When I instituted that game into our rotation in my after school program, I had a few concerned parents, but I play a little differently from the soccer ball to the head that I remember.  Here are some rules, and changes and how we make this great game just as fun as I remember (without the broken glasses).

The balls are different for one thing.  We don’t use a standard issue dodge ball or four-square ball (standard size is 8.5 inches).  We use nine inch round or smaller ‘squishy’ balls that are a little less brutal when thrown and a little hard for the sixth grader to turn it into a nuclear rocket heading toward the five year old.  There are a couple of different ones we have tried, but the inflatable soft rubber that can be blown up with a straw, work great.  Many different brands out there.  Spectrum makes what they call a ‘softi’ ball that is supposed to be no-sting, but I haven’t tried that one. You can also use fleece balls, which Spectrum also makes in various sizes but still kind of on the small side, about four inches.  Whatever you end up using, don’t use foam balls, like the Nerf.  I know you’re thinking “But, hey, that’s really a soft ball.”  Nope.  When thrown with  all the power and velocity that a 5th grader can muster it has absolutely no give, and even a career soldier would cry like an eight year old girl when hit in the nose with it.  Make the balls you use have a little give to them, will squish rather than crunch.  You will need four to six, six being what is actual ‘dodge ball’ recommended.

How to Play and Basic Rules

• Find a place to play that can be divided into two equal halves.  A gym is good, or half a gym.  Most black top play grounds are also good.  Set your boundaries for the game and make them clear to the players, which side is which and what is out of bounds.
• Divide up into equal teams.  According to official rules, you have five players per side, but we play with every body who wants to play.  Sometimes you end up with three to a side, sometimes you end up with ten to a side.  It will still work.
• You can start with your balls lined up on the center dividing line, equal spaced apart across the line, or give an equal amount to each team.  If you start with the balls in the center, the kids wait at the other end for the ‘go’ and then dash for the balls, but that can get messy with kids.  Generally, we start with the balls divided on either side. 
• After ‘go’ is called, you throw the balls at each other, trying to hit the opposing players ‘out’ (but not in the head-see below).  If any part of you gets hit, you are out.  Shoes, hair, clothing-anything that is connected to you means that you are OUT.  If one plays this game with children one will hear ‘But, it only hit my shoe!’  Gosh, that doesn’t matter, tuffy-Buffy, you are OUT.  Keep that consistent or there will be problems down the line.
• If you catch a ball thrown at you, you get to call a player from your own side back in, and the person who threw the ball at you is out. 
• If you step over the center line, for whatever reason, you are out.  Generally we play the ‘no-exceptions’ rule, just to be fair.
• Play until everyone is out on one side.  The other side wins, and then you can play again!

Next, sit down with your group and discuss special rules.  Don’t just arbitrarily decide for them.  They will all be more likely to adhere to rules that they themselves have decided upon.  Make them about what you want to happen to you.  Standard ones for us: 

1. If you cheat, you sit the rest of the game out.  If you are caught cheating by either a teacher or a player, you will have to sit out.
2. Don’t throw at peoples heads.  Accidents happen, but the other players will notice if you are doing it a lot, and can call you cheating and have you sit out. Even if it is an accident, the other person who got hit in the head is not out and can have the ball.
3. Don’t duck your head into the ball.  If you duck into the ball and it hits your head, you are still out.  That was silly, don’t do it again.
4. Don’t hit players on the ground.  If one of the kids happen to trip it would add to the injury to have six dodge balls suddenly slamming into her.   Let them get up.
5. Don’t sit on the ground.  If the player is spending a lot of time on the ground they can be called out.
6. If there is a disagreement that can’t be decided from what the other players or teachers saw, do ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’.  Almost anything can be decided by ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors.’

Alright, now you have an idea how to play, what you need to play, and a little bit of information on how to solve your difficulties.  Kids love this game, as well as the adults playing with them.  Keep it about the fun, not about competition, and it will be a great addition to your program.

Also, if you have the chance, you and your staff (NOT the children) should rent the movie ‘Dodgeball’.  Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, very funny.

Other articles by me for your after school group:

http://www.socyberty.com/Education/Civic-Projects-for-Children-The-Green-Team-1.326405

http://www.socyberty.com/Social-Sciences/Civic-Projects-for-Children-Part-Two-of-Three.346111

http://www.gomestic.com/Family/Green-Activities-for-Kids-to-Do-Outside.292969

http://www.quazen.com/Recreation/Crafts/Weaving-for-the-Non-weavers-Large-and-Small.341421