Get Started, Get Involved: FAQ.
Great! So you want to start an organized dodge-ball league. But exactly where do you start? A great resource can be your local parks and recreation department. These agencies go by different names in different parts of the World- leisure services, parks and services, municipal sports agencies, or whatever! They all do about the same thing though- organize team sports, maintain public places for leisure and sports activities, and serve the people of the municipality they are organized under.
Why do you need them? Facilities are the number one reason. Unless you are fortunate enough to have a large facility at your disposal, like a college intramural complex, you will need a place for all the people you sign up to play. Often times, there will be a person at the agency responsible for organizing youth sports and another for adult sports. Depending on whatyou are doing, you may need to talk to one or both of them. They will usually be an immense resource for you and often have computer software to schedule your teams for play at the different facilities you may use. Meet them and buy them lunch while you talk about dodgeball. You can definitely use their help and experience.
OK- enough said about Parks and Services. They can save a lot of time for you but are not absolutely necessary. As long as you have a place to play that is safe and can be marked off you are in business. AND, don't forget that your church or school or student organization, whether civil or fraternal, might enjoy the idea of a fun sporting league.
What are some of the actual steps for setting up a league you ask?
1.Decide how to organize your league.
Will it be part of another sports organization? Will it be a new non-profit corporation? Will it be informal and run as a church league or through the school athletic office? These are decisions best left to you and your situation. If you are a kid reading this and now thinking- "Corporations and companies- I just wanna play ball!" It's OK. If you get together with the Parks and Recreation department or your religious organization , as mentioned before, you usually do not have to worry about companies and organizations for handling money and liability. The agency or Church/Temple usually does it all for you!
2. Decide what groups will be targeted for playing?
Dodge-ball used to be for kids. It is now played worldwide by adults, seniors, youth, and children. Decide what group you will focus on now and worry about working other age groups in later. If you spend all your energy trying to sign up 6 year olds to 96 year olds the very first year, you'll run yourself ragged. Worry about a small group at first.
The easiest age group to make is JUNIOR LEVELS 1-5. This covers boys and girls from about 6 years old to 11 years old. This group LOVES dodge-ball, plays it at school (normally), and is an easy group to put together. They don't come with attitudes, chips on their shoulders, and don't care about the politics of the league or what color the sign-up sheet was. They just want to play DODGE-BALL!
3. Determine suitable facilities and workout availability.
Indoor facilities are great for a lot of reasons:
a. No rain-outs!
b. No holes, rocks, sticks, or thorns to get hurt on.
c. No lime or chalking markers.
d. Better facilities for parents.
But you can still play outdoors. In fact, very large events are sometimes better held outdoors for the mere fact that more courts can often be set up at one time. But remember, more courts means more officials, more balls, more marking, more work!
4. Coaches coaches coaches. Who will coach the teams?
For the first year, it is usually better to find at least 5-8 coaches you can count on PRIOR to beginning player sign-up. That way you will have a core group of enthusiastic workers there to help you get started. You will recruit additional coaches from the player's parents as they sign up. Of course, if this is an adult league you are starting, they usually have player/coaches and this is not a problem.
5. How to set up teams. Open sign-up or by school?
Many leagues set their leagues up along public school lines. Each school has a couple or three teams from each age group. When following school lines, you actually have the help of the school recruiting for you. Players form their own teams usually this way- or at least will be on teams first come first served until a team fills up prior to the filling of another team. That way they are relatively sure to be on teams with friends.
If you sign up players individually without already forming teams as in the school model above, you will have to draft teams. Drafting the teams forces parity on the league between teams and is highly recommended. But the first year you may just have to take what you can get. Smile- you will be playing dodge-ball soon!
6. Who will officiate the games?
Good question. They usually are some of the same officials you have in your youth baseball and softball. Do you have a local IDBF representative? Email us and we will let you know. Otherwise, you will need to have officials trained. The IDBF sells videos and can train officials for you. For special events, like opening day or night, we might be able to have a representative there for you. Make sure you let us know your opening day dates when you sanction your league.
7. How many matches does a team play each night?
It is usually better to schedule two or three matches back to back for teams. In league play, matches go quickly - usually about 20-25 minutes tops. You don't want to drag people out unless they can play more than one match per night. Of course, how many you can actually play depends on your facilities and number of teams in the league. It is better to have fewer teams playing more than more teams playing less. If you have more teams than facilities, give teams a whole week off between matches and play lots of matches with the fewer teams each week.
8. What does sanctioning do for the league?
Sanctioning as a registered league automatically sanctions each individual team in the league for tournament play in IDBF sanctioned events. Individual team sanctioning is necessary for tournament play. Tournament teams that are not part of a league are sanctioned at a higher rate than leagues. Sanctioning fees for league runs about $3US per player for youth and $4US for adults/seniors. This is compared to $100 per teamfor tournament teams only. Also, some insurance companies give preferred rates to sports leagues sanctioned and following our International rules with only minor league variations. Also, your first place teams in each age bracket are automatically eligible for the district /regional invitational tournament each year. It also associates your league with the International Sanctioning Body for the sport of organized dodge-ball. The IDBF strives to promote the sport by standardizing the rules, equipment, and playing formats of the game. Please note, all prices are re-evaluated each August, but the intention is to keep Dodge Ball an fun, inexpensive sport.
9. How do we get rulebooks?
You get one free for each fully sanctioned team in the league plus one extra for the commissioner of the league. Additionally, the current Official IDBF rule book is always downloadable from this website, dodge-ball.com. Additionally, you can download our box score card , a flip-style chart , and other forms that are useful for games, matches and tournaments.
10. What about uniforms?
For league play, make sure the players are dressed safely without zippers or other metal parts. The rulebook covers uniforms for tournament play but you can usually do what you want for league play. If you use the IDBF logo on your league uniforms, make sure it is not on a piece of clothing that advertises beer, tobacco, or other adult-oriented industry. If you want camera-ready artwork for your league, please email us.
A tee-shirt and elastic band shorts makes up most league uniforms. These are usually no more than $20 for both. Whatever uniform you decide on, make it inexpensive for league play. Championship teams can buy professional uniforms when they are competing at tournament. League is for everyone so keep it cheap!
11. Where can I find a dodge ball?
The Official International Dodge Ball Federation ball can be obtained through us at Officialdodgeball.com. Remember, our official dodge ball was specially designed for dodge ball and was created to be the perfect ball for both safety and playability.
12. How do we make money to support the league?
Sponsors, tournaments, and concessions! Fees can be kept low by having local businesses sponsor individual teams. Require each team to find a sponsor or have a recruiter do it for you. Most teams can find a local sponsor for $100-$200 per team.
Tournaments are a great way to raise money for your league. You charge a fee for each team equal to about $12 per player (around $100 per team). You can buy trophies for 1st-3rd place and usually pay for officials from the registration fee. You make the money on the concessions and tee-shirts. A full day tournament can raise between $1500 and $2500 after expenses for just a small 30 team tournament.
13. What else will help me?
If you have a friend in the local youth baseball or softball league, enlist their help. They may have scheduling software, insurance contacts, or may even be able to put you under the umbrella of their organization off-season. That way you can share insurance and administrative expenses.
Again, your local parks and recreations department might be the biggest help of all.
Call everyone and ask them ALL for help. The more help the better. You can always call us at the IDBF for questions, help, or partnering opportunities.
Best wishes and good luck!
Hunter Teel
Executive Director
International Dodge-Ball Federation
(347) 640 - 4323