Buckeye Opener Recap

The Buckeye Opener kicked off the 2025-26 season on September 20th, and there was no shortage of drama. Transfers, graduations and rookies all created new looks for all of the teams in attendance, but the rivalries remained intense in the always contentious Ohio region. When the dust settled on the day, the Buckeyes were the only undefeated team remaining, but there were close points, blowouts, and surprises all throughout the day. If last Saturday in Columbus was any indication of how the season will go, we’re in for a year of incredibly entertaining and unpredictable dodgeball.

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Maryland Madness VI Recap

The sixth edition of Maryland Madness delivered everything East Coast dodgeball fans could ask for—tight finishes, breakout performances, and an early look at the region’s power hierarchy. Host Maryland pushed James Madison to overtime before fading late, while the Dukes shook off their opener to steamroll rival Virginia in a statement win. UVA, shorthanded but resilient, managed a solid victory over the Terps before running into JMU’s relentless firepower. From highlight catches to dominant throwing displays, the tournament set the tone for a fiercely competitive 2025 season.

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Eau Claire Brawl Recap

September 20th was the day of tournaments across the league. In the Central Region, UW-Platteville (UWP) and UW-Stout (UWS) (and alumni) traveled to UW-Eau Claire (UWEC) for the second annual Eau Claire Brawl tournament. This was the first NCDA tournament of the season for all those who attended, and it allowed the teams’ newbies to test the waters of NCDA dodgeball. All photos included were taken by Richard Laux.

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Clifton Heights Classic IV Preview

On Saturday, September 27th, the University of Cincinnati will be hosting the Clifton Heights Classic IV. The six teams that will be in attendance will be Bowling Green State University (BGSU), Miami University (Miami), Northern Kentucky University (NKU), Ohio University (Ohio), THE Ohio State University (OSU), and the hosts, the University of Cincinnati (UC). With over half of the Ohio teams in attendance plus the Southern Dodgeball Cup Champs, we should be in for a fantastic weekend of matchups to see where these teams stand in the early stages of the 2025/2026 season.

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Eau Claire Brawl Preview

Mark September 20th on your calendars ’cause UW-Eau Claire (UWEC) will be hosting the second annual Eau Claire Brawl tournament. This year the schools expected to attend are UW-Platteville (UWP) and UW-Stout (UWS) as well as several alumni players. Below is the schedule and a brief breakdown of each team who will be in attendance.

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South Region Preview 2025-2026

The South enters this season with plenty of unknowns, making it one of the most intriguing regions to watch. Much of its strength will depend on the addition and development of new programs, and the NCDA is excited to welcome the Alabama Crimson Tide into league play. Georgia Tech is another prospective team on the horizon, adding to the buzz surrounding the region’s growth.

Despite the uncertainty, one thing feels certain — Northern Kentucky enters as the clear favorite to repeat as South Dodgeball Cup champions. With their experience and proven track record, NKU will set the standard for the rest of the region to chase.

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Maryland Madness VI Preview

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – East Coast Dodgeball is finally back. This Saturday, September 20th, Maryland (UMD) will host Virginia (UVA) and James Madison (JMU) in the first East Coast action of the season. After a competitive finish to last year’s East Coast season (including an overtime thriller in the East Coast Dodgeball Cup championship game), the stage is set for an electric first tournament. Let’s take a look at the schedule and teams:

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Maryland

Maryland opens the season at 19th in the NCDA standings. They’ll start off by facing JMU in the first match of the tournament, and it should be a good one. UMD’s defensive style, anchored by the arm of Senior All-East Coast corner Adam Butz, makes them a tough matchup for any team in the association. After the first-ever win against JMU last year in program history, as well as competitive games against UVA throughout the season, UMD is prepared to come out of the gate hot. Should the Terps play mistake-free and stay composed, they have a huge opportunity to upset both of their Saturday opponents.

James Madison

The Dukes open their 2025 campaign at 10th in the overall standings, for the first time in recent history opening the season not the undisputed favorite to win the East Coast. That doesn’t mean this team still isn’t dangerous, though – the reigning ECDC champs still possess the best arm talent in the region, returning the talented arms of All-East Coast selections Jaxson Hannie, Preston Anderson, and Ryan Pendleton, among others. To start their ECDC defense off on the right foot, the Dukes need to stay composed and take advantage of their arms, and rely on clutch catching as they have in the past. JMU is elite at exploiting their opponents’ mistakes, and should they capitalize as they have in the past, they’ll start the season off 2-0. 

UVA

After a program-best season in 2024, UVA sits atop the East Coast at #9 in the overall NCDA standings. The Cavaliers believe their catch-first, ask questions later game plan sets them up very well against the rest of the East Coast, and the NCDA in general. However, UVA will be without 2024 All-East Coast and Third-team All-American Grady Holmes for Maryland Madness, and a lackluster Virginia performance in College Park could raise questions about the Hoos’ depth as we progress further into the season, especially after losing Second-team AA selection Kenji McCartney and All-East Coast selection Joseph Beauchamp in the offseason. Nevertheless, when UVA is on their game, focused, and communicating, they might just be the best catching team in the league. 

Other thoughts: During the tournament, there will be a scrimmage for freshmen and rookies, and a potential inclusion for a new team in the league: UMBC. This way, new players can get some tournament experience to get them amped up for league games later in the season. We should be in for some really competitive games – there was at least one overtime period at every regional event last season, and all signs point to renewed competition this year. Games will be streamed starting at 10:00 AM.

