Dodgeball Rules and Out Scenarios: Ball Bounced Off Teammate

During a dodgeball game, it's not uncommon for a ball to bounce off one of your teammates and hit you. But should both you and your teammate be eliminated or just the teammate? The answer depends on several factors, including the specific rules of your league and the timing of the event.

Standard Rules and Common Interpretation

In a standard dodgeball game, the rules typically state that a player is out if they are hit by a ball thrown by an opponent. If a ball bounces off your teammate and then hits you, the common interpretation is that your teammate would be eliminated since they were directly hit by the ball first. You would generally not be considered out in this scenario because the ball was not thrown directly at you by an opponent. However, specific rules may vary by league or organization, so it's always good to check the rules being used for your game.

Factors Influencing the Outcome

The answer to whether both you and your teammate are out depends on a couple of key factors:

1. Did the ball touch anything else after it bounced off you?

If the ball touched anything (such as the floor, walls, or another ball) before you caught it, you might still be considered out if you failed to secure the ball. In this case, the ball would be considered dead upon contact with the additional object.

2. Are you playing under a specific set of rules where if you don't immediately catch and control a thrown ball you are out?

Some leagues have specific rules where if you do not immediately catch and control the ball, you are considered out. In such cases, if the ball bounces off your teammate but still hits you, you might still be considered out if you could not secure the ball in time.

Referee Perspective

Typically, a thrown ball is considered live until it becomes dead. This makes it the easiest way for referees to make a ruling. If the ball bounces off you but you still secure it before it becomes dead, your catch counts, and the thrower is out.

For detailed guidance and assistance with your local league, USA Dodgeball is a good resource. They soon hope to offer referee certification to help make these calls more consistent and accurate.

Historical Context and Local Variations

Back when I was playing, the rules were slightly different. If the ball bounced off you before you caught it and didn't hit the ground, you would generally be considered out. However, if you caught the ball before it hit the ground, your teammate would be out. Additionally, we had a save rule where if a ball bounced off a player but was caught by someone else, the thrower was out and the player hit was safe.

Specific League Rules

British Dodgeball (WDA World Dodgeball Association) has specific rules regarding ball bounces:

WDA World Dodgeball Association Rules

A ball is considered live until it hits the floor or a wall. Every action by the ball is treated as a separate event. This means that in your scenario, both you and your teammate would be out:

If a ball hits a teammate and then you catch it, your teammate is out, and you made a catch, so the thrower is out, and you get a teammate back in. If this situation involves the player who was hit, they must go to the outbox and then come back onto the court.

Interestingly, if you are hit by a ball and it rebounds to the other team, they can still be hit out by it. If they were to catch it, they would get a player back.

Due to the separate events, if you block a ball and it hits a player, that player is out. However, if you block a ball and a teammate catches it, the throwing player is out, and you get a player back in. Conversely, if you block a ball and the opposing team catches it, you are out, and they get a player back.

Conclusion

The outcome of a ball bouncing off your teammate and hitting you during a dodgeball game depends on a combination of factors, including specific league rules, the timing of the event, and whether you manage to secure the ball before it hits the ground. Always check the rules of your league, and consider consulting resources like USA Dodgeball for help.