Rules Are Hard

Dodgeball is a crazy game. There are so many variables and different situations that can happen that it is nearly impossible to have a rulebook that completely satisfies every scenario. Just this past weekend I saw a play that I have never seen happen before, which is crazy because I have been playing for *censored* years! With that being said, we try very hard to create rules that are all-inclusive, fair, and that do not allow for abuse.

Recently I have noticed that there are a few misunderstandings of the rules that have been going around that I would like to address leading up to the big Ohio get-together that we are having. 

Continue reading “Rules Are Hard”

Ballot Results for the 2024 Season

Below are the results of the preferential election for the 2023/2024 NCDA Rulebook, select Policies, and 2024 Executive Board. The Rulebook is scheduled to be released prior to the start of the 2024 Season.

Nationals 2024

Final results for Nationals 2024 selection:

The Ohio State University – 1st Round

The Ohio State University has been selected to host Nationals 2024.

Ethan Lehmkuhl has been selected to represent OSU as the NCDA’s 2024 Director of Nationals.

Executive Board

Open Director

Kevin Bailey – 1st Round

Open Director

Tony Stumpo – 2nd Round

Open Director

Ryan Ginsberg – 3rd Round

Rule Proposals

R.1)  Team catch only saves player at risk. No player from jail enters.

Yes, a team catch will only save the player at risk from elimination.
11-10

R.2) Eliminate “Traps”

Yes, the referee must now call the player “safe” or “out” by judgement of the ball’s first contact.
13-8

R.3) Change LAZ to lower height when player is on knees

Yes, the LAZ will shorten when a player is kneeled.
15-6

R.4) Team Yellow Card for negligent officiating. Both teams playing during the match must agree to issue a card given valid reasoning.

Yes, playing teams may submit a request to issue a Team Yellow Card to the officiating team if they show signs of negligent officiating.
15-6

R.5) Yellow card means out for current point and next point.

Yes, a yellow card results in a penalized player to sit out for 2 points.
15-6

R.6) Reduce the player threshold number from 5 -> 4 for when the shot clock changes from 15 -> 10.

Yes, a 10 second shot clock occurs when 4 or less players remain.
16-5

R.7) Change the format of the start from a 3-4-3 to a 4-2-4 for ball setup.

Yes, matches will start with 4 balls on each attack line and 2 balls at center court.
13-8

Policy Proposals

P.1) “Longevity clause” abolishment

Yes, the longevity clause will be removed effective 1/1/24.
-2nd Round Preferential Majority


Executive Board Overrule 7-2
Yes, the longevity clause will be removed effective 7/1/24.

*Editor’s Note: The Board decision to override the longevity clause decision of 1/1/24 in favor of 7/1/24 was based on the belief of keeping the timeline of rule implementation consistent with the start/end of each subsequent season as opposed to a rule going into effect mid-season.

P.2) Allow players the ability to apply for additional playing years beyond the allowed 6 per institution.

Yes, players may apply to play for more than 6 years at a single institution.
13-8


Executive Board Overrule 8-1
No, players may not apply to play more than 6 years at a single institution. [Current]

*Editor’s Note: The decision to override the provision allowing members to apply for additional years of play was due to a lack of clearly defined criteria for the approval process. Without a formal process as part of the proposal the Board’s belief is that the process would be open to high degrees of subjectivity. This would potentially compromise the approval process and lead it in a direction not consistent with the desires of our member teams.

P.3) Teams must submit bids to host regional trophied events by October 31st of the current year. Participating teams vote on the host during winter break and a host is decided before Jan 1.

Yes, teams must bid to host the “Cup” event for their region
15-6

P.4) Teams that “forfeit” with >4 minutes remaining in a match, must also forfeit all upcoming matches at that tournament. 

Yes, teams who “forfeit” any match must also forfeit all matches in that tournament. For trophied events only.
-2nd Round Preferential Majority

P.5) Ghost team is ranked equal to the team that is on the opposite end of the forfeit consequence.

Yes, a ghost team is ranked equal to the forfeiting team.
16-5

P.6) Reduce Nationals Modifier in Gonzalez to 1.5 instead of 2.

Yes, nationals matches are worth 1.5x of regular season matches.
13-8

P.7) Each year a different region has priority for hosting nationals. If no teams from the prioritized region wish to host, then other bids may be considered.

No, any team from any region may submit a bid to host nationals each year.[Current]
9-12

Ranking System Proposals

RS.1) Adjust to a scaled Gonzalez system

Yes, the hybrid ranking system will consist of scaled Gonzalez rankings.
16-4

Eboard additional votes and details

The NCDA Executive Board has voted to override two provisions passed by member teams. Member teams will have an option to veto the Executive Board’s decision with a super majority vote (3/4ths requirement).

Additionally, the Eboard has voted on the following policy changes which will affect the 2024 season.

E.1) Adjust to a scaled Champ System – PASS 9-0

Yes, the Champ point system shall be scaled in a similar method to that of the Gonzalez method.

E.2) Implement changes to the release policy dates – PASS 9-0

Yes, various policy dates will be changed to the following.


E.3) Abolish Open Director Term limit – PASS 7-2

Yes, the Open Director Term limit will only apply to the position of President

E.4) Yellow card for each match that all captains/coaches have not completed the rulebook quiz – PASS 8-1

Yes, teams will receive a team yellow card at the start of each match where an active captain or coach has not completed the rulebook quiz.

