Dodgeball is a well-known sport with a wild reputation! Some say it’s a great way to build teamwork, others complain it’s too rough and painful. What do you think? Whatever your take on the game, there’s a lot of interesting facts to be learnt about it! So read on to find out where the game came from, how many different variations there are, or even how people have ended up in the Guinness Book of Records for playing it in inventive ways!

If you’re after more sporting facts, just take a look at these Lionel Messi facts, these Kobe Bryant facts, or even have a chuckle at these 20 Bowling jokes!

1. We’re not sure who played it first

We know how dodgeball came to be played in US schools – but who came up with the game first remains a mystery. It’s a team sport with simple rules, so one way or the other it’s probably very, very old. Some historians think they’ve found evidence of a dodgeball-like game being played in Ancient Mesopotamia in 500 BC! Now that really is old!

2. Danger ball!

One oldschool version of dodgeball was played in parts of Africa 200 years ago. Back then, it wasn’t played for fun and instead of using soft balls, they used rocks! The goal was to hit the other team to injure them, and it was seen as a way to train for survival. Thankfully, the game has changed a lot since then, and now we use soft rubber or foam balls!

3. The birth of modern dodgeball

The version of dodgeball we know today became popular thanks to a PE teacher named Dr. James Carlisle, who saw it played in Africa. He brought the idea to the U.K., where it was played with a leather ball. A few years later, the game spread to the United States through universities. Yale University was one of the first schools to pick up the game in the early 1900s.

4. There are lots of different variations

There are different rules all over the world! In Sweden they play “killer ball”, in China it’s played with a bag of sand instead of a ball, there’s Brazilian “jailball” – there’s almost too many to count! Different versions of the sport are played in India, Iran, Estonia, Belgium – there was even a very gruesome version that Mongolian warriors played when they invaded Europe in the middle ages!

5. The biggest game ever

The biggest dodgeball game ever recorded happened in Rochester, New York, in 2012. A total of 6,084 people participated, making it the largest game in history. Imagine trying to dodge that many balls flying around at once! The match was certified by the Guinness Book of Records – would you like to try and beat that record?

6. Marathon Match

The record for the longest game of dodgeball was set at Castleton State College in Vermont, USA, from April 27 to April 29, 2012. This incredible match lasted a whopping 41 hours, 3 minutes, and 17 seconds! Two teams of players stayed on the court for nearly two full days, taking short breaks for rest but mostly staying active to keep the game going! The game was all in aid of raising money for the school athletics department – and they got a lot of attention!

7. It’s not just for kids!

Even though it’s played a lot in schools, dodgeball is a serious sport for adults too. There are professional dodgeball leagues all over the world where adults compete in tournaments. Some of these players train just like athletes in other sports, practicing throws, catches, and dodging moves. More on the big leagues later!

8. A lot of different balls

The game can be played with several types of balls, like foam, rubber, or even cloth balls, depending on where you are in the world. Foam balls are the most popular in schools because they’re soft and won’t hurt if you get hit. These are often called “no sting” balls – although the name isn’t totally accurate! Rubber balls are often used in adult leagues for a bit more of a challenge since they bounce more and move faster.

9. Catch it if you can!

If you play a version of dodgeball where you’re allowed to catch the ball – it might be worth trying it out! If you catch a ball thrown at you before it hits the ground, not only are you safe, but one of your teammates who was out gets to come back into the game. It’s a great strategy to turn the tide of the game! Of course it’s high risk – if you fumble that ball you’re out too!

10. It’s good for your reflexes

One of the coolest things about playing dodgeball is that it makes you super quick on your feet. Because you’re constantly trying to avoid getting hit, your body gets better at reacting to things fast. It’s a great way to build speed and agility, which can help in other sports too, like soccer or basketball.

11. Dodgeball on trampolines!

Trampoline dodgeball is a fun twist on the original game. It’s played on a court filled with trampolines, so players can jump super high while trying to throw and dodge balls. This adds an extra layer of challenge and excitement, making the game even more energetic.

12. There are no rules! Kind of…

Dodgeball is a unique sport because the rules can change depending on where you play. Some schools or leagues have their own variations, like allowing only certain types of throws or changing how many players are on each team. This means that no two games of dodgeball are ever quite the same!

13. There’s a dodgeball World Championship

Whilst all games can be different, there are some set rules insisted on by the World Dodgeball Federation. They meet up every year for the World Dodgeballs Championships! The championship has only been running since 2012, and the league table is pretty interesting! The top three countries are Canada, USA – and the much smaller Asian country of Malaysia! Go Malaysia!

14. A sport for your mind

While dodging and throwing are important, dodgeball is also about outsmarting your opponents. You have to pay attention to where the balls are, where the other players are aiming, and even when they might try to trick you with a fake throw. Thinking ahead and staying focused are key parts of playing dodgeball well!

15. Dodgeball: the movie!

Dodgeball has been around a long time but there are always spikes in people’s interest in it when a new movie or TV show comes out that mentions it. The 2004 comedy classic “Dodgeball” is a great example – but this also led to some schools banning it as they thought it was too physical and rough. So it just goes to show that TV and movies can be bad advertisement, too!