Yes, ‘dodging’ is an important aspect of Dodgeball, and being able to throw hard might make you feel good about yourself but the real heroes are all of our ‘catchers’ out there! What’s better than getting an opponent out and one of your players back in at the same time? Actually nothing.
Catching Fundamentals:
Have you ever played a game of dodgeball against a team whose attack was so coordinated, so vociferous, so intimidating, and so precise that they left you dazed and confused before half? Yeah – me too. But I’m here to tell you that with a little organization and a game plan, you and your team can rock an attack like that too.
Hey there Dodgeballers - gather in! Yeah, you! Over there In the one piece leotard - come on in. Everyone come in close. I want to chat strategy with you, but don’t share this top secret info with other players. I want to chat about ways of getting your opponent out - more specifically I want to talk about throwing at their feet.
Dodgeball is a game of trickery, and the more tricks you have up your sleeve, the better. Here are some of the most common tactics that I’ve seen at our league nights. When they work, you’re a hero. When they don’t, you might look a bit silly, but that’s part of the fun.
Perhaps you’ve already played Dodgeball with the traditional rubber balls and are thinking about making the switch, or maybe you’re new to the sport and are trying to decide which league is best for you. Either way, we’re here to help!
Foam Dodgeball is very similar to our Rubber – Standard Dodgeball league with the exception of the ball and a few rules, which are designed to provide a non-threatening, no-sting experience, while still providing fun and exciting Dodgeball action.
The Ball:
There is a little known rule in our rulebook. One that can change an entire game, and also add a ton of fun at the end of any match. The Kamikaze. Check out page 9 of the Dodgeball Rulebook for a full explanation HERE.
Whether you’re playing Rubber or Foam Dodgeball, head shots are not allowed. I think we’re all smart enough to know why they are not allowed and we’re all pretty clear on what a head shot is (it’s when the ball, you know, HITS YOU IN THE HEAD). What seems to be a bit more controversial are what we call a ‘Dangerous High Throw’, specifically in Rubber Dodgeball.
What is a Dangerous High Throw?
I hate to break it to you but a ‘trap’ in Dodgeball doesn’t happen as often as you think. Just look it up in our Dodgeball rulebook and you’ll find that a ‘trap’ is a ball that is caught and hits the ground or wall at the same time. Like, the EXACT SAME TIME. This is then considered a dead ball and no one is eliminated or comes back on.
One way to look at it is if the ground or the wall wasn’t there, the catch would have been easily made by the player. The ground or wall actually interfered with the player catching the ball.
There’s less than 1 minute left in the game and you’re the only player left on the court; your team’s last hope. You’re itching to make a catch to tie the game and become a hero BUT the other team has something else in mind. They run out the clock by throwing uncatchable throws. 30 seconds left. 10 seconds left. And that’s game. Were your opponents being strategic or unsportsmanlike? Here are the different sides to consider:
Strategic:
With 6 players required on the court, everyone knows that Dodgeball is a team sport. However, many new teams (and well as some veteran teams) underestimate how much teamwork and strategy is required to be successful! Here are some tips to pass along to your teammates and practice at your next game:
