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| DODGEBALL ELIMINATOR RULES |
Florida State University PROHIBITS possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages on University property. This includes the Intramural Sports Complex and Tully Gym. Violators will be asked to leave the area. Failure to do so can result in forfeiture of the ball game, suspension of individuals and/or teams, and appropriate action by the University Judicial Office.
Food, flavored drinks, and gum are prohibited on the Tully Gym courts. Only bottled water is permitted in the court area.
FSU IM Sports follows NADA (National Amateur Dodgeball Association) rules except for the following modifications.
I. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
1. Participation is limited to currently-enrolled, fee-paying FSU students, faculty members, and full-time staff. FAMU & TCC students and members of the community are not eligible. All areas of eligibility are covered in the Intramural By-Laws which are available through the Campus Recreation Office and online at the FSU Campus Recreation web site.
2. In order to participate in an Intramural contest each player must present their validated FSUCard. Exceptions must be directed to the Intramural Sports Office for consideration by the IM staff during regular business hours (9:00am-6:00pm). Bring a photo ID and proof of payment to obtain a waiver from the IM staff. No such waiver will be granted at the game/match site.
3. All players must sign-in at the sign-in table or with a supervisor at the game site prior to each game to be eligible to participate.
4. Players can compete in only one league (men's or women's) and division.
II. EQUIPMENT
1. Appropriate gym footwear must be worn. Cleats, boots, sandals, and flip-flops are not permitted.
2. Hats and any other head wear that has a hard bill or creates a knot-like protrusion are not permitted.
3. Jewelry, casts, or any items deemed dangerous by the official MAY NOT BE WORN during the game. This jewelry consists of any visible rings (including wedding bands), watches, necklaces, earrings, studs, bracelets, and any other such similar jewelry. Only medical alert bracelets are permitted. Any player in the game found to be wearing prohibited equipment (jewelry, etc) will ruled out for the game and may not reenter for a subsquent game until the jewelry is removed.
4. Dodgeballs will be provided by the Intramural Sports staff at the game site. Only the designated color of dodgeball may be used on that court in the event of dodgeballs ending up on other courts.
III. PLAYING AREA
1. For all matches, the playing area shall be the normal volleyball court (grey lines in Tully Gym). Court lines are out-of-play.
2. Out-of-play areas include any walls or curtains. The ceiling is also out-of-play. The basketball backboard, rim, and supports are out-of-play. Spectators and substitutes are also considered out-of-play. Dodgeballs that touch out-of-play areas are immediately dead and cannot be caught for an out. Players hit with a thrown ball after it has struck an out-of-play area, out-of-play structure, or out-of-play person are safe.
3. Active players shall make an effort to remain inside the court at all times unless leaving the court to actively retrieve a dodgeball. A player can be ruled out by an official if he/she intentionally positions him/herself out-of-bounds or does not return when directed by an official.
4. Any inactive players, substitutes, and spectators must remain at least 1 yard (3 feet) outside the court lines at all times.
IV. MATCH FORMAT & GAME LENGTH
1. Each match will consist of as many games as can be played within a 35-minute time period. Each game shall last for no more than eight (8) minutes. Time for each game will be kept on a scoreboard visible to all players.
2. Games will consist of up to 12 participants competing simultaneously.
V. GAME PLAY
Note: An "active player" is one who started the game and has yet to be put out. An "inactive player" is one who started the game and has been put out in the game.
1. The object of the game is to put out all opponents to be the lone survivor of the game.
STARTING A GAME / INITIAL RUSH
1. To start a game, three (3) dodgeballs are placed on the 3-meter line (volleyball) on each end of the court.
2. The game players will start along and outside of the end line of the volleyball court (a single foot on the end line is permissible).
3. At the signal, players shall retrieve the dodgeballs anywhere on the court. Once the ball is picked up, it may be thrown immediately or carried forward before being thrown. Players may opt not to try to retrieve balls and rather attempt to safely position themselves inside the court area.
4. Following the initial rush, dodgeballs may be collected and thrown from anywhere on the court.
GETTING OUT
1. A player is out when...
(1) a player is hit anywhere at or below the shoulders (including clothing) by a dodgeball that is thrown by an active opposing player and that has not touched the floor or an out-of-play area / structure, unless the player is out-of-bounds actively retrieving a ball.
(2) a player throws a ball that is legally caught by an active member of the opposing team.
