In order for dodgeball to progress as a sport people need to start thinking and playing it with serious strategy. We will provide some basic strategy to get other players started.
Formation of a team: Since a majority of tournaments define a team as 6 players we will use this as our example. In life everyone has strengths and weaknesses. It is important that dodgeball teams and players are viewed as having strengths and weaknesses as well. There are 3 general categories of dodgeball players. There are those that are best at throwing, or "guns," the second category are people who are best at dodging, the third are those that are best and catching. Just as important as knowing one’s strengths is to know one’s weaknesses as well. Throwers are often big and bulky, making them able to throw hard but, they may not be able to dodge or catch as well, meaning that they are often easier to hit. The dodgers are nimble and quick. They can block and dodge balls very well but, because they are of a more slim , limber build they are often poor throwers, they spend most of their time dodging and blocking so they don't try to catch as much. Catchers are often people in the middle. They may not be nimble enough to dodge consistently, but also not strong enough to have an effective throw. So these players develop catching as their strength. Of course the best players are a combination of all three but, when forming a team you want to find players that balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
A teams needs two - three “guns”. Having more than one “gun” will ensure that if one or two of them gets out, which will often happen, then at least one more gun will be on the field and can still be counted on to get others out consistently. Guns should not all have the same throw. One player should have a fast straight ball, while another should have a hard, curvy ball, and maybe another has a slower but very curvy ball. Having a diverse group of throwers ensures that each throw will be new and is more likely to get someone out. Just as important as having different throwers you need to balance different personalities. Throwing and getting people out can be the flashiest part of dodgeball, meaning everyone wants to do it and be good at it. This can end up being disadvantageous because then players will concentrate on picking up balls and immediately throwing them, instead of also paying attention to dodging, blocking and catching. One needs to develop a hierarchy, have a main gun, a secondary, and a reserve gun. The main gun is the one who takes most of the throws. The others cover and throw with the main gun or they take over if the main gun gets out.
Dodgers are absolutely necessary. Dodgers can also be someone who is very good at blocking and there should be 2 or 3 on a team. Dodgers’ whole job should be to get throw at. They should be agile and the best are extremely annoying. For some reason, girls tend to be very good at being thrown at once they become comfortable playing in different situations*. Their strength is dodging; make the other team throw at them instead of your guns. This is done by giving them a ball and putting them at or near the center line, so they seem like a threat. They should pump fake and force the other team to deal with them. That way the guns stay in longer because the other team must focus on the small, annoying dodgers. When the other team throws and misses the small dodgers. Your guns will get balls and hit the other team while they are in their recovery stage immediately after throwing, without having to worry about being thrown at.
Catchers are not vital but a good catcher can turn a game around. There should be 0 - 2 catchers on a team. Catching consistently can be the hardest skill in dodgeball, but also the most useful. A catch not only gives your team a ball but it can bring in another player, or will get another player out, sometimes both. For this reason all of your players should train in catching different types of throws! A player that specializes in catching knows how to position himself so that the other team throws at him. A good team will have their dodgers help their catchers by pump faking and forcing the other team to throw balls at the catcher poorly, making it that much easier. Catching is something that players can be creative with. Some of the best players will come to the line with a ball force the other team to throw at them, drop their ball at the center line and catch the other team’s ball. Others sit in the back reading the game and the other players. When the poorer players throw they will get in front of the throw and catch it.
To become the best possible dodgeball player find your strength and improve that strength. Your strength is what you use to improve all of your other skills. If you’re a small dodger, use your dodging ability to get close to your opponent and then smoke them from up close. If you’re a thrower make friends with small people. Ask them to come up and block and cover for you while you concentrate on throwing. If you are a smaller person cover your throwers it is a good skill to have. Catchers you need to get thrown at as much as possible. Call other players other, trash talk and hangout at the front line. Do whatever it takes to get thrown at.
*This is perhaps due to men’s’ tendencies to enjoy showing off their masculinity by throwing often and trying to somehow impress women by getting them out. Just a tip: this usually doesn’t work, and girls rarely will go for such caveman like displays.
