Please read all of the rules below carefully. You will not be allowed to compete in the tournament until you do so. Please note that these rules are subject to change.

Team Assembly

1.        Each team will consist of no more than 10 people.

2.        There is no co-ed requirement. Teams can have any number of male and/or female players.

3.        Players are only allowed to play on one team and cannot switch at any time. Once a player's team has been eliminated, the player cannot join another team that is still in the tournament.

Match Play and Scoring

1.        Each match is played between two teams and will be composed of three games. The team that wins two or more games will be awarded the match win. All three games will be played and scored regardless if a team wins the first two.

2.        Scores will be recorded according to the number of players left at the end of each game (i.e. 8-0, 0-4, 6-0). This record system will be used to determine playoff teams in the Championship round as described in the Tournament Design section below.

3.        The first team to eliminate all of the other team's players is awarded the game win.

4.        If after two minutes no team has been fully eliminated, the Referee will call a one-minute warning. If after that one minute no team has been eliminated, the team with the most people remaining wins.

5.        If after three minutes both teams have equal numbers remaining, sudden death will occur and the first team with a person eliminated will lose.

Game Rules

1.     At the beginning of each match, the Head Referee will randomly select a team to call a coin-flip. The winner of the coin flip will get to choose which side of the court they will play on first. After each game is completed, teams will switch sides.

2.     Each court will have a color-coded ball to be used only on that court. If a ball from another court is used during play, it will not count.

3.        At the beginning of each game, all players must begin with one hand touching their team's wall. When the head referee blows the whistle, players may try to retrieve the balls from the center of the court.

4.        Players should try not to collide with any opposing players while trying to retrieve a ball. Anyone seen trying to intentionally hit or tackle another player will be called out.

5.        If a player obtains a ball, he/she must first run back and touch their wall before they can throw it.

6.        Only balls that are thrown by an opposing player will count for elimination. If a ball is kicked by a player, it will not count.

7.        If you are hit anywhere on your body, you are out.

8.        Players throwing the ball should not be trying to inflict injury on the opposing team. Players who are intentionally trying to hurt players (such as throwing extremely hard at close range or intentionally aiming for a player’s head) can be called out by a referee.

9.        If you are hit, you should remove yourself from the game. Referees will oversee the games to make sure everyone plays fair, but players are expected to be honest.

10.     A player may use a ball he/she is holding to block an incoming ball. If the ball he/she is holding is knocked away or dropped, the player is out. If the incoming ball hits any part of the player before making contact with their ball, the player is out.

11.     If a thrown ball is caught by an opposing player, the player who threw it is out.

12.     As soon as a ball makes contact with the floor, a wall, goes out of bounds, hits another ball, or hits a player, the ball is considered dead. A ball can only eliminate one player per throw. If the ball is caught by a different player after striking someone, the person struck is still out.

13.     After eliminated, you may not re-enter play until the next game begins.

Court Design and Boundaries

1.        Courts boundary lines are taped out and consist of two team zones and an overlapping common area. Balls thrown from an out-of-bounds area or beyond the common area will not count.

2.        Players may not cross boundary lines to retrieve a ball. Players should wait for a referee to place the ball back in play at the point where it went out of bounds.

3.        Players are not allowed to jump from an in-bound area to an out-of-bounds area in order to get a closer shot.

4.        If a player runs out of bounds in order to dodge a ball, the Referee may call them out.

Tournament Design

1.        The tournament will consist of 42 teams.

2.        Teams will be broken up into randomized, 7-team round robin groups.

3.        Each round robin group will have an assigned court where all of their matches will be played.

4.        Within each round robin group, all teams will play each other once.

5.        The team with the most match wins from each round robin grouping will advance to the Championship round. In the event of a tie from match wins, game wins will be used to determine which team advances. If there is still a tie, the team with the most players remaining after each game will advance.

6.        There will be two wild-card spots available and will be awarded to the two teams with the best record who did not place first in their round robin group.

7.        The single-elimination, Championship round seating will be ranked according to the scoring system below:

A. Match record (with 7 teams in each round robin group, you can be at best 6-0)

B. Game record (with three games played per match, you can be at best 18-0)

C. Total number of players remaining after each game (at best 180)

Injuries

1.     If you are injured during any point of the game, please tell a Referee immediately.

2.     Depending on the severity of the injury, the Referee may call for a stoppage in play.

3.     We will have a first-aid station setup to deal with any injuries that a player might incur.

4.     If a player is forced to leave the tournament due to injury, the team may replace him/her with another player. However, that player must not be registered with any other team in the Tournament.

5.     It will be the Referee’s discretion how and when to begin a game that has been stopped.

General Conduct

1.     There will be three Referees per court, with each court having an identified Head Referee who will keep time and record scores.

2.     All decisions made by a Referee are final. Do not argue with them.

3.     If you have a complaint, the team captain should approach the Head Referee of your court. If you are not satisfied with their decision, the team captain and the Head Referee from your court may approach the Tournament Leader. His/her decision is final.

4.     Teams are responsible for checking their match times and courts, which will be posted.

5.     Teams should be at their assigned court five minutes prior to the scheduled start of play.

6.     Any team not present at the scheduled start of play will be given a one-minute warning to report. If the team is still not present, they will forfeit the entire match. If players are missing after one minute, the team will be required to begin the game with whatever players are present.

7.     Referees may call a player out at any time for general misconduct, which can include (but is not limited to): arguing, intentionally trying to injure a player, and failure to leave the game when hit.

8.     Please keep in mind at all times that this is a charity fundraiser, and that all games should be considered friendly competition.

9.     Arguing or threatening a Referee at any time will not be tolerated. You will be immediately ejected from the tournament and not allowed to compete. If you continue to argue, you will be refereed to the Judicial Administrator and/or CU Police and you can explain your actions to them.

RETURN TO THE DODGEBALL REGISTRATION PAGE