(3) a player commits an illegal throw.
(4) a player jumps or moves out of bounds (outside the basketball / volleyball court boundary lines) while attempting to dodge a ball.
2. A ball thrown by an active player remains live and able to put out an opposing player even if the thrower is subsequently put out while the ball is in the air.
3. When a player is hit in the head by a dodgeball...
(1) For the safety of participants, players hit in the head by an untouched/undeflected ball who are positioned within 12 feet of the thrower shall not be out. In this case, the thrower is out.
(2) Players hit in the head with an untouched/undeflected ball who are positioned beyond 12 feet from the thrower shall be out. In this case, the thrower is safe.
(3) Players hit in the head with a deflected ball anywhere on the court shall be declared out. The thrower is also safe.
(4) At any time, if the person intentionally ducked to get their head in the way of the dodgeball, then the person being hit by the dodgeball is out.
The 12 foot safety distance shall be enforced by the game officials who will have the final decision on the matter.
4. If there is a discrepency between leaving the court in attempt to dodge a ball and leaving the court to retrieve a ball, the player will be called out for leaving the court while attempting to dodge a ball.
5. When a player is put out, he/she shall line up along any visible sideline or endline and take a position at least 1 yard (3 feet) outside the line. If in possession of a dodgeball, he/she shall drop it or place it on the court.
6. Inactive participants along the sideline or endline shall not interfere with game play. Interference will result in disqualification from the active game (no longer eligible for a catch-and-return as an inactive player).
PLAYER POSITIONING & LEGAL THROWS
1. A player not in possession of a ball may take a position anywhere on the court (on either side).
2. A player in possession of a ball must stay on the side of the court on which he gained possession of the ball until the ball is thrown or dropped.
3. A player in possession of a ball may cross to the other side of the court on if the ball is dropped or placed on the ground (out of player possession). The ball may be reclaimed once the player has crossed over the midcourt line. A player may not toss the ball to themselves in order to cross the midcourt line (ruled out for an illegal throw).
4. When three (3) or more participants remain active on the court, a thrower may only throw a ball at an opponent on the opposite side of the court. When only 2 players remain, players may throw at an opponent anywhere on the court (free-for-all). If an inactive player becomes active by catching a ball and returns to the court to increase the number of active participants to 3 or more, free-for-all play will continue with no restrictions on where the players may throw at an opponent.
ILLEGAL THROWING, ROLLING, & PLACING OF A BALL
For each illegal throw, the thrower is ruled out. No illegal throw can put out an opponent. However, an illegal throw can be caught for a catch-and-return.
1. The thrower must maintain position inside the court boundaries before, during, and after a throw. If a player steps on or over an out-of-bounds line, the throw is ruled illegal.
2. Dodgeballs must be thrown or tossed using the hands and arms. Dodgeballs that are kicked towards an opponent, struck or spiked with an open hand or closed fist towards an opponent, are considered illegal throws.
3. Balls may not be intentionally heaved outside of the court area near or onto the back bleachers. The heaver shall be out.
4. A player in possession of a ball may not toss the ball to him/herself. The player shall be ruled out.
DEFLECTIONS
1. A deflection occurs when a thrown ball hits off an opposing player or airborne ball and remains in the air. A ball which deflects off of another ball that is on the court is considered to have touched the floor and is not a deflected ball (immediately dead).
2. All dodgeballs are live and are able to put people out until they touch the ground or any other object that is out of play and become dead. A thrown dodgeball may deflect off of multiple players, effectively putting out multiple opponents with a single throw.
3. Players who deflect a ball or are hit with a deflected ball are out. Players may NOT use a dodgeball to deflect a thrown ball (the deflector is out).
4. A player may deflect a ball with any part of his/her body in an effort to keep it from hitting the ground. If the deflected ball is caught be the same person who deflected the ball before touching an out-of-play area or the floor, the player deflecting the ball is not declared out (saving yourself). This action is considered a catch and the thrower is out. Catch-and-return applies.
5. If another player catches a ball that has hit a player and deflected into the air, the player who was hit is still out. The catcher is safe. This action is also considered a catch and the thrower is out. Catch-and-return applies.
6. Deflections off of a player that are caught by the original thrower put out the thrower (catching your own throw puts you out). This is a "suicide catch". Catch-and-return applies.
