The Portland division of the Underdog Sports Leagues is hosting a coed dodgeball league at Jefferson High School in North Portland every Wednesday this summer. The league began July 11 and will continue until mid-August.
Underdog Sports is an adult co-recreational sports league. Dodgeball is one of the eight different sports offered. Others include bocce ball, bowling, flag football, kickball, mini golf, softball and volleyball. Participants need to be 21 years or older to participate.
Woody Adams, who has been a league director for seven years, said, “All our sports are based on having fun. People get competitive by nature, but they can still have fun while being nice to each other.”
The summer coed dodgeball league at Jefferson High School is an outdoor league held on the high school tennis courts. Each team can have a roster of up to 10 players. The team fee is $450 and includes team T-shirts.
Alternatively, individuals can sign up as free agents and be paired with other teams. The individual sign-up fee is $75.
Each team generally has six to 10 players. Usually three males and three females play at a time, but a minimum of two players of each gender are needed to avoid a forfeit.
The rules of the league are similar to popular dodgeball rules. The various ways of getting players out are to hit them with a ball that isn’t blocked, knock a ball out of their hand, catch their ball before it hits the floor or another person or throw a head shot. Any time someone catches a ball from a team, a player from the bench can return.
The league also uses the first-touch concept, which means that as soon as a ball hits something, it’s dead. If it hits a player, the player is out, and a second player cannot get hit with the same ball. Similarly, if a ball hits the floor, it’s dead. The same rule applies with the ceiling (in indoor dodgeball) or after it’s blocked by a held ball. Foam balls are used in order to prevent injuries.
Each court has a referee: “We hire people for the job and they have to undergo an observation and training phase for a few weeks before they can officiate,” Adams said.
Eight teams are taking part in this summer’s league. The prizes for the winning team include a gift certificate to a nearby sponsored bar or pub. Two more dodgeball leagues are lined up for the fall, and registration begins July 19. “Our leagues are fun and competitive at the same time,” Adams said. “They are a great way of making friends and having a fun time.”