Sports Rulebooks
The most important rule of every league is be kind and have fun — unsportsmanlike conduct is not acceptable and may result in ejection from the league.
Game Basics
- Duration: 55 minutes of continuous games
- Teams: 6 players on court at a time
- Format: Self-officiated
- Scoring: Each game won = 1 point, most points after 55 minutes wins match
- Equipment: 4 dodgeballs per game
Team Composition & Gender Requirements
- Court players: 6 players per team
- Gender balance: Minimum 2 women/non-binary and 2 men/non-binary on court
- Minimum to play: 4 players (if gender minimums met)
- Default: Teams forfeit if they can't field minimum requirements within 10 minutes of start time unless both teams agree to play as usual
- Substitutions: Only between games (except for injuries during play)
Equipment & Setup
- Teams bring: 2 dodgeballs to each game
- No gloves allowed
- Court size varies by facility
Game Start & Basic Rules
Starting Each Game
- Teams line up on back lines
- Place 2 balls 5 feet back from center line on each side
- Start with "READY, SET, DODGEBALL!"
Core Rules
- Stay on your side: Cannot touch opponent's half of court; crossing the centre line is an automatic out
- One ball limit: Can only possess one ball at a time
- 10-second rule: Must throw ball within 10 seconds of possession (opponents count down out loud)
- No stockpiling: Cannot hold balls to prevent other team from playing
- No static hiding: Cannot remain in areas that conceal your body
Ball Status
Live Balls
- Any ball that hasn't hit floor, walls, ceiling, or obstacles
- Can eliminate players if thrown properly
Dead Balls
- Balls that hit floor, walls, ceiling, or obstacles
- Cannot eliminate players
- Can be kicked/rolled to teammates on floor
Elimination Rules
How Players Get Out
- Hit by live ball (neck down only)
- Touch opponent's court - any body part crosses center line
- Drop your ball when hit by second ball or when trying to catch
- Touch two live balls at same time
- Put ball down on your side after picking it up
- Headshots - if you throw and hit opponent's head, YOU are out — both teams should discuss and agree beforehand on whether a headshot counts if the player is ducking and apply consistent rulings on that
How to Stay In
- Catch a live ball - thrower is out, you get teammate back who has been out the longest
- Block with held ball - use ball in hand to deflect incoming ball (don't drop it!)
- Teammate catches deflection - saves you even if you're hit; thrower is out
Key Gameplay Rules
Throwing & Catching
- Must throw ball to eliminate (cannot touch opponent with ball in hand)
- Deflected balls stay live until they hit ground/wall
- Catching saves teammates - catch any live ball and thrower is out
- First point of contact matters - if ball hits leg then head, player is out
Team Play
- Passing allowed but doesn't reset 10-second clock
- Failed catch eliminates receiver
- Returning players: Must return in order they were eliminated
- No purposeful kicking balls at opponents
Special Situations
Final Two Players (1v1)
- Timekeeper announces "one minute" remaining
- If no elimination after 1 minute, each team returns one player
Ball Retrieval
- Can lean over center line to get ball (don't touch opponent's court)
- Can enter bench area only to retrieve balls
- Dead balls on ground can be kicked/rolled to teammates
Scoring & Winning
- Regular season: Ties allowed
- Playoffs: Must have winner
- 3-minute overtime game if tied
- Team with most players remaining wins if time expires
- If still tied, next elimination wins
Time Management
- Game length: 55 minutes total
- Side switching: Teams should switch sides at midpoint if court has advantages
- Halftime: Only if requested by a team
- Final warning: 5-minute warning given before time expires
Safety & Conduct
- Self-officiated: Players make honest calls about being hit
- No rough play - immediate ejection and possible league ban
- No wall jumping/leaning to avoid being hit
- Ultra-competitive players not welcome at recreational level - keep it fun!
- No alcohol on Rally property
Key Reminders
- Arrive early to maximize playing time
- Bring both shirt colors to every game
- Players must make honest calls about being hit
- Eliminated players sit on opposite side of team bench
- Keep games moving - don't hold balls unnecessarily
- Have fun and play fair!
The most important rule of every league is be kind and have fun — unsportsmanlike conduct is not acceptable and may result in ejection from the league.