E.5) Eboard voting transparency – DID NOT PASS 2-7

No, The Eboard is not required to release the voting decisions of each board member by request. (Current)

Proposal History

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

Ballot Results for the 2023 Season

Below are the results of the preferential election for the 2022/2023 NCDA Rulebook, select Policies, and 2023 Executive Board. The Rulebook is scheduled to be released prior to the start of the 2023 Season.

Nationals 2023

Here were the final results for Nationals 2021 selection:

Ohio University – 1st Round

Ohio University has been selected to host Nationals 2023.

Continue reading “Ballot Results for the 2023 Season”

The Vote on Rules regarding Overtime

Wasn’t much further conversation today, lets throw the options out there and let everyone determine. We can still keep this discussion open until the end of the voting period (voting lasts one week, from Aug 21 2012, 23:00 to Aug 28 23:00 CST).

This is actually a really complicated vote because the proposed change has a number of different options… So, it is my belief that we present it thus (and sort out the counts later). If you have any questions, please let them be known.

Concerning Rule 3.1.4.3 Overtime

Vote Options:

Step 1: First, please select either to change or not to change:
A: No Change – 15 on 15, 10 minute Clock, first team to score a point wins the Match. Rule 3.1.4.3 remains unchanged.
B: Alternative with internal options. The only option that was unopposed was a permanent 10 second shot clock for both teams.

If your team chooses option A, you are done. Submit your vote via the ncdadodgeball@gmail.com email.
If your team chooses option B, please proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Choose Amount of Players: 6 on 6, chosen from any player on the maximum 20 player roster
C: Maximum of 6 on 6, no more than 6 players may be on a side for the point.
D: 6 on 6 to start Overtime, but the remaining 9 players may line up in the Jail and enter play via a Catch.

Step 3: Choose the amount and layout of dodgeballs
E: 7 dodgeballs arranged for an Opening Rush formation of 02320 with balls live on the whistle
F: 7 dodgeballs arranged for an Opening Rush formation of 03130 with balls live on the whistle

Step 4: Choose how to handle the Clock
G: No set time limit, first team to eliminate the other team wins.
H: 10 minute time limit, Rule 3.1.4.3.2 remains as is to decide a victor by count of remaining players.

Quorum Achieved – Rules on Overtime

Results of the Quorum

Quorum is officially achieved with 14 member teams of the 25 teams agreeing to establish a vote regarding rules on Overtime. At least one week of discussion shall ensue (until Aug 21), with a narrowing down of vote options. Check out the forum to voice your opinion.

25 Member Teams, 13 Members required to achieve Quorum.
Quorum Call Begins 8 Aug 2012 17:16 CST
End of call is 15 Aug 2012 17:16 CST or whenever Quorum is achieved, whichever comes first.

MSU Agrees – 8 Aug 2012 17:20
CMU Agrees – 8 Aug 2012 23:42
JMU Agrees – 9 Aug 2012 00:08
UMD Agrees – 10 Aug 2012 15:14
SVSU Agrees – 11 Aug 2012 13:33
GVSU Agrees – 13 Aug 2012 12:26
K-State Agrees – 13 Aug 2012 14:08
DePaul Agrees – 13 Aug 2012 15:42
MBI Agrees – 13 Aug 2012 19:01
WKU Agrees – 13 Aug 2012 19:01
UofL Agrees – 13 Aug 2012 19:09
Miami Agrees – 13 Aug 2012 19:30
LCC Agrees – 13 Aug 2012 19:35
Kent Agrees – 13 Aug 2012 22:43

Upcoming Member UNT Agrees 13 Aug 2012 04:14
(As not yet a full Member Team, UNT does not have voting rights or count towards a Quorum, but its discussion is recognized.)

It should be noted that no team submitted a disagreement with changing the Rules.

What now

5. At least one week of discussion ensues, with a narrowing down of vote options.
6. After a week of discussion, the final vote options are gathered and distributed to the teams using reasonable communication efforts.
7. Duration of the vote is one week.

Popular Vote Candidates

A maximum of 6 on 6, of any player on the full 20 player roster; 7 balls, arranged for an Opening Rush of 02320 with balls live on the whistle; a permanent 10 second shot clock for both teams.

Variations on this include: no game clock or a overtime clock of 10 minutes, or variations on the amount of balls

Quorum Call – Rules on Overtime

Hello Everyone:

Sam Hiller of MSU requested a Quorum be called, relating to changing the NCDA rules regarding Overtime. The forum thread on it has some talk regarding specific options. What is required of the member teams is a vote to change anything at all.

Since we aren’t in a Captains’ Meeting, another process kicks in:
1. A Captain of a Member Team brings up a change, discussion ensues.
2. The change is seconded by another Member Team, discussion ensues.
3. A call for a Voting Quorum using reasonable communication efforts for a maximum of one week, discussion ensues. (current step)
4. If a majority of the voting members agree to a vote, voting Quorum is achieved. If a majority do not agree, the issue is dropped and may be brought up at a later time.
5. Should voting Quorum be achieved, at least one week of discussion ensues, with a narrowing down of vote options.
6. After a week of discussion, the final vote options are gathered and distributed to the teams using reasonable communication efforts.
7. Duration of the vote is one week.

Let me know if that seems fair or unfair. It’s similar to how we did the Opening Rush change.

Please email regarding whether your team agrees to vote or does not agree to vote. We have one week to achieve a quorum, then one week of discussion, then a week of voting.