Dodgeball has moved from the playground to professional courts. Whether you’re joining a league for fun or for competition, it’s important to hone your skills. There are a number of ways to elevate your game so you’re sure to impress your teammates and opponents—and, more importantly, enjoy yourself. 

How to Get Better at Dodgeball

1. Brush Up On the Rules

Whether you’re making a comeback to the dodgeball court or are new to the game, familiarize yourself with the rules. These ensure you make the right moves and leverage strategies against your opponents.

Start with the basics: players that are hit with a ball are out. This includes direct hits or if the ball bounces off a wall or other player and strikes them. They’re also out if they step out of bounds—which you can force them to do by aiming so well they have no choice but dodge off-court. The same goes for drawing them onto your side of the court.

Remember that if they catch your throw, you’re out. If you hit them in the head, you’ll also be removed from play.

2. Condition

The number one rule of dodgeball is to keep moving, so you’ll need to be in good shape. Jog to get your endurance up, and stretch to increase your range of motion. This will make it easy to stop, jump, dive, and change directions quickly. You’ll also want to build up your arm strength to improve your throwing ability and accuracy.

3. Know Where & How to Throw

The right throw can make it impossible for your opponent to dodge or counter. When possible, aim for their shins. These shots are much more difficult to catch or run from. Couple it with a curve by grabbing the ball from the side and twisting your wrist as your throw. These unexpected angles catch your opponent off-guard.

If an opponent is near the out-of-bounds line, throw to the opposite side of their body. They’ll have trouble dodging without going out of bounds. If you’re scouting for a target, focus on opponents who have just thrown a ball. They’ll be distracted and less likely to react to your throw in time.

4. Communicate

Dodgeball is a team sport, so get to know your teammates. Learning to communicate will help you double up on opponents, warn each other about incoming shots, and strategize more effectively. Schedule plenty of practice sessions and spend time outside of the court to strengthen relationships.

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