The most important rule of every league is be kind and have fun — unsportsmanlike conduct is not acceptable and may result in ejection from the league.
Game Basics
- Duration: 6 innings OR 55 minutes (whichever comes first)
- Teams: 9 players per side (minimum 7 to start)
- Format: Self-pitch, self-officiated
- Field: Standard baseball diamond layout
Team Composition & Gender Requirements
- Full team: 9 players (including 1 rover)
- Minimum to play: 7 players
- Gender balance: Must have at least 2 men/non-binary people and 2 women/non-binary on field at all times
- 8-player teams: Can play with at least 2 men/2 women
- Default: Teams forfeit if they can't field minimum requirements within 10 minutes of start time, unless both teams agree to play as usual
Equipment & Setup
- Athletic shoes required (no metal cleats)
- Teams bring: kickball, 4 bases
- Base distances: 20-25 paces apart. Teams can adjust based on diamond size if mutually agreed upon.
- Pitcher's area: Around 12 paces from home plate
Batting Rules
Batting Order
- Everyone must bat in order throughout the game
- Gender ratios and maximum consecutive batters:
- 1:1 ratio → No more than 1 of same gender in a row
- Up to 2:1 ratio → No more than 2 of majority gender in a row
- Up to 3:1 ratio → No more than 3 of majority gender in a row
- 4:1 ratio → No more than 4 of majority gender in a row
Pitching & Kicking
- Self-pitch: Your team pitches to your own batters
- 3 pitches maximum per batter (includes fouls, strikes, balls)
- Legal kick: Ball must be kicked below the knee
- No bunting: The ball must go to at least the mid-way point between first and third base or else it is a foul
- Foul balls: Called by the catcher
Base Running
- NO SLIDING - automatic out if you slide
- No leading off - wait until ball contact
- No stealing - advance only after ball is kicked
- Tagging - runners can tag up after a ball is caught
- Ties go to runner
- Safety bases at 1st base and home plate
- Suicide line: Halfway between 3rd and home - once crossed, can't return to 3rd
Fielding Rules
- Maximum 4 outfielders
- Outfielders: Must stay 6 meters from baselines until ball is kicked
- Infielders: Only 1 can move up to 5 feet in front of baseline before kick
- Pitcher: Must avoid interfering with defense after pitching
Getting Out
Standard outs:
- 3 strikes
- Fly ball caught
- Tagged out
- Force out at base
- Hit by thrown ball from shoulders down (NOT head/neck)
Force outs:
- Always in effect: Home to 1st base
- Always in effect: 3rd to home (after crossing suicide line)
- Other bases: Only when runner is forced by runners behind
Scoring
- 8-run limit per inning (except final inning - no limit)
Game Management
- Self-officiated: Discuss disputes, redo play if no agreement
- Time keeping: Designate someone from each team
- No new inning can start within 5 minutes of time limit
- Weather delays: Game counts if 30+ minutes or 3+ innings completed
Playoffs
- Must have winner in playoff games
- Tiebreaker: Extra innings with last out starting on 2nd base with 1 out
Safety & Conduct
- No rough play - immediate ejection and possible league ban
- No alcohol on Rally property
- Avoid collisions - runners called out for deliberately crashing into defenders
- Games may be stopped by on-site staff for safety
Key Reminders
- Arrive early to maximize field time
- Bring both shirt colors to every game
- Keep your own score
- Play with good sportsmanship
- Have fun!
The most important rule of every league is be kind and have fun — unsportsmanlike conduct is not acceptable and may result in ejection from the league.
