USA Dodgeball 2025 Rules Update

The official ruleset for USA Dodgeball has been updated for the 2025 season! These changes aim to enhance gameplay, improve fairness, and ensure the sport continues to evolve at the highest level. Updates were made based on player feedback, competitive analysis, and a commitment to safety and inclusivity, as well as to further align with the World Dodgeball Federation. Be sure to review the new rules before hitting the court—stay informed, stay competitive, and get ready for an exciting season!

Here are the changes you need to be aware of:

• No-Sting burden will now be identical to that of foam. Game play will include six balls of identical color and burden will be determined by:
• Majority of balls, if equal then
• Majority of players, if equal then
• The team who did not have burden last
• Sweatshirts and hoodies will not be permitted during gameplay.
• A maximum of nine players will be permitted on a team’s registered roster for open and women’s divisions. Mixed divisions will remain capped at 10.
• For mixed divisions, failure to provide a minimum of 2 players of each gender will result in forfeit of a game. If a team can only provide 2 players of one gender, they may still play with 5 total players. Teams may not play with 4 players of one gender.
• When a foam or no-sting game enters no block, the balls on the court reset to 3 on each side.
• Sequence of Play
• A sequence of play begins with a live valid throw and is completed when the ball is considered dead or caught.
• A dead ball is defined as a live thrown ball that touches a surface or dead object. This includes balls that leave the boundaries of the court.
• A live thrown ball in mid-air when the game or match clock expires must still complete its sequence of play and can become dead or caught.
• Disciplinary: Please look through the entire disciplinary section, as there are multiple changes.
• Opening Rush
• An inactive ball is activated as soon as the BALL fully crosses the attack line. No points of contact are required.
• Cloth: Teams rush for their designated balls on the LEFT. However, both teams may rush for the center ball.
• Players may not slide or dive to retrieve the center ball.
• Players may not touch or cross the center line when retrieving the center ball.
• No physical contact between players is allowed when retrieving the center ball. The offending player or players will be deemed out. Any incidental contact shall not be penalized.
• False Start
• Foam & No-Sting: If a team removes their point of contact from the back line before the referee's signal, it will be considered a false start. The referee will stop play, issue a verbal warning for the match, and reset the opening rush. 
• If a team false starts a second time (and every subsequent false start) during a match, that team will start the current game with one out player.
• Cloth: If a team false starts, the teams will return to their end lines and the opposing team will be awarded all balls. The balls are immediately active when the game is started.
• Invalid Throw: A live thrown ball entering the opposing team’s side of the court, not within 3’ of a player or a player’s position at the moment the ball was released. The first invalid throw of the match will result in a verbal team warning; any additional instances from the same team will result in the thrower being called out.
• Cloth: The hit opponents are not safe.
• Catching: two points of contact are no longer needed to demonstrate control of a catch.
• Player entry: One catch from one live ball brings in one teammate as an entering player in the order in which they got out.
• Entry out of order will result in the player going to the back of the queue and no player becoming an entering player from that catch. If the player who comes in also commits interference, a yellow card will be given per the referee’s discretion.  
• If the first player in the queue enters the game in error, it is considered interference. A Blue or Yellow Card will be issued for interference per the referee’s discretion.
• Designated Ball Retrievers
• Only designated ball retrievers are allowed to retrieve stray balls. A maximum of three people are allowed to be designated ball retrievers per team.
• Inactive players can be designated ball retrievers.
• If a team does not have enough ball retrievers, out players may temporarily become ball retrievers. An out player cannot become a temporary ball retriever if an inactive player is available to fill that role.
• The first out player in the queue must stay in the queue if there are any other retrievers available.
• Out players helping retrieve balls for their team must remain in the correct order.
• Out players that exited the queue to retrieve a stray ball will not be penalized on entry time from a catch. 
• Designated ball retrievers are required to be determined and made clear to the referee before the match begins.
• Designated ball retrievers may be switched after each game but must make it clear to the referees.
• Designated ball retrievers may only retrieve balls on their half of the court and may not cross or reach over the extended centerline.
• Designated ball retrievers may not enter the court to  provide a stray ball.
• If a designated ball retriever fights for a stray ball with an active player, this will result in forfeiting the ball to the opposing team and a yellow card if deemed excessive.
• Injuries: If a live player is not fit to continue playing, an inactive player may enter the game as a substitute at the end of the queue. The first player in the queue is allowed to enter the court immediately.
• If a player is replaced during a game, they may not participate in the match as an active player until the following match after the current match has concluded.
• Interference Cloth: An exiting player holding a ball in front of their attack line must place the ball down where they are standing. If they pass the ball to anyone, that ball is forfeited to the opposing team and the player receives a verbal warning. Continuing to violate this rule results in a blue card.