EXTREME DODGEBALL HAMILTON

OFFICIAL RULES & REGULATIONS

REVISIONS TO RULES SEE BOLD FONT BELOW.

REFEREE REQUIREMENTS: In an effort to keep the game fun and fair each team will be responsible for refereeing at some time through out the season. After pre-season games teams will be scheduled to referee a minimum of 3 games. Thank you everyone for your cooperation, we hope to give a broader understanding of what it is to be ref and to continue to make this league a fun and successful one. Refs will be given a $5 discount on their next season’s registration (based on 1 ref per game and up to a max of $50 per person). We ask that teams check the schedule carefully and notify us at least 24 hours prior to a game if they can not referee. Failure to fulfill one’s scheduled referee assignment (with out giving 24 hours notice) will result in a team being docked 3 points from their standings. Referee Information Clinics will be run prior to or during the pre-season. Each team is required to have at least 2 representatives attend one Referee Clinic (duration 1 hour).

Player Regulations:

• NEW! Captains must provide a GAME SHEET to the referee before the game begins. The game sheet must have the first and last name of players participating. If a player arrives after the start of the game, they must put their name on the sheet prior to playing. It is the responsibility of the captain to see that all names are on the game sheet.
• Each team plays with 5 players on the court to start (Maximum 10 on a team).
• A team has until 10 minutes past the start time to have at least 4 registered (people not “borrowed” from other teams) on the court or they default the game.
• A team can “borrow” one person from another team if they need to make 5 only during regular season games, not for play-off games.
• If a team has only 4 players and needs to “borrow” a player from another team they can only borrow a player from their own division or divisions below . A player from a higher division can not play in a lower division game. This however. does not apply to female players who can be borrowed at any time if a team does not have 2.
• Each team MUST have at least two girls on the court to start each set. A team can “borrow” female players from other teams at any time (play-offs included). If a team only has one female player they must start at a 5 set deficit and play with only 4 players on the court. If a team’s second female player arrives after the 10 minute “grace period” the team can then play with the full 5 players but the 5 set deficit remains.
• If a team does not have any female players they default the game. NOTE: A team can borrow female players from other teams and other divisions at any time without penalty.
• Teams will not be allowed to “rotate” players into sets during play-off games. Captains will be asked for a “Finalized” roster near the end of the regular season. The players on this roster will be the only ones eligible to play in play-off games.
• “Un-registered” players are welcome to play for a team during regular season. However, they must sign a waiver before playing and are then designated to that team. Rules regarding being a borrowed player for another team would apply as stated above.
• NEW! If a team defaults a game (see stipulations above) they will receive a warning and zero points for the game. If a team defaults a second time in the same season they will be fined $50 which must be paid prior to playing their next game. A team will then be fined $50 for every default game after that. Fines must be paid in full in order to play. $25 of the fines paid will go to the team that did show and that team will receive three points for the win.

Game Rules:

