How to Play Prisoner Dodgeball

Prisoner Dodgeball is a great game for kids between the ages of 5 and 12. It teaches teamwork, strategy and problem solving and allows for a fair bit of exercise.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• 20 or more participants
• Five to seven large, soft balls (Nerf balls work the best)
• Large playing surface, preferably a carpeted school gym
• Whistle

1. Divide the participants into two equal teams, based on age, skill and athleticism. If there is not already a line that divides the gym in half, create one and arrange one team on each side of the line.
2. Place the soft balls on the center line of the playing area and have each team stand on the baseline of their side. This is the line that separates the playing area from the prisoner section.
3. Signal the beginning of the game by blowing the whistle. Both teams at this point will run toward the balls in the center of the playing area. From here, they will throw the balls at players on the other team, attempting to hit them anywhere on the body below the shoulder. Once a player has been hit with a ball, they must go to the "prison" for their team, located behind the playing area of the other team.
4. Be aware that once in the prison, the only way to get out is to have a member of your own team throw a ball to you. You must catch it with both feet in the prison section before the ball hits the ground. If you succeed, you may then cross the opposing team's playing area to rejoin your team.
5. Consider that if you throw a ball at an opposing player and they catch it before it hits the ground, you must go to your team's prison. Even if the ball hits the player first, as long as they catch it before it hits the ground, you must go to prison.
6. Know that if you throw the ball and hit a player above the shoulders, it is an illegal throw called a "head shot." You must go to your team's prison and be rescued by a throw from one of your teammates if you commit this infraction.
7. Be aware that if you are in the playing field and you catch a ball thrown by the other team before the ball hits the ground, the person who threw it is "out" and must proceed to his team's prison.
8. Know that if you throw a ball to one of your teammates in prison to rescue them and it is caught by a member of the opposing team, you must go to the prison.
9. Be aware that if a player crosses into any of the 'forbidden zones' (the other team's playing area or prison) they must go to prison. The only exception is when they are rescued from prison, they must run back through the other team's playing area to return to their own. When doing this, the player may not throw a ball at anyone on the opposing team, they are required to run straight back to rejoin their team.
10. Consider that if you throw the ball to one of your teammates in prison and they catch it after it bounces off the wall, it does not count, even if it hasn't touched the floor yet. It must be a straight throw from player to player without any interference.
11. Know that the winning team will force all members of the opposing team into the prison.

Tips & Warnings

• It is legal for players to "guard" the prison. They can stand in front of the prison, but not in it, to either catch any balls thrown to get prisoners out. Additionally, they may throw a ball in the air to interfere with a throw from a member of the other team.