Game Basics
- Duration: 85 minutes total (two 40-minute halves + 5-minute halftime)
- Teams: 11 players per side
- Format: Self-officiated
- Field: Outdoor soccer field (artificial turf or natural grass)
- Ball: Rally-provided soccer ball
Team Composition & Gender Requirements
- Full team: 11 players
- Gender balance: Minimum 3 women/non-binary and 3 men/non-binary on field at all times
- Minimum to play: 8 players (if gender minimums met)
- Positions: Anyone can play any position
- Default: Teams forfeit if they can't field minimum requirements within 15 minutes of start time unless both teams agree to play as usual
Equipment & Setup
- Teams bring: soccer ball, pylons
- Teams must bring both light and dark colored shirts
- No metal cleats allowed
- Use pylons to mark field boundaries if lines aren't visible
Game Management
- Halftime: 5 minutes between halves
- Side switching: Must accommodate captain's pre-game request to switch sides
- Timeouts: One 1-minute timeout per half (not allowed in final 10 minutes)
- Substitutions: Only during stoppages in play (no changing on the fly)
- Time keeping: Designate someone from each team if no on-site coordinator
Modified Rules for Self-Officiating
Key Simplifications
- No offsides (but no cherry-picking strategy allowed)
- No penalty shots - all infractions in goalie box become indirect free kicks
- All free kicks are indirect (except corner kicks and goal kicks)
- Relaxed throw-ins - proper form encouraged but "foul throws" not enforced
Free Kicks
- All free kicks indirect - ball must touch another player before scoring
- Defending team: Must stay 10 yards from ball until touched
- Near goal line: If infraction within 10 yards of goal, place ball 10 yards out
- Corner kicks & goal kicks: Direct kicks (can score without additional touch)
Player Rules
Handball Rule
- Infraction: Ball hits arm from shoulder down
- Exceptions:
- Can use arms to protect groin area
- Women can protect chest area
- Self-calling: Players should call their own infractions
Sliding Rule
- No sliding allowed for field players under any circumstances
- Goalkeeper exception: Can slide within goalie box for saves only
Goalkeeper Rules
Hand Use
- Can use hands: Only within goalie crease area
- Cannot pick up: Ball deliberately passed back by teammate with feet
- Exception: Can pick up ball passed back with teammate's head
- Outside crease: Goalkeeper cannot use hands at any time
After Making Save
Three options when catching ball:
- Throw ball out
- Kick ball (from hands)
- Put ball on ground (becomes live ball - cannot immediately pick up again)
Basic Soccer Rules
- Kickoff: Forward pass from center field to start each half
- Throw-ins: Awarded to opposite team when ball goes out on sidelines
- Goal kicks: When attacking team last touches ball before goal line
- Corner kicks: When defending team last touches ball before goal line
- Scoring: Ball must fully cross goal line and enter net
Dispute Resolution
- Disputed infractions: Throw-in to offensive team from sideline
- Disputed goals: Indirect kick to offensive team from original shot location
- Philosophy: Keep arguments to minimum - it's a social league!
Scoring & Playoffs
Regular Season
- Games can end in ties
Playoffs
- Must have winner
- Shootout format:
- 3 players per team (minimum 1 woman/non-binary, 1 man/non-binary)
- Shots from 12 paces
- Anyone can shoot (including goalkeeper)
- If tied after 3 shots, continue with same players until decided
- Maintain shooting order throughout
- Playoff game length: 80 minutes (allowing time for shootout)
Safety & Conduct
- No rough play - immediate ejection and possible league ban
- Self-officiated: Players involved in incidents make calls
- No alcohol on Rally property
- Sportsmanship: Experienced players should coach newer players
Key Reminders
- Arrive early to set up field and maximize playing time
- Bring both shirt colors to every game
- Agree on side switching before game starts
- Keep disputes to minimum - focus on fun and fair play
- Designate someone to track time and score
- No cherry-picking even though offsides don't exist
- Safety first - avoid dangerous plays and slides
The most important rule of every league is be kind and have fun — unsportsmanlike conduct is not acceptable and may result in ejection from the league.
