Dodge ball

From Games Wiki

Dodge ball or Knee ball and the games based on it are very popular and ideal for situations where you have an enclosed space as it stops you loosing the ball.

• Find a place to play that can be divided into two equal halves. A gym is good, or half a gym. Most black top play grounds are also good. Set your boundaries for the game and make them clear to the players, which side is which and what is out of bounds.

• Divide up into equal teams. According to official rules, you have five players per side, but we play with every body who wants to play. Sometimes you end up with three to a side, sometimes you end up with ten to a side. It will still work.

• You can start with your balls lined up on the center dividing line, equal spaced apart across the line, or give an equal amount to each team. If you start with the balls in the center, the kids wait at the other end for the ‘go’ and then dash for the balls, but that can get messy with kids. Generally, we start with the balls divided on either side.

• After ‘go’ is called, you throw the balls at each other, trying to hit the opposing players ‘out’ (but not in the head-see below). If any part of you gets hit, you are out. Shoes, hair, clothing-anything that is connected to you means that you are OUT. Keep that consistent or there will be problems down the line.

• If you catch a ball thrown at you, you get to call a player from your own side back in, and the person who threw the ball at you is out.

• If you step over the center line, for whatever reason, you are out. Generally we play the ‘no-exceptions’ rule, just to be fair.

• Play until everyone is out on one side. The other side wins, and then you can play again!