Extreme Dodgeball

"Extreme Dodgeball" was an American Sports Entertainment television show that debuted on Game Show Network in 2004. It is also featured on the British television channel Challenge.

tandard rules

In the first two seasons, two teams of five compete in a match of three rounds in a best-of-three format. (This was altered significantly for season three; see "Other Rule Changes and Amendments" below.) A round ends when one of the two teams loses all five of its members. The first round is standard and is played with two dodgeballs. In the second round, often called the "Big Ball Round," a third ball which is twice the diameter of the other two is added into play. This ball is often used to deflect attacks. In the third round, "Dead Man Walking," the Big Ball is removed and in its place is an orange headband that is placed on one member of each team who is designated the "Dead Man Walking." In the first and second seasons, if the Dead Man Walking is eliminated, the team he represents loses the game and consequently the match.

Elimination

In each of the three seasons, there were multiple ways for an athlete to be eliminated and sent to the sideline. Some variations in these regulations exist in the three seasons, but for the most part these rules remain the same. The following are ways in which a member of a team can be eliminated:
*Getting hit with a ball
*Throwing a ball which an opponent catches (in this case, a person previously eliminated can come back in, but the number of people in the playing arena cannot exceed 5)
*Dropping a ball being used to deflect a ball thrown by an opposing player
*Crossing over the center line or (in seasons one and two) stepping outside the boundaryThere are also two ways of returning to the game after being eliminated. The first, as previously mentioned, is if a player catches a ball. At this point, one of their teammates can come back onto the court, until five members are on the court. The second way is called a regeneration. In the first season, if all but one member of the team were eliminated, the last player had the opportunity to hit a target aptly named the "regeneration target" and, if this was accomplished before he was eliminated, all of his teammates returned to the court. In season two, the last player on the court only had to stay alive for 20 seconds to regenerate his team. In both cases, a team could only regenerate once per round. Lastly, in the third season, this rule was changed again. If the last player standing is able to not be eliminated for 30 seconds, only one of his teammates can return. If the last player is eliminated, four team members return to the game. However, this could be done an unlimited number of times.

Other rule changes and amendments

For the second season, there were two more main changes. Firstly, there was a 5 second delay of game warning. If a team held more than one ball for over 5 seconds, one of its players would be out. The second rule stated that if a player, in the opinion of the referee, was impeding the flow of play of the game by stalling, refusing to throw the ball, or attempting to force a play on the opposing team, the referee(s) could give that player a "yellow card". Two yellow cards meant that the player in question was ejected. This second rule was introduced in the early stages of the second season and is called the "Benedetto Amendment" after player David Benedetto, whose wise but sly tactics were considered unfair play.

In the third season, many significant changes were made to the rules. First, the teams would add two players each, increasing the number of players from five to seven. Still, however, only five members of the team would be allowed on the court at any given time. The players who came on the court rotated; if four of a team's five players were eliminated, and the final player regenerated a teammate, the sixth member came onto the court.

The main change in this season was the format of the matches. Instead of 3 rounds which ended when all of the players on one of the teams were eliminated, the matches would be divided to four, six-minute quarters. The victor would not be decided by the fastest elimination of an entire team; rather, the team with the most points at the end of the 24 minutes. If a player eliminates any opponent in any way, his team gains one point. Bonus points are given in special circumstances (i.e. when a team wipes out the entire other team, if a player "kills" an opponent with the Big Ball by throwing, and killing the Dead Man Walking).

Other small changes were added. For example, if a player received a yellow card for yelling at the referee, holding a ball for too long, disobeying the instructions given, etc., he would have to stand in a small square while a player on the other team would be given a free shot at him. If the penalized player is hit, the opposing team scores a point; if the player leaves the square's boundaries, two points are awarded. Another small change was in the court itself. In previous seasons, the boundaries had been on the left, right, and front for each team. In this season, however, the left and right boundaries were removed and the court became similar to that of many indoor sports, such as indoor soccer or ice hockey.

In the second quarter, the Big Ball is put in play similar to the first two seasons. Since the big ball is used mainly for defending and is difficult to throw, a bonus point would be awarded for a kill through throwing.

In the third and fourth quarters, the teams are on the side opposite of that which they started. In the fourth quarter, the orange Dead Man Walking headband comes into play. One person on each team must wear the headband at all times. Any time a Dead Man Walking is eliminated, the other team gains a bonus point, but does not win the game. The headband is simply transferred to someone else. When two minutes remain in this quarter, there is a break in the game where the teams are allowed to switch the players on the court