• Players start at back wall. Five on a side (additional players are in “jail” and are the first to go in) – teams start with at least 2 female players on.
• 3 Balls are placed on middle line and official says, “Go!”
• At the start of each set the player with the ball must get both feet behind the attack (if in posession of the ball) or be thrown back behind the attack line before throwing it at the other team (This is considered “Checking” the ball). Once a ball is “checked”, the player may go right up to the middle line again to throw the ball.
• · If a player fails to get both feet back behind the attack line before they throw the ball at an opponent they will be called out (the opposition does NOT get a player back in for this). 
• Players can eliminate the opposition by hitting them with a ball (that has not bounced off the wall or ground) or by catching a throw before it touches the ground or wall. Fixtures on the walls (i.e. basketball nets etc.) are considered part of the wall. A ball that hits the ground or the wall is considered dead and can not get anyone out. If you get someone out one of your teammates is allowed to come back on (up to a maximum of 5). Players return to the game in the same order in which they were hit. Additional players (substitutes) are the first to re-enter the game to a max of 5 on the court.
• If a player is hit  (clothing and hair count) or their ball is caught they are out
•  When hit a player must raise their hand immediately and can no longer play the ball.
• “Out” players must make their way immediately to the designated jail area and remain in the order in which they were hit. While in Jail they must keep all body parts inside. Out players CAN NOT lean out of jail to play a ball. If a ball goes into the jail area an “out player” can put it back into play. Jails are behind the attack lines. “Out” players are not to reach into or enter the neutral zone (between the attack lines) on or off the court to play a ball back in.
• Balls deflected accidently or unintentionally off out players are dead (same as hitting the wall or roof). Deliberately playing the ball when you are “out” is considered unsportsmanlike conduct *.
• A ball is live until it touches the ground, an out player or the wall. This means if a ball bounces off a player and is caught it is considered “live ball” and the thrower is out. Similarly, if a ball hits two people before hitting the ground or the wall they are both out. The other team would then get two people in.
• You can use a ball to block or deflect incoming throws, as long as you do not drop the “deflect ball” .
• If any part of a player crosses the middle line and touches the opponent’s side that player is out, however the opposition does NOT get a player back in for this.
• Live players MUST keep some part of their body in the playing area at all times. Failure to do so will result in that player being out. The opposition does NOT get a player back in for this. PLAYERS MAY NOT “HIDE IN JAIL” – Meaning the majority of their body must be in the court for the majority of time. Deliberately using “jail” players to block shots is considered poor sportsmanship. Players will receive one warning then will be called out.
• If a player throws a ball that hits another directly in the head neither the thrower nor the hit player are out (deflected balls off hands, shoulders, walls, other players do not count as a hit to the head). HOWEVER, if a player is crouching or jumping they are out. To be considered a “head shot” the player must have their head where it would be if they were standing upright. Standing in an “athletic stance” is considered crouching and the head is then live.
• If a ball hits a player and bounces back over the line and is caught the player it bounced off is out. Any touch as long as it doesn’t hit the ground or the wall is considered a “throw” and the normal rules apply. This also applies to balls deflected off held balls (they are considered throws and if caught the “deflecting player” is out).
• If a player is hit by a ball, it bounces off a wall and is caught on their side before it touches the ground that player has been “Saved” and neither the thrower nor the hit player are out.
• A ball can only remain on each side for a maximum of 10 seconds. A player deliberately holding a ball over these 10 seconds is out. This rule is in place to keep the game moving and it is up to the discretion of the referee to count a ball down.
• If a ball is sitting in the neutral zone (between the two attack lines) and has at no time been in a player’s possession (i.e. hasn’t been picked up and placed down) it will not be counted. The ball once in possession of a player has 10 seconds to be thrown past the opponents attack line or at a player. A 10 second count will apply even if it is placed down again. If a ball “expires” the person holding  it  is out. If it is not being held the team must choose a player to go out. The opposition does NOT get a player back in for this.
• If a player is holding a ball that is being counted and is hit the count is restarted for that ball.
• If there is only one player left  a “10 second-count” will not be given unless there is more than one ball on that side. This means the final player can have one ball on their side for as long as they want. However a ball that is past the “attack line” is considered on their side.
• The referee at any time can call for all balls to move and give a “10 count” in order to keep the game moving quickly.
• Kicking, spiking, swatting, scooping and/or punching the ball is not allowed, considered dangerous and not a valid throw. Repeat offenders will be called out.
• BONUS: If there is only one person left for a team and they catch a throw on the full, their entire team re-enters the game.
• If there is only one person left for a team and they can survive 9 shots they get one player back in.
• Once a team has eliminated everyone on the opposite team they receive a point.
• Sets are played for the entire 55 minutes. The team with most points wins the game.
• If the time limit finishes while a set is still going, the team with the most players still on the court at that moment will receive the point. However, during ties in play-off games the final set will be played out in full.
• *Poor sportsmanship (i.e. arguing with the ref, making calls on opponents, verbal abuse, persistent cheating, deliberately blocking shots when out, playing etc.) can and will result in that player being removed from play and the team playing down for however long the ref deems necessary. If the referee see fit he/she can remove a teams set points for poor sportsmanship.
• Games are intended to be “self-refereed”. A referee is another set of eyes and are there to settle any discrepancies, their word is final. However, players are responsible for being self-honest. Please keep dodge ball fun by not arguing with referees and not making calls on opponents.
• If a player has an issue with a call or opposing player the captain (and only the captain) can approach the ref between sets and state the issue or ask for clarification.
• “Superman’s” or “Suicide Jumps” are banned and considered poor sportsmanship.

YELLOW CARD

• ·  A yellow card is shown by the referee to indicate that a player has been temporarily suspended from the game and must sit out for 1-3 sets (depending on the severity of infraction and up to the discretion of the referee). During the suspension that team will play with a maximum of 4 on the court. A yellow card could be shown to a player for the following infractions;

1. Unsporting behaviour

2. Dissent by word or action towards a referee

3. Persistently infringing the rules of the game

· If a player receives a second yellow card within the same game they must sit out the remainder of the game. If the second yellow card infraction happens in the final 10 minutes of a game, that player will sit out of half of the next game. During this time the team will play with a maximum of 4 on the court. If the suspended player is not present at the next game, that team will still play with a maximum of 4 players for the first half of the next game.

RED CARD

• · A red card is shown by the referee to indicate that a player has committed a major infraction. Upon receiving a red card a player must leave the court immediately and is suspended for 2 full games. The game will not continue until the suspended player has left the court and the team will then play with a maximum of 4 for three sets. A red card could be shown to a player for the following infractions;

1. Serious foul play (a violent foul)

2. Violent conduct (any other act of violence)

3. Using offensive, insulting or abusive language towards a referee

• · If a player receives two red cards in a season they may be permanently excluded from the league with out refund (up to the discretion of the Board of Directors).

Point System:

• During regular season games teams are awarded 3 points for a win, 2 points for a tie, 1 point for a loss and 0 points for a default.
• If there is a tie at the end of the regular season in Points it goes to set differential (+/-), then head to head, then coin toss.