Selecting your Dodgeball arena

When push comes to shove, the 2nd most important aspect of your dodgeball experience is your venue. Depending on where you live, you may have access to a high class facility or you may have to improvise and select a less than ideal location.

In general, an ideal venue will have the following attributes:

• Fully enclosed playing area
• Won't be kicked out for trespassing
• Minimal chance to hit bystanders
• Drinking fountains onsite

Here are some suggestions for potential venues.

Gymnasium

A school gym is an ideal indoor location to play a variety of sporting events, including dodgeball. Usually it is hard getting access to a gym because they'll either be locked for the weekend or will be booked by organized athletic activities. If you can get access to an open gym with no one else around except for you and your buddies to play dodgeball, then you are fortunate. If you have a gym in your area you'd like to use, it might be worthwhile negotiating with the operators to set up a time or event for dedicated dodgeball activities.

Tennis Courts

Here a local group plays inside a fully enclosed tennis court

Tennis courts are a good candidate for use as a dodgeball court. However, not all courts are created equal. An ideal court would be a single, fully enclosed court in a low traffic area (see image above). Most of the time, only half of a tennis court (lengthwise) is enough space to get a game going.

Many tennis courts are not created like the one above and can consist of many open courts (see image below). These are not ideal as you'll be playing fetch for the dodgeballs more than you'll be throwing. Additionally, many tennis courts are privately owned and maintained. Use your best judgement when it comes to tennis courts.

Racquetball/Handball courts

Using a racquetball court to play dodgeball is very similar to using a single, fully enclosed tennis court. Instead of being fenced in, the walls surrounding the court are typically made of hard concrete. You're essentially trading away the risk of balls popping on a fence for the risk of deforming your equipment.

Image ©Sean999diving

The arena provides a different playing atmosphere, as ricocheting balls off the walls can pose a threat to injury. Depending on how the walls are constructed, there can be a lot of noise generated from the echoing impacts.

Overall, these are a decent playing venue, as the close quarters will provide for intense matches. Be sure to not trespass or offend people using them for their intended purpose.

Volleyball courts

For when you're at the beach and need a venue, a volleyball court can make for some barefoot dodgeball fun. They are viable as long as you don't need to go running after too many balls and are able to take down the net.

Image ©Paul Gillett and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

What kind of court do you play on? Leave your answer in the comments below.