Game Rules

1. Live ball: A ball thrown by any player which has not come into contact with the ground or wall netting. A thrown ball is still live if it touches another player or ball.
2. Dead ball: A thrown ball becomes dead if it touches the floor or netting.
3. Catch: A successful catch is made when a live ball that has been thrown by the opposition is caught.
4. Out: A player is ‘out’ if they are hit by a live ball thrown by the opposition and do not catch it. A player is ‘out’ if they are hit by a rebounding ball that comes off a fellow teammate, or off another live ball. A player is also ‘out’ if any member of the opposition catches a live ball thrown by that player.
5. Block: A player may hold a ball and use it to ‘block’ balls thrown by the opposition and will not be called out if another ball hits the ball that they are holding. Note: a blocked ball is still live – until it hits the ground or netting.
6. Set: The duration of eliminating 6 players of the opposing team Out. Each set is worth 1 point for the match.
7. Match: The contest between two opposing teams to accumulate the most number of sets/points within 40 minutes of play.
8. There will be 6 dodgeballs during the game.
9. A match consists of as many sets that can be completed within the 55 minute match. No single set can exceed 5 minutes.
10. Honour system: When a player is hit by a ball, they will call themselves out and leave the field of play immediately. 
11. To start a game, each player must be touching their respective back wall with at least one foot.
12. Players must retreat and cross the attack line before making their first throw, or can pass balls back to teammates positioned behind the attack line. Two feet must be behind the attack line for a throw to be valid.
13. If a player catches a live ball thrown by the opposition, then the player who threw the ball is out. Additionally, an eliminated member of the catcher’s team may return to the field of play.
14. Eliminated players must line up in order of elimination, starting at the beginning of the bench area for ease of return to the game.
15. When a player is ‘out’ they must raise their hand and leave the field of play immediately, without interfering with play in any way.
16. Any player intentionally throwing a ball at an opposition player whose hand is raised will be ‘out’.
17. Players may pass the ball to team-mates.
18. Players are not permitted to kick or step on the ball.
19. No team is allowed to have all 6 balls on their half of the court for more than 10 seconds. If a team has all the balls they must make a legitimate effort to get at least 1 of the balls across to the opponent’s half. The first violation of this rule will result in a stoppage of play and distribution of all 6 balls to the opposing team. Play will continue with balls at feet.