CATCHING A THROWN BALL: ACTIVE PLAYERS
1. A thrown dodgeball that is legally caught by an active player before it has struck an out-of-play area, the floor, or another player will result in the thrower being declared out. There are no catch-and-returns that result from an active player catching the ball on the court.
2. A legal catch occurs when:
(1) the catcher begins the catching action entirely inbounds (entire body including both feet)
(2) catches the ball
(3) the catcher remains inbounds throughout any movement which follows the catch and establishes a stationary position inbounds while still in possession of the ball (ball may not be tossed to another player).
3. If a player begins a catch inbounds, catches the ball, but he/she subsequently steps on or over an out-of-bounds line, or falls out-of-play, the catch is nullified. Neither the thrower nor catcher are out.
4. If at any time, inbounds or out-of-bounds, the catcher subsequently drops the ball, the thrower is not out and the failed catcher is out.
5. If a player is holding a ball or multiple balls and attempts to catch another thrown ball, the player must maintain possession of all balls including the thrown ball to complete a legal catch. If any of the balls are dropped, it is considered a dropped catch and the failed catcher is ruled out.
5. If a player catches a ball while out-of-bounds, neither the thrower or the catcher are out. An out-of-bounds catch following a deflection does not save that player since the ball cannot be legally caught out-of-bounds. Thus, the player that the ball deflected off of is still out.
6. Players may not lift or support other players in catching a thrown ball.
CATCHING A THROWN BALL: INACTIVE PLAYERS
1. Players that have been put out of the game may return to the game if they catch a thrown ball. This is a personal catch-and-return.
2. Inactive players returning as a result of an out-of-bounds catch shall immediately return to the court (subject to being hit and re-put out immediately upon returning to the court with both feet in-bounds).
BALL RETRIEVAL
1. The retrieval of dodgeballs that leave the in-play area is limited to those players who are active or inactive in the game. Spectators shall not assist with dodgeball retrieval.
2. Active players may leave the court to retrieve balls without penalty. Once out-of-play actively retrieving a ball, the player is not eligible to be put out. Players shall return to the court immediately once they have retrieved the ball. Excessive delays are prohibited.
3. Inactive players may assist in ball retrieval. Inactive players that catch an airborne ball out of bounds are eligible to return to play subject to the regulations outlined above. In retrieving dead (those that have hit the floor or other out-of-bounds object) dodgeballs, once a ball has been retrieved, it shall be placed along the court boundary for retrieval by an active player.
4. Under no circumstances may a spectator pick up a dodgeball or otherwise try to help retrieve a ball for their team. Spectators should always make their best attempt to get out of the way of the thrown dodgeballs and allow easy access for the players to get to them to retrieve them.
5. If three (3) or more balls become unretrievable, play may be stopped and all dodgeballs retrieved and moved onto the court. Balls shall be distributed evenly around the court prior to a restart. For any official restart, the remaining players shall position themselves outside the court boundaries (similar to the initial rush) and await a restart signal from the game official.
STALLING
1. Players must be actively involved and engaged in the game, either by attempting to put out other players or retrieving balls. Inactivity including excessive rolling or heaving of balls without the intent to put out an opponent is considered unsportsmanlike conduct and may result in the stoppage of play and removal of the player from the game.
WINNING THE GAME
1. To win the game, a player shall be the final player surviving and all other opponents have been legally put out.
2. If time expires with more than 1 player remaining on the court, there will be no winner for the game.
VI. SPORTSMANSHIP
1. The mission of Intramural Sports is to provide a recreational environment for the University community which is safe and enjoyable. While the game atmosphere is often competitive, ensuring participant safety, providing a fun, social atmosphere, and promoting sportsmanlike behavior among participants, spectators, and team followers are our primary concerns. The game atmosphere should remain good-natured at all times. Participants shall maintain good sportsmanship throughout their participation in all facets of the intramural program.
2. Sportsmanship is vital to the conduct of every Intramural contest. In order to encourage proper conduct during games, officials, administrative personnel, and supervisors shall make decisions on whether to warn, penalize or eject players or teams for poor sportsmanship. These decisions are final. The Intramural Sports administrative staff will rule on further penalties as a result of unsportsmanlike conduct.
3. Additional information regarding team and participant sportsmanship including the rating method, factors, and scale is available in the Sportsmanship section of the Intramural Sports Handbook, available online at the FSU Campus Recreation web site.
Call the Intramural Sports Staff at 850.644.2430 or email us for more information.