Redball Shirts

• Redball Dodgeball shirts must be worn every game, including when wearing an outfit for the social theme.

Teams

• In general, teams will comprise of:
  • 8-9 males.
  • 3-4 females.
• Team compositions may change season-to-season depending on league numbers.

Minimum Players On Field

• Male: minimum 5 players.
• Female: minimum 2 players.
• If these minimums are not met, a number of points are given to the opposing team depending on how many players are available to play:
  • 4 males: 1 point.
  • 2 males: 2 points.
  • 1 female: 1 point.
  • 0 females: 2 points.

Substitutes

• If a team is missing players, they may take a sub from another team.
• Subs do not count toward player minimums.
• Subs may only be vetoed by the league commissioner.
  • The opposing team does not have a right-by-rule to deny a sub.
  • In the event the league commissioner is unavailable, refs are given veto power.
• Individuals who are not currently registered with the league may sub for a fee determined by the league commissioner.
• Subs are not permitted for the playoffs.

Team Captains

• Team captains should know the rules of the game and make sure their players follow them.
• Only team captains are allowed to interact with the refs

o This should be done during a timeout, between games or if the ref has stopped play.

Field

• The game may be played indoors or outdoors.
• The playing field shall be a rectangle divided into two equal sections by a center-line.
• The playing field shall have two attack lines running parallel to and 5 feet away from the center line.
• Boundaries:
  • Players may move up to the farthest attack line to throw.
    • Partially crossing this line results in a line warning for the entire team. Any player who crosses the line after this first warning is out.
    • Fully crossing this line results in an out, regardless of whether there was a line warning. If there was no line warning, a line warning is now issued.
    • Any throw made by a player who crosses this line is considered a live-ball as long as the playerÃ?¢??s foot was behind the line before the ball was released.
  • If playing outdoors, players who cross the sidelines are out.
    • Players may cross the backline in order to shag balls, however, they must also return to the field of play through this backline or they are out.

Equipment

• Ball size: 8' ball, inflated to 7'.
• Ball type: Soft rubber.
• Pinching:
  • Players will be given two warnings for pinching a ball.
  • After the second warning, pinching will result in an out.
  • Pinching is up to the refs discretion.

Match/Game Start

• Ball placement:
  • At the start of the first game of the match, 3 balls will be placed on the left and right side of the center line, with 1 ball placed in the middle.
  • For all subsequent games after the first, 4 balls will be placed on the side of the losing team from the prior game.
• Players must stand on their sides back line prior to the start of the game.
• Games begin after the refs announce 3-2-1 Dodgeball
• Opening rush:
  • Players may rush to the balls on their right.
  • If there is a center ball, it is available for any team to grab.
  • Ball activation:
    • A ball must be activated before it can be considered a live ball.
    • A ball must be carried or passed to within 5 feet of the back line before they are activated.

Gameplay

• 7 balls are used during the game.
• Ball control:
  • A team is considered to have ball majority if they have 4 or more balls.
  • Teams have 10 seconds to throw, toss, roll, etc. enough balls across the center line to no longer have ball majority.
    • Balls Over:
      • If a team fails to relinquish majority before 10 seconds then they must give all the balls to the opposing team. This is called balls over.
  • A team wins a game when all of the opposing team's players are out.
    • 1 point is then awarded to the winning team.
  • If only one man on each team remains, or one woman on each team remains, then a 1v1 will commence to determine the winner of the point.
    • If one man remains on one team and one woman on the other team, there is no 1v1 and the game will be played to normal completion.
  • The team with the most points at the end of regulation wins the match.

