Major League Dodgeball (MLD) uses the international standard World Dodgeball Federation (WDBF) court sizes for dodgeball games. The dimensions of WDBF and MLD courts sizes are:
Men’s Court Size
Total court: 18 meters by 9 meters (59.1 feet by 29.5 feet). For practicality purposes, these dimensions can be rounded to 60 feet by 30 feet (attack lines 10 feet).
Sides: A center line divides the court into two equal halves of 9 meters by 9 meters (29.5 feet by 29.5 feet).
Attack line: An attack line is drawn in each half 3 meters (9.8 feet) from and parallel to the center line.
Markings: The center boundary line has markings for the placement of 6 balls, restricting the placement of balls to within 3 meters (9.8 feet) of the outer boundary lines. A player return area is marked outside of the boundary lines, one for each team, on the side of the court.
Women’s Court Size
Total court: 15 meters by 9 meters (49.2 feet by 29.5 feet).
Sides: A center line divides the court into two equal halves of 7.5 meters by 9 meters (24.6 feet by 29.5 feet).
Attack line: An attack line is drawn in each half 3 meters (9.8 feet) from and parallel to the center line.
Markings: The center boundary line has markings for the placement of 6 balls, restricting the placement of balls to within 3 meters (9.8 feet) of the outer boundary lines. A player return area is marked outside of the boundary lines, one for each team, on the side of the court.
In the event a MLD game is mixed with both men and women playing together, the men’s court size is used.
SOURCE: WDBF
The WDBF men’s division court size corresponds to a standard volleyball court. With many gyms and athletic facilities already marked for volleyball, the volleyball court size is often and conveniently the size of dodgeball courts in many leagues and tournaments. As such, a volleyball court remains the most popular and widely used dodgeball court size.
More Dodgeball Court Dimensions
Dodgeball court dimensions are often defined by ball type, number of players and facility attributes.
Generally, smaller balls (such as 6 and 7 inch dodgeballs), which are more easily thrown with speed, require somewhat larger courts. The larger courts give players an opportunity to catch balls, providing balance to the game. If the court is too small, the game becomes a throwing game only. Likewise, larger balls (such as 8.5 rubber), which are somewhat more difficult to throw with speed at distance, generally require somewhat smaller courts. The smaller courts give players an opportunity to get players out by throwing. Otherwise, the game would just become a catching game.
A standard size WDBF court can accommodate 6-7 players per side. With 8 players, the back line starts to get crowded with diminished lateral movement abilities. A larger number of players requires a larger court. The National Collegiate Dodgeball Association (NCDA), with up to 15 players per team to start a game, uses a regulation court that is 94 feet by 50 feet (the size of a full-size basketball court) and has a sizeable neutral zone between the attack lines.
Facility construction, design and attributes can also be a factor in dodgeball court size. For example, some dodgeball leagues or tournaments are played on indoor soccer or futsal courts of varying dimensions. Racquetball courts, at 20 feet wide and 40 feet long, are sometimes used for dodgeball games, usually with 2-4 players per team. Tennis courts and indoor trampoline parks are more examples of courts that can be used for dodgeball that have preset dimensions.
NCDA
Total court: 94 feet x 50 feet (A regulation basketball court is preferred as it can be easily converted for play).
Neutral zone: Attack lines are marked 30 feet from each baseline. Players may cross half court and move up to the opposite attack Line.
Elite Dodgeball
Total court: 50 feet (15 meters) by 25 feet (7.62 meters).
Neutral zone: Attack lines are marked 5 feet from the center line, creating a neutral zone of 10 feet. Players may cross half court and move up to the opposite attack line.
WDBF Cloth
Total court: 16 to 18 meters in length and 8 to 9 meters in width. It is surrounded by a free area of 1 meter on all sides.
Neutral zone: Attack lines are marked 5.5 meters from the center line. Neutral zone lines are marked 7 meters forward from each back line.
World Dodgeball Association
Total court: 17 meters in length and 8 meters wide.
Neutral zone: Attack lines are marked 1.5 meters from the center line, creating a neutral zone of 3 meters in total length.
Tips
- Blue painters tape is often used to mark lines as the tape can be easily removed without leaving any residue.
- A regulation size basketball court can usually be divided into two dodgeball courts, and in some cases, three dodgeball courts.