MPRB Adult Dodgeball Bulletin

Dodgeball Bulletin:

• All managers must read the bulletin carefully before registering.
• All registrations are final, no refunds unless due to medical/illness or program cancellation.
• All players on the roster must be at least 18 years of age and adhere to the sport rules and rules listed in this bulletin. Participants waive, release & discharge any & all claims for damages for personal injury, death or property damage which may have, or which may hereafter accrue to players as a result of participation from this activity.
• Teams must remain in good standing with the MPRB athletic program. 

General Information: 

• Winter league will be Co-Ed (a minimum of two female players per team).
• Registration begins October 21st at 7am for all teams.
• Sponsor checks:
  • Sponsor checks will be accepted at the MRPB Headquarters in place of online registration. Please note that we are unable to hold a spot without payment. In order to hold a spot, teams will need to register for a league using a credit card.
• 2026 League Fees: $170/team for 8 weeks of play (including a tournament)
• Schedules:
  • All schedules can be found on the Game Schedules Page
  • Teams will play up to three games per evening

Winter Session: 1/4-3/15

Games:

• January 4th start
• March 15th end
• No games on February 8th
• Sunday afternoons at MLK Rec Center (4055 Nicollet Ave S.)

Free Agents:

• Individuals looking to get placed on a team can register as a Free Agent. 
• Free Agent information will be passed along to teams needing players or if enough individuals register an attempt will be made to organize a team from the Free Agent list.
• Free Agent Fee: $10 non-refundable listing fee. 

Rosters:

• Rosters can include up to a maximum of 12 players and a minimum of six players.
• Rosters are considered final after the second scheduled game.
• Players must be 18 or olders
• Players may only play on one team in each league.
• Rosters are to be submitted online via TeamSideline
  • Rosters should include player contact information and addresses
• The manager is responsible for submitting rosters
• If no roster is submitted, it will result in forfeits to another team if there are eligibility questions about your player/s.
• A player must play in at least half of regular season games to be eligible for playoffs.

Forfeits:

• Forfeits will occur when a team is not able to begin a game with at least four players.
• A team with fewer than four players present from their roster will be allowed a five-minute grace period.
• After five minutes, the team will lose the game the first game.
• After ten minutes, the match is forfeited.
• Forfeits are scored 7-0 for the team present.

Uniforms:

• Teams must wear appropriate clothing while in play.
• Matching uniforms are not required but are suggested.
• Players must wear clean tennis shoes

Supervisor:

• A supervisor will be present at all matches to ensure clock starts and disputes are acted upon.

MPRB Rules of Play:

Team:

• Teams will be made up of 6-12 players
• A maximum of six players will compete on a side
• A minimum of four players are required to start a game
• Co-Ed Leagues: 
  • A minimum of four players per team (one female) are required to start a game
  • No more than four males are allowed on the court at one time.
  • Subs may enter the game only in case of injury.

The Court:

• The games will be played on a regulation size 30’ x 50’ court as designated by the white boundary lines on the sides and the black line at the back. 

Equipment:

• Equipment is owned by the MPRB and any damages incurred during league play will be paid for by league teams.
• The official ball used will be a 7" Gator Skin foam ball.
• Squeezing or "pinching" the balls is are not allowed at any time during play.

Starting the Game:

• Game play begins by dividing the balls equally between the teams.
• Teams both verbally agree to begin the game after one team says "Ready" and the other says "Dodgeball'.
• This signal officially starts the contest.

