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INTRAMURAL DODGEBALL RULES

IMPORTANT GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Participants may play for only one Dodgeball team per semester.
  • All participants MUST be registered on IMLeagues by 11:00am on game day (11:00am on Friday for Sunday games) to be present on the printed scorecard. We will only use printed rosters, as we require physical documentation for contact-tracing. THERE WILL BE NO ADDITION OF PLAYERS AT THE GAME. 
  • Players in attendance must be checked off by the facilities screeners at the building entrance. Each individual is responsible to ensure their attendance is recorded. Players must participate in “50%-less-one” of the league games to be eligible for the prizing, so ensuring the scorecard is accurate is extremely important. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
  • All players must present photo ID and a passed (day of) Covid-19 self-assessment survey via the SeQure app. Failure to do so will result in the player not being permitted to participate in that game. Screeners and IM Staff are not authorized to make exceptions to this rule under any circumstances.
  • Players will be allowed to enter the ARC 15 minutes before their scheduled game. 
  • Players must leave the playing area immediately after games. 
  • Players are required to wear a mask at all times – this includes during games but excludes players that are in the pool. However, masks must be worn on the pool deck.
  • Players, referees, and staff members must maintain a physical distance of 2 meters upon arrival, during the game and leaving the game. This includes teammates. 
  • All greetings and congratulations should be vocal. Handshakes, high fives fist bumps, etc. are not permitted. 
  • Any agreements between Captains or Teams to alter game rules or intramural policies are invalid.
  • It is the responsibility of all intramural participants to ascertain whether their own health conditions make it advisable to participate in a particular sport. Queen’s University does not assume ANY RESPONSIBILITY.
  • Captains must sign the game sheet after each game to verify the final score and signed in players. 

GAME SUPERVISORS

 Game Supervisors are responsible for checking eligibility, supervising/controlling the game, cleaning equipment, and recording the score. Game supervisors must be treated with respect. Their decisions concerning eligibility and rules of play are final and there will be NO NEGOTIATIONS made between teams. 

OFFICIALS

One referee will be provided for all matches that require an official. Officials are responsible for signing players in, controlling the game, officiating and keeping score. If an official fails to show, the teams will self-officiate. Officials must be treated with respect. The decisions of the officials are final and there will be NO NEGOTIATIONS made between teams. Arguing or disputing calls made during a game is not permitted, and players should adopt a “play-on” mentality. Discussion of calls can be done during half-time.

EQUIPMENT/ATTIRE

  • Appropriate gym shoess and apparel must always be worn.
  • Pinnies will not be available for rental this fall semester. 
  • All necessary playing equipment will be provided by the intramural staff. Teams are responsible for bringing their own warm up ball/ shuttlecock. 
  • NO LOOSE JEWELRY is permitted for any intramural sport. All open wounds must be covered appropriately. 
  • ALL EQUIPMENT WILL BE SANITIZED BEFORE EVERY GAME BY INTRAMURAL STAFF.

TEAM REQUIREMENTS

  • Games will be played 4 vs 4.The roster cap is 6 players. 
  • Teams must have a minimum of 3 players signed in and prepared to play (see league specific requirements below) within 10 minutes of the scheduled start time or they will be charged with a default. 
  • If a team only has the minimum, this does not mean the other team has to play down one. 
  • If a team falls below the minimum playing compliment due to INJURY IN THAT GAME, they will default but not be charged for this default. 
  • If a team falls below the minimum playing compliment due to EJECTION FROM THE GAME, they shall forfeit the game and the score shall be recorded as the current score, or the default score, whichever +/- is greater.

League types and minimum playing compliment:


Open leagues = Must have minimum 3 players of any gender on the court at all times.
Mixed Leagues = Must have minimum 1 player that self-identifies/plays as female and 1 player that self-identifies/plays as male on the court at all times.
Women’s leagues = Must have minimum 3 players that self-identify/play as women on the court at all times.

DEFAULTS/FORFEITS

The default score will be recorded as 3-0. The defaulting team shall lose 2 points in the standings and the captain will be charged a default fee. A second default will result in removal from the league and a second default fee will be charged to the captain.
 

THE GAME

Starting a Match & Court Positions

  • All players must stand behind the back line of their side of the court.
  • The balls will be placed on the mid-court line. 2 balls will be for the home team and 2 will be for the away team. The pairs will be placed on opposite sides of the line. *See Image below* 
  • The referee will count down from three and give a whistle for teams to go for the balls. 
  • Players who grab the balls must run back and touch the backline with the ball before making any throwing attempts at the opposing team. 

Court & Net

Games will be played on a volleyball regulation sized court with 1-2 meters of the middle court acting as a dead space. The dead space will be off limits to all players as a way to keep opposing players physically distanced. 

dodgeball

Physical Distancing/ Safety Precautions 

  • Participants must maintain a distance of 2 meters from teammates, opponents, and officials during the game. Officials will remind and regulate players to do so when needed. 
  • Any ball that hits a player above the shoulders will be immediately replaced and sanitized by Intramural staff. 
  • Players and staff must wear a mask at all times, including during games. 