Game Basics
- Duration: 7 innings OR 85 minutes (whichever comes first)
- Teams: 9 players per side (including 1 rover)
- Format: Self-pitch, self-officiated
- Field: Standard softball diamond (65 feet between bases), or whatever works best based on diamond size
- Ball: 12" yellow softball (.52 COR/275 LBS)
Team Composition & Gender Requirements
- Full team: 9 players (including 1 rover)
- Minimum to play: 7 players
- Gender balance: Must have at least 3 women/non-binary and 3 men/non-binary on field
- 8-player teams: Can play with only 2 of each gender, but no rover allowed
- Ghost batters: If only 2 players of required gender, add automatic out to batting order
- Default: Teams forfeit if they can't field minimum requirements within 15 minutes of start time or if both teams agree to play as usual
Equipment & Setup
Required Equipment
- Athletic shoes (no metal cleats)
- Teams bring: 3 softballs, bases, catcher's mask
- ASA or USSSA approved softball bats only
Safety Equipment (Recommended)
- Catcher's mask (strongly recommended)
- Batting helmets (optional but encouraged)
- Pitcher protection net (optional)
Batting Rules
Batting Order
- Everyone must bat in order throughout the game
- Gender ratios and maximum consecutive batters:
- 1:1 ratio → No more than 1 of same gender in a row
- Up to 2:1 ratio → No more than 2 of majority gender in a row
- Up to 3:1 ratio → No more than 3 of majority gender in a row
- 4:1 ratio → No more than 4 of majority gender in a row
Pitching & Hitting
- Self-pitch: Your team pitches to your own batters
- 3 pitches maximum per batter (includes fouls, strikes, balls)
- No bunting: All hits must be full swing attempts. There is no bunt line, but a full swing attempt must be made in good faith
- Minimum pitching distance: 12 paces from home plate
- No bat throwing: Keep control of bat at all times. If you throw the bat, it's an automatic out
Base Running
- NO SLIDING - automatic out if you slide
- No leading off - wait until ball contact (warning first, then automatic out)
- Safety bases at 1st base and home plate
- Commitment line: Halfway between 3rd and home - once crossed, can't return to 3rd
- Overrunning: Only allowed at 1st base, must stay in foul territory
- Tagging: Runners may tag up after the ball is caught
Special Rules
Infield Fly Rule
- No infield fly rule is in effect
Force Outs
- Always in effect: Home to 1st base
- Always in effect: 3rd to home (after crossing commitment line)
- Other bases: Only when runner is forced by runners behind
Interference Rules
- Runner hit by batted ball: Automatic out (even if touching base)
- Exception: Ball deflected off fielder first, or runner on base during infield fly
Fielding Rules
- Rover: Can play anywhere except catcher
- Outfielders: Must stay 6 meters from baselines until ball is hit
- Infielders: Only 1 can move up to 5 feet in front of baseline before pitch
- Pitcher safety: If hit by ball, play is dead and pitch doesn't count
Scoring & Game Limits
- 8-run limit per inning (except final inning - no limit)
- Home run limit: Maximum 2 per team per inning (batter out if exceeded); inside the park home-runs do not count
- Home run boundaries: Teams should agree on what constitutes an "out of the park" home run before the game begins
- Foul pop-ups: Must go 10+ feet high behind home plate to be catchable
Game Management
- Captain's meeting: Required before first pitch to discuss batting orders and ground rules
- Self-officiated: Base coaches make calls at 1st/3rd, pitcher calls 2nd/home
- Time keeping: Designate someone from each team
- No new inning can start within 10 minutes of time limit
- Weather delays: Game counts if 30+ minutes or 3+ innings completed
Ground Rules
- Boundaries: Captains must agree on field boundaries before game
- Out of bounds: Ball dead when it goes behind backstop, dugouts, or fences
- Overthrows: Runners advance one extra base if ball goes out of bounds during play
- Ball consistency: Same ball used for both halves of inning (unless hit out of play)
Playoffs
- Must have winner in playoff games
- Tiebreaker: Extra innings with last out starting on 2nd base with 1 out
- Home team: Higher regular season seed
Pinch Runners
- When allowed: Legitimately injured players only
- Who runs: Most recent out of same gender
- Restrictions: Batter must reach 1st base on their own (unless automatic extra base awarded)
Safety & Conduct
- No rough play - immediate ejection and possible league ban
- No alcohol on Rally property
- Clear basepaths - fielders not involved in play must stay out of runner's way
- Games may be stopped by on-site staff for safety
Key Reminders
- Arrive early to set up field and maximize playing time
- Exchange batting orders with opposing team before game
- Bring both shirt colors to every game
- Keep your own score and time
- Prioritize safety - especially for pitchers and catchers
- Play with good sportsmanship and have fun!
