Dodgeball is no longer just a kids’ game

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/11/2015 (3901 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

We played two types of dodgeball when I was a kid.

The first type was played in a gym, supervised by a teacher, with two teams throwing balls from one side of the gym to the other.

The second twas played in the school yard during recess. It involved standing against the brick wall of the school as other kids lined up and tried to murder you with small, dense rubber balls that left deep bruises. It was terrifying but once you got hit it was someone else’s turn to stand against the wall and your turn to inflict pain.

Dodgeball Winnipeg does not play this version of the game.

Yes, that’s right — dodgeball is back, and it’s a legitimate, growing sport for adults.

The St. Vital-based Dodgeball Winnipeg league was just formed this year, tapping into the growing popularity of dodgeball as a recreational activity. Dodgeball Winnipeg follows in the footsteps of successful leagues in Edmonton, Vancouver and elsewhere, and welcomes men and women of all skill levels.

I checked out the action at the Norberry-Glenlee Community Centre recently, and I have to say it looks like a blast. Players seemed to be enjoying themselves and were perhaps releasing a bit of tension from their home or work lives.

Games are played according to World Dodgeball Federation rules, with two teams of six people attempting to eliminate each other by way of throwing large yellow balls at the opposition. The matches are self-officiated, and from what I witnessed there was a high level of sportsmanship and camaraderie. It’s also pretty good exercise, according to some of the players I talked to.

“It’s a hell of a workout as long as you put in the effort,” confirms Stacy Huen, the league co-ordinator.

But the question on my mind was: does it hurt?

I learned that the league uses 7-inch, rubber-coated foam balls that thankfully do not leave deep bruises when you get hit. Stacy conceded that if you were to get “pegged in the face” by a really hard throw you would feel it but said “there is no lasting pain or injury from the balls.”

The winter 2016 season begins Jan. 10. People who are interested in playing can either register individually for the co-ed or women’s draft leagues, or they can pull together a group of friends and register for the co-ed team league.

To register or to find more information, go to dodgeballwinnipeg.com