss will determine which team will throw first and which side you want. If a team picks to throw first, the other team picks the side. Whoever wins the toss picks what they want.

After the toss each team will alternate throwing 4 balls. You have 5 seconds to throw each ball. After a team throws 4 then the other teams throws 4. If there are multiple players then each team can decide how they want to throw. That is one at a time or two at once.

After each throw the ref will signal the next throw and begin the new 5 seconds. If you are throwing multiple balls you must do it within 1 second of each other. You can not get the same person out twice with one throw. A hit is 1 point a dodge is one point and a catch is 2 points. If you are tied after the first round you will do it again alternating sides and order.

If tied after the second round you return to the original sides and a 1 ball sudden death throw will determine the winner.

CLOCK:

All dodgeball matches will have a 45-minute time limit. Each Game will have a maximum 4 minute time limit. All play will stop 45 minutes from the time your game begins. The score that is recorded at the end of 45min will be the final score for that match regardless of whether all fourteen games have been completed. The umpire's clock will be the official match clock. If you are done your game in less then 45 minutes you may stay and scrimmage for fun with the team you just played against...this is encouraged in DSL!

ROSTER:

Maximum number of players allowed on your roster will be 25 Players will not be allowed to participate without signing the DSL waiver/roster. Teams must DROP a player(s) before they can add a player(s), up to the 5th week. Rosters are frozen after last game of the 5th week. Additional roster sheets will be available for adding players that were not present at the first game.

Substitutes:

Players may substitute for non-roster players that are un able to make a game. There will be a $10 fee for a player to substitute. The substitute must be announced before the start of the game. A picture ID must be presented and a waiver form must be signed in order for the substitute player to participate. No substitutions may be made during the Playoffs. This does not mean that the substitute is an official DSL Member; however he/she may receive the discounts that evening.

PLAYER RESTRICTIONS:

All players in the Delaware Sports League must be 21 years old when the season starts. Teams will forfeit all games if this rule has been broken. DSL will have the right to request ID from any player throughout the regular and/or play-off season.

PLAYER PARTICIPATION:

Players can only play on one team. Players may however substitute for other teams with the prior consent of the officials and members of the opposing team. Player(s) that break this rule to gain an advantage by not announcing the substituting player will cause their team(s) to forfeit all games that were participated in. No refunds will be given for teams that forfeit their games.

GAME TIME:

All games must start on time, no exceptions, (there will be a 5 minute grace period to wait for players coming)

FORFEITS:

There are no "forfiets" unless a team does not show up at all. If a team is short then they can play short if they choose too. Keep in mind that you may substitute non-DSL players for $10 per night.

GAME UNIFORMS:

All players must wear their current DSL tee shirt to participate and any player not wearing their shirt will be sidelined for that game, no exceptions. If players are caught, swapping shirts, both players will be sidelined that game. Names will be taken and if players are not on your roster a forfeit fine will be assessed for that game. The "Forfeit Fee" WILL apply.

DODGEBALL EQUIPMENT:

DSL will supply Dodgeballs for each field. Rubber Sole athletic shoes must be worn.

SPORTSMANSHIP:

Sportsmanship: "Conduct and attitude considered as befitting participants in sports, especially fair play, courtesy, striving spirit, and grace in losing." Any DSL members that do not conduct themselves (on or off the field) in a manner other then described above can/will be removed from the league. If a staff member believes a player should be removed, a meeting between me, the coaches involved & the staff member will occur to discuss removal.

Language:

This is an adult league. Cursing is allowed so long as it is not at a player on the other team, DSL Official, or your teammates. You can be mad at yourself, but cursing with the intent of aggressive language towards another individual may result in an ejection from the game, subsequent suspension, and possible termination of membership without refund.

CAPTAIN RESPNSIBILITIES:

Please do your best to take your team back to our sponsor bars for the SOCIAL part of the Delaware Sports League. Keep reminding your players that this is a very SOCIAL league and unsportsmanlike conduct will ensure them a seat on the bench or a view from the outside looking in.

Sportsmanship Disclaimer:

One of the major goals of Delaware Sports League is to provide a safe, fun and enjoyable environment. Unsportsmanlike behavior generally causes games to become not enjoyable, unfair, and in some cases, unsafe. If any player or team exhibits conduct that is deemed unacceptable by the DSL staff, one warning will be given to the team captain. A second instance of unsportsmanlike behavior by any member of the team will result in the individual being disqualified from the league. The team may replace the player for a $15 fee.

Ejections:

A player ejected from a game will be given an official warning along with their ejection and there will be a one game suspension from the next game scheduled. A second offense will be considered a repeat offense and the player will be removed from the league with no re-fund. All suspensions and ejections are pending a review of the incident by league officials.

Note:

Any player involved in a physical altercation of any kind will be subject to legal action. Delaware Sports League will not tolerate any aggressive behavior that would endanger the safety of its members and will alert authorities if such action is necessary. In DSL even thinking about getting physical out of anger is enough to earn immediate termination of your membership without refund.

*All rules not specifically covered will be enforced as official Delaware Sports League Rules. All rules are subject to change by Delaware Sports League Management.