2017 Chicago Dodgeball Open

Chicago Dodgeball Open By: Kenneth Mize and Erik Zander

Preview for the Chicago Dodgeball Open at the Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center (2235 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60614). The teams that will be attending are: Saginaw Valley State University (13 players), DePaul (15 players), Bowling Green State University (14 players), and Wisconsin-Platteville (11 players).  Continue reading “2017 Chicago Dodgeball Open”

PSU Tournament Preview

New year, new dodgeball.  We hit the ground running quick for the Spring semester of the 2016-17 season, as Penn State University hosts their first ever home tournament.  A total of four teams will be mixed in the fray including our hosts, Akron University, Ohio University, and Virginia Commonwealth University.  This tournament has a similar feel to UNG’s Dahlonega Dodgefall Fest.  There is no clear favorite, and most of the teams here are around the same rank and skill level with each other, which could prove to make for an exciting weekend.  Let’s take a quick look at what to expect from the attending teams.  Continue reading “PSU Tournament Preview”

NCDA President’s Announcement – Looking Forward

From the Office of the President for Immediate Release:

First off I would like to say how happy I am with the current state of our organization. By membership, we are the largest dodgeball league in the United States. I don’t know of a way to even check this, but I can say with confidence that we are also one of, if not THE, largest dodgeball organizations in the world. As of 1/1/2017, we have 628 registered members in the NCDA from 25 different states; and that number will only go up from here. Our unique style of play and our dedicated members are what keep this organization moving and expanding. We are growing, we are influencing, and we are thriving. Continue reading “NCDA President’s Announcement – Looking Forward”

Director of League Expansion and Retention: Winter Update

The first half of the 2016-17 season is complete. We started the season with 23 active teams in the NCDA and now have 29 with plenty more waiting to get some action in the second half of the season. A total of 119 games were played last semester. That set a new record for the amount of matches played in the first half of the season. One can only predict that this record will continue to be broken for many years to come. This is thanks to the hard work of not just the Executive Board, but the active members of this league who have done an extraordinary job of getting the word out about this great sport. Below is an update on how the newly established member teams are doing this season and how close other prospective teams are to playing in the National Collegiate Dodgeball Association this season.
Continue reading “Director of League Expansion and Retention: Winter Update”

UWP- Matt Bautch

An End of an Era for one of the Greats at UWP

Matt Bautch- #8

This semester, Matt Bautch, a great player and one of my best friends, graduated.  He did a lot for our team, which deserves recognition.  For the last 4 and a half years he has been one of Platteville’s best players, and most of the teams who have played against him can agree. Matt was always a very quiet individual and didn’t talk much. In our first few weeks of practice as freshmen everyone called him blue because no one knew his name (He always wore the color blue to practice, hence the nickname Blue).  I can remember walking back to the dorms at midnight after practice while I talked and he just listened.  He wasn’t much for words, but then again, he didn’t have to be, he let his play on the court do his talking.  Matt had one of the strongest arms in the league and could catch about anything thrown his way.  It was always fun watching him go up by himself and push the other team back to the back line. Continue reading “UWP- Matt Bautch”

If Nationals Bracket-Play was Today

Happy New Year to all of you in the NCDA.

As we start out this new year, I thought it would be cool to take a look at what NCDA Nationals 2017 would look like if it happened right now.

Listed below is the bracket for Nationals if it were to take place today.  In this scenario I am assuming that every team that has played an NCDA game this season will make the trip to University of Kentucky for the season’s final tournament.  Note that the seeding is based off the NCDA’s current standings.

Now, lets take a look at what the results may look like if this were the case…

Continue reading “If Nationals Bracket-Play was Today”

OPINION: The 5 most frustrating ways to get out in a match

Dodgeball, as we know, has a ton of different ways for a player to get out in a match. From what I’ve heard, most participants would say that catching a throw in the face is the hardest way to get out of a match; but is it the most frustrating way to get out? The type of eliminator that makes a player roll their eyes, groan and trudge off the court in complete frustration or disbelief? Here are my 5 most frustrating ways to get out, and I’d love to see what other people think. If you have an opinion, please add to the comments section! Continue reading “OPINION: The 5 most frustrating ways to get out in a match”

NCDA New Year’s Resolutions

Happy New Year to all of you dodgeballers.  As we approach 2017, I am reminded of one of the most well-known traditions that comes with changing years: New Year’s Resolutions.

While I no longer play for any college dodgeball team, I still have an idea on what some of the teams in this league should do with their “fresh start” in 2017.  So, I present to you my New Year’s Resolution suggestions for some of your favorite NCDA teams: Continue reading “NCDA New Year’s Resolutions”

Exec Meeting 2016-12-22

National Collegiate Dodgeball Association, Inc.
Minutes of an Executive Board Meeting [ABSTRACT]
Date: 2016-12-22
Time: 08:00 pm EST – 10:00 pm EST

For the full report, please view the original G-doc.

Participants:

  • Felix Perrone, President
  • Zigmas Maloni, Director of Officiating (requestor)
  • Jacob Leski, Director of League Expansion and Retention
  • Colin Hiatt, Director of Nationals
  • Mike McNicholas, Treasurer

Agenda:

  1. Introduction and Review of Previous Meeting Minutes [President]
  2. Treasurer’s Report [Treasurer]
  3. Policy and Organization [President]
  4. Growth of the League [DoLR]
  5. Nationals Update [DoN]
  6. Records and Officiating [DoO]
  7. Website and Content [CoC]
  8. Notes for Next Meeting [DoO]
  9. Adjournment [President]

Team Spotlight: Penn State

For the newest addition in our Team Spotlight series we take a look at the Penn State University Dodgeball Club.  The team out of University Park, PA has been a member of the NCDA since April 12, 2013.  I had the opportunity to talk with Club President, Jeff Schwartz, about his squad and the upcoming semester.

Continue reading “Team Spotlight: Penn State”

Mid-Season Thoughts

Well folks, we are at the halfway point in the NCDA season.  Schools are off for the holidays, and no NCDA matches will be played until mid January. This is one of the many constants in college dodgeball, a time at mid-season for teams to reflect on what transpired in the fall semester, and what is still to come in the winter/spring.

Following up on a fantastic article by Hunter Ford on his bold predictions, I will briefly reflect on the fall semester and give some predictions for the rest of the season.  Unfortunately I haven’t been able to attend as many tournaments as I would have liked in the fall, so maybe you will trust Hunter’s predictions over mine.  But I have seen enough to be confident in the statements I am about to make.  Here are some of my thoughts at the halfway point in yet another exciting season of collegiate dodgeball:

Continue reading “Mid-Season Thoughts”