Playing the Game:

• The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them "Out".
• You can get a player out by:
  • Hitting an opposing player's body (or clothes) with a ball thrown below the shoulders.
    • You are allowed to deflect a ball thrown at you with another ball, but if the thrown ball hits any part of a players body (including their head) during or after the block, the player is out.
  • A ball is considered "live" until it hits a "dead" object (floor, curtain, dead player, another ball, etc.) and may result in multiple outs per thrown ball.
  • If you drop the ball that you are using to block with, you are out.
  • Direct headshots do not count as an out, even if the player is dodging.
  • Once a player is out, they must raise their hand and immediately exit the court. An out player cannot block balls for teammates as they exit or gather loose balls on the court.
• Catching a ball thrown by your opponent before it touches the ground or the wall results in:
  • The throwing player being out
  • Saves any teammates that were hit by that ball
  • Allows the player's team who caught the ball to send one player into the game on a first out, first in basis
  • The player catching the ball must have one point of contact within the court boundaries at the time of the catch
  • When a teammate comes in after a catch they must enter through the back line. Once they step into the court from the end line, they are "live" and can be eliminated by the opposing team.

Burden Rule:

• The team possessing the majority of balls (four or more) has to throw at least one ball within 10 seconds.
• If balls are split evenly between teams, the team with the most players must throw.
• Regular season: if both teams have the same number of players and balls, then the team playing on the bleacher side has the burden to throw.
• Playoffs: if both teams have the same number of balls, then the team with the higher record/seed has the burden to throw. If records are tied, then the team playing on the bleacher side has the burden to throw.

Time Limit Rule:

• An 18-minute time limit has been established for each match.
• If at the end of 18 minutes a game is still in progress, the team with the most players remaining will be declared the winner.
• Due to time constraints, it is possible for a match/series to end in a tie.
• During league playoffs, if both teams are tied at the end of 18 minutes, the first team to score an out wins.

Rule Enforcement:

• Rules will be enforced primarily through the "honor system".
• Players will be expected to rule whether or not a hit was legal and whether they were legally eliminated.
• In case of disputes, please resolve them quickly.
• The designated manager for that match must take charge to resolve disputes immediately.

Boundaries:

• During gameplay, players must have one point of contact in bounds at all time (ie. one foot, one hand, etc.).
• Players are not allowed to leave the boundaries even to shag balls.
• Teammates who are out and/or spectators are allowed to shag balls for a team.
• If a player leaves the court boundaries entirely, they are out.
• If a player steps over the centerline when throwing, they are out and the ball they throw is considered "dead" and thus cannot eliminate an opponent or bring in an opposing player on a catch.

Match Play:

• Matches will consist of 7 games with all 7 games being played (time permitting) regardless if your team wins all 7 or loses all 7.
• The regular season standings will be based on matches won/lost.
• If a tie occurs at the ending of the season, games won/lost will be used as a tiebreaker.

Protests:

• Protests will only be accepted in cases involving use of an ineligible player.
• Protests of judgement calls will not be accepted.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Dodgeball Code of Conduct:

• I understand, appreciate, and abide by rules of the game.
• Respect the integrity and judgement of your opponent.
• Respect your opponent and congratulate them in a courteous manner following each match whether in victory or defeat.
• Be responsible for your actions and maintain self-control.
• Do not taunt or bait opponents and refrain from using foul or abusive language.

First Aid:

• A first aid kit is available for all players each evening and is located at the front desk.
• If we need to replace any first aid kit items, please let front desk staff or the league director know.

Conduct & Eligibility:

• The league director retains the right to make suspensions longer or remove players from the league at any time
• The MPRB reserves the right to modify any rule during the season at the sole discretion of the league director
• A non-registered player participating in a game is an automatic forfeit provided a protest is filed with proof to the Athletic Office within 48 hours
• Managers may at any time during the game request a player of the opposing team to sign their name to be compared with the roster on file with the Athletics Office
• The request needs to be made in the presence of the umpire, and the umpire needs to sign the request
• Should a player refuse to cooperate in signing their name, it will be assumed that the player is ineligible and the game will be forfeited
• Players are asked to have their driver's license or ID for verification if a protest is requested
• Penalties for violation of eligibility rules:
  • Suspension of the ineligible player for the remainder of the season
  • Suspension of the manager if the manager was aware of the violation
  • Loss of all games in which the player participated and a protest was filed