East Region Preview 2025-2026

No region in the NCDA brings more tension and bad blood than the East Coast. Every matchup feels personal, every rivalry runs deep. Yet for all the passion, the East hasn’t had a team make the national title game since the now-defunct Towson Tigers claimed the title in 2019. This season, the landscape shifts: Virginia has stormed into the #1 spot, overtaking perennial powerhouse JMU and putting the entire East Coast on notice. With bragging rights, bitter rivalries, and national respect at stake, the East enters the year starving for redemption. The hunger is real — the only question is, who will rise from the fire and carry the this region back to glory?

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2025 Buckeye Opener Tournament Preview

Dodgeball is finally back in the Buckeye State, and Columbus, the site of this years nationals, will also be hosting the inaugural event of the 2025-26 season. This years Buckeye Opener promises to be filled with drama, as 5 Ohio region teams go head-to-head, with plenty of storylines and rivalries at play. Every team comes in with something to prove, but there isn’t room for everyone to make a statement, meaning someone has to go home disappointed. Every game matters in the incredibly contentious Ohio region, meaning there will be fireworks from the jump in Columbus.

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Scholarship Application 2025

Each year the Platteville Dodgeball Club puts on the Tim Ebert Memorial Scholarship Tournament. The tournament was held on Saturday, September 6th and we raised $1,050. Tim Ebert was a player at the University of Wisconsin Platteville who was respected by his teammates as a captain and friend. Tim could always be counted on, always there to help, and was always making a difference. The funds raised go towards a scholarship in his name offered by the Platteville Dodgeball Club.

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Central Region Preview 2025-2026

The Central Region is shaping up to be one of the most exciting landscapes in college dodgeball. Illinois is quickly rising into contention, signaling a shift in power as fellow Big Ten program Nebraska-Lincoln comes down from its reign of dominance. With several prospective schools showing interest and momentum building across the board, the region is expanding at a rapid pace—rivaling even the South as the fastest-growing hotspot in the league.

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Michigan Region Preview 2025-2026

For two decades, the Michigan Region has been the gold standard of collegiate dodgeball, producing powerhouse programs and setting the bar for national success. From the inaugural season in 2005 until just last year, at least one Michigan team had always battled its way to the NCDA Championship game. That remarkable streak came to an end in 2025, marking the first time in league history that the region was absent from the title match. Now, as a new season is about to unfold, all eyes are on Michigan to see if its teams can reclaim their place at the top.

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Ohio Region Preview 2025-2026

As summer draws to a close and the air turns crisp with the first hints of fall, one unmistakable truth rises with the changing winds—dodgeball is back.

Across the country, players are lacing up and teams are retooling. But in one region, the energy feels different. Sharper. Hungrier. More storied. This is Ohio—the beating heart of collegiate dodgeball, where tradition meets talent, and rivalries run deep. Without further ado, here is the 2025-2026 season preview for the Ohio region.

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Ballot Results for the 2026 Season

Below are the results of the preferential election for the 2025/2026 NCDA Rulebook, select Policies, and 2026 Executive Board. The updated Rulebook and Constitution are scheduled to be released prior to the start of the 2026 Season.

Nationals 2026

Final results for Nationals 2026 selection:

The Ohio State University – 1st Round

The Ohio State University has been selected to host Nationals 2026.

Jackson Bolognia has been selected to represent OSU as the NCDA’s 2026 Director of Nationals.

Executive Board

Open Directors

Ethan Lehmkuhl
Kevin Bailey
Kris Haas
Ryan Ginsberg

Rule Proposals

R.1) Head Coach Designation

Yes: Only 1 designated head coach may talk to refs.
12-6

R.2) Penalty for Spiking Ball

Yes: Remove “spiking the ball” as a cardable offense from the rulebook.
14-4

R.3) Clock Counting Mechanics (Must count down)

Yes: Require all teams to count down the shot clock to 0 during play.
14-4

R.4) Timeout During Last 15s Clock

Yes: Timeout by opposing team resets shot clock to 15 during “last 15” count.
15-3

Policy Proposals

P.1) Nationals Bid Requirements

Yes: Teams must submit detailed proposals at the captains meeting.
10-8

P.2) Addition of Female 10th Board Member Position

Yes: Add a 10th board position which must be held by a female representative.
12-6


Executive Board Overrule 9-0
No: The existing board remains responsible for supporting and managing the Women’s Division. [Current]

*Editor’s Note: While supporting the Women’s Division remains a top priority, the Eboard believes expanding the size of the Board is not the appropriate solution. The current structure already enables shared responsibility among elected Board members, and this system has effectively supported the division’s growth without requiring a permanent, identity-based position. Additionally, creating a board seat limited to individuals of a specific gender identity violates the organization’s non-discrimination policy, and risks violating additional federal discrimination policies for non-profits. The Board will continue to prioritize and oversee the Women’s Division regardless of its composition, ensuring sustained support without structural expansion.

P.3) Regular Season Tournament Director Designation

No: Do not require a Board member or representative to attend all tournaments; event oversight remains the host school’s responsibility. [Current]
10-8

P.4) NCDA Division Names

No: Keep divisions as “Open” and “Women’s”. [Current]
10-7-1

P.5) Monthly League Updates

Yes: Require the Executive Board to send monthly league updates.
14-4

P.6) Captains Meeting Notes

Yes: Require the Executive Board to share minutes and supporting materials from the Nationals Captains’ Meeting within 10 days of the event.
15-3

P.7) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Yes: Expand the NCDA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion to apply to all athletes, coaches, staff, and fans.
13-5

P.8) Application of Forfeits

Yes: Forfeits at multi-day events will be applied per day; teams must be able to play all their scheduled games each day.
13-5

P.9) Multi-Round National Bid Process

Yes: Implement a multi-round Nationals host voting process.
11-7

Ranking System Proposals

There were no proposals for Ranking System changes for the 2026 season.

Proposal History

A history of all of the NCDA’s rule, policy, and ranking system proposals can be found here [Link]