Format

Games will be 40 min in length. Teams will play 5 matches per game. Each match is 8 min in length.
  • At the end of the game, the score is reported as the number of games won for each team
    •  Ex. 3 – 2 or 4 -1 THERE ARE NO TIES! 
  • Play is continuous until either all players on one team are out or time expires. 
    • If time expires before a match is completed, the team with the most players left on the court wins the match. 
    • If teams have an equal number of players remaining when time expires, sudden death will be played = the first team to get an opponent out (or opponent gets themselves out) wins the match. 
  • Games should start as close to the scheduled game time as possible. Teams should arrive early to complete their warm-up on the sidelines, to allow for maximum playing time. 
  • The home team will be given their choice of ends to start the game. Teams will switch ends after 3/5 matches. 

Gameplay 

The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them “out”
This is done by either hitting an opposing player with a thrown ball below the shoulders (headshots do not count) or by catching a ball thrown by your opponent before it touches the floor, wall or hanging appendage. 
  • If a ball hits the floor before hitting a player, they are not out
  • Once a player has been put out, he/she must IMMEDIATELY proceed to the sidelines
  • If at any time, one team is in possession of all 4 game balls at once, they must make a throw within 5 seconds (called out loud by the opposing team).  If they do not, play shall stop and one ball shall be given to the opposing team.  Play shall resume once that ball is touched by the opposing team member.
  • 1 Referee will be provided to officiate the game. Calls made by the referee are final unless the  game rules state different for what occurred and what was called. 

Dead balls

A ball will become a 'dead' ball if:
  • it hits a wall
  • it hits the floor
  • it hits any hanging appendage (ex. Basketball hoop)
  • it leaves the side boundaries of the court
  • it hits a players head on a direct shot, unless that player has ducked to avoid a hit and in doing so, has ducked into the throw
  • Any ball not listed above, is 'live' and can eliminate players.

Headshots

  • Any ball that hits a player above the shoulders will be immediately replaced and sanitized by Intramural staff. 
  • A ball hitting the “normal” height of the head shall be called a dead-ball.  
  • A ball hitting the head of a player who is fully crouched down to avoid being hit, shall be considered in play and that player is out unless they (or a teammate) catches the ball before it hits the floor.

“Saving” an out player

A player may “save” a teammate that was eliminated by 
  • catching the ball after it hits said teammate, and before it becomes a dead ball
  • catching a ball and bringing back the player that was eliminated first out of those who are eliminated (i.e the player that has been out the longest)
    • Substitute players cannot be brought into a match this way.

Deflections

A player may use a ball to deflect a thrown ball.  A deflected throw is live until it becomes a dead ball.

Double /Multiple Hits

If the ball hits one player and then another, they are both out unless the ball is caught before it hits the floor. Same rule applies If multiple players are hit by a ball before it’s dead. 

Violations 

  • Placing your foot into the Dead space = player is out. Touching the line of the dead space is not a violation.
  • Stepping out side the court lines = player is out. Both feet must be in the court at all times
  • Jumping onto your opponent’s side of the court = player is out
  • Kicking the ball = player is out
  • Substitutions during a match = both players are out
  • Intentional / Harmful contact (ex. Pushing, shoving, hitting, etc) = player is immediately ejected from the game and must leave the building. Player may be subject to a suspension. 
  • dropping/fumbling/losing control of the ball whereby it touches the floor = player is out.

Substitutions

  • Team will have unlimited substitutions. 
  • Teams can only make substitutions before a match begins. Subs cannot be made during matches for any reason including for a injured players. 
  • Players on the bench must stand 2 meters apart at all times. 

Timeouts

There will be no timeouts permitted during games.

Spectators

Spectators are not allowed under any circumstances. This includes friends, family, and pets. 
 

PLAYOFFS/FINALS

  • Players must have played a minimum of 50%-less one of the regular season games to qualify for playoffs. 
  • Depending on weeks available, some leagues will have playoffs after the regular season while others will go straight to finals. 
  • Playoff games will follow the same format as regular season
  • Teams in the Finals will be permitted 1 timeout for the game
  • Finals may be played on a larger/ regulation size court. 

GAME RESCHEDULES *For Winter 2021 Season*

Due to the limited number of weeks available, games cannot be rescheduled or cancelled this season. If your team cannot make a game for an accepted reason (class conflicts, other commitments conflicts, study time are not accepted reasons) it will be recorded as a default but the default fine will be waived. 

If your team cannot make a game, the team captain (or one player from the team) must email the intramural coordinator (intramurals@queensu.ca) at least 5 DAYS before the game to request a default waiver. The Intramural Coordinator will either approve or deny your request based on your reasoning. If your request is denied, you team will be expected to make the game and if you do not show, regular default rules and fines will be applied and charged to the team captain.