Regulation Time

• Match length: 40 minutes or 50 minutes.
  • Match length may change season-to-season.
• Half time:
  • Teams will switch sides after around half of regulation time has passed.
• End of regulation:
  • Matches separated by 1 or more points: the game ends.
  • Tied games:
    • Regular Season:
      • If less than half of the players remain for both teams, then the game will be played to completion.
      • If more than half of the players remain for both teams, the game ends and a 2v2 will commence. The winners of the 2v2 will win the match.
      • If time is not permitting then a game may end in a tie during the regular season, at the discretion of the league commissioner.
    • Playoffs:
      • The final game will be played to completion regardless of how many players remain.
  • Time outs:
    • Each team has one 30 second timeout for the match that may be called in-between games.
    • Refs may pause a game at any point for any reason
      • Examples (but not limited to):
        • Injuries.
        • To discuss a call with other refs.
      • Team's will resume play with the same number of balls as when play was paused.
        • Unless the refs make a call stating otherwise.

1v1 and 2v2

• 1v1 occurs when there is only one player remaining on both teams of the same sex.
  • If one man remains on one team and one woman remains on the other team, then 1v1 does not commence and the game will continue until normal conclusion.
• 2v2 occurs at the end of regulation in the event of a tie.
  • One man and one woman from each team will participate.
• Rules:
  • Each player starts with two balls.
    • These are the only balls that will be considered in play for the duration of the 1v1/2v2.
  • Players may only pick up and throw balls that were in play at the start of the 1v1/2v2.
    • Only players in the 1v1/2v2 may pick up balls. Teammates not in play may not shag balls.
  • Players may utilize the entire field; there is no penalty for crossing the throwing line.
  • A ball must be thrown in order for it to eliminate an opponent.
    • Tagging an opponent with a ball does not count as an out. The ball must be thrown.
    • If an opponent takes a ball from your hand then you are out.
• Simultaneous hits
  • This only applies during a 1v1 or if there is only one player from each side remaining during a 2v2
  • If neither player catches the ball, then the player that was hit first is out.
  • If the timing of the hits is too close to determine who was hit first, then the player who was hit by the ball that touches the ground first is out.
  • If neither of the above can be determined:
    • Redo the 1v1
    • Or for a 2v2, have the two remaining players play a 1v1, regardless of sex.

Outs

• You are out if:
  • You are hit by a live ball.
  • Your ball is caught.
  • Your foot fully crosses the farthest throw line.
  • Your foot partially crosses the farthest throw line after a line warning has been given to your team.
  • Your foot fully crosses the sideline of an outdoor field.
  • You block a ball into yourself.
  • You trap a ball on the ground.
  • A ref calls you out.
    • For any reason.
• You are not out if:
  • You are hit by a blocked or dead ball. (see blocking)
• Head shots:
• Redball Social – Official Headshot Rule
  1. First Offense (Team Warning & Game Sit-Out):
  The first headshot by any player on a team results in a team-wide warning, and the player who threw the headshot must sit out for the remainder of that game.
  The player may return for the next game within the same match.
  2. Second Offense (Match Ejection & Carryover Penalty):
  The next headshot by any player on that team results in the responsible player being ejected for the remainder of the match.
  The team must continue short-handed; no substitutes may replace the ejected player.
  In addition, that player will be ineligible to participate in the first game of their next match, whether it takes place later the same night or the following week.
  3. Third Offense (Night Ejection & Next Match Suspension):
  A third headshot by that team in the same night results in the responsible player being ejected for the rest of the night and suspended from participating in their team’s next scheduled match, regardless of when it occurs.
  4. Clarification – A Headshot is a Headshot:
  
  • A headshot is a headshot — in almost every situation it will count as a violation.
    
  • Exceptions are extremely rare and only apply if:
    
    • A player is already on the ground, or
      
    • A player (Player B) is positioned behind another player (Player A), and Player A moves or dodges suddenly, causing Player B to be struck in the head.
      
      
  • If a player deliberately ducks their head into the ball to ensure a hit, officials may use discretion — but this will be a very uncommon exception.
    
  • Referees and the league will default to treating any contact to the head as a headshot.
    
    
  5. League Discretion:
  Officials have the authority to impose stricter penalties if they determine a headshot was intentional or dangerous.
  6. Repeat Team Violations (League or Tournament Play):
  If the same team commits additional headshots during league or tournament play, the league may impose an automatic removal of that team or player for the remainder of the season.
  Continued or excessive violations may also impact eligibility for future leagues or tournaments.
  Redball Social’s priority is player safety, fairness, and fun.
  Play smart. Stay respectful. Avoid the head.
  
  
• 
  
• Shoulder/Chest:
• • • • If the ball hits your shoulder or chest in addition to your head or face, you are out no matter what.
  • Players who are out:
    • Players who are knocked out must exit the field and enter the out-line in the order in which they were knocked out.
    • If you skip the line or otherwise break the out-line order, your team will be deducted a point for unsportsmanlike conduct.
  • Sportsmanlike Conduct:
    • Players are expected to call themselves out if they are hit and not wait for a ref to call them out.
      • Repeated infractions can result in expulsion from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Unsportsmanlike conduct

• Unsportsmanlike conduct will first result in one warning.
• A penalty will be issued after the second unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Penalties:
  • Different penalties are used depending on the unsportsmanlike conduct.
  • Player is called out:
    • Arguing with refs.
    • Throwing a non-activated ball on the opening rush at a defenseless player.
    • Using the out-line, goal posts, or anything other than a ball or active player as a shield.
    • Head shots.
      • Two warnings are given for head shots before a penalty is issued instead of one warning.
  • Player expulsion:
    • Not calling yourself out when obviously, blatantly hit by a ball.
      • This rule applies to blatant hits above the knee.
        • Does not apply to hits below the knee since a player may not know if the ball hit the ground first.
        • Does not apply to a ball skimming a player since a player may not feel being hit.
      • Blatant hit:
        • When a ball squarely hits a person.
    • Purposefully interfering with live balls while walking to the out-line.
    • Starting a physical altercation with players or refs.
    • Excessive or obscene taunting.
    • Arguing with a ref after already being called out for arguing with a ref in the match.
      • No warnings for this infraction since a warning was already issued for the prior infraction.
    • A sub may not replace an expelled player.
  • Point deduction:
    • Altering the out-line order

Live/Dead Balls

• Live balls:
  • A ball is live from the moment it is thrown or tossed, whether overhand or underhand.
• Dead balls: a ball is dead if:
  • It hits any player.
  • It hits any object or surface.
    • It hits another ball.
      • See blocking.
    • It hits the ground.
    • It hits the net (side or ceiling).
    • It hits the wall.
    • It hits a goal post.
    • It hits a boundary marker.
    • Etc
  • It is caught.

Blocking

• You may block an incoming ball with a ball you are holding.
• If you block a ball and it hits you, you are out.
• If you block a ball and you are able to catch it before it becomes dead from touching another surface, then it counts as a catch.
• If a blocked ball hits any object or player other than the player who blocked the ball, then the ball is dead.
  • Players hit by a ball that was blocked by a teammate are not out.

Catches

• Catching a ball brings in a teammate from the out line.
• If throw a ball that is caught, you are out.
• A ball is considered caught if the player uses their hands/body to secure the ball in firm control without the ball touching the ground in any way.
  • A ball is considered secured when a player is able to manipulate the ball without dropping it.
    • Once this milestone is reached the catch is finalized regardless of whether the ball subsequently leaves the player's possession.
• Traps are considered out.
  • A trap is when the ball hits the floor and the player at the same time.
• Re-entering the game from the outline:
  • The moment you take one step onto the field from the outline you are considered a live player and may be hit out.
  • Player must re-enter the game in the order they were thrown out or an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will be called.
• Catch and out
  • If you catch a ball but are subsequently hit out, the catch still counts but you are out.
    • You cannot catch yourself back in.
  • You are out if you are unable to secure the ball before being hit.

Shagging Balls

• Definition: interacting with the balls other than blocking, catching, or throwing at an opposing player.
• Players who are out may not shag (roll, toss, throw, etc) balls to the other team.
  • Players who are out may shag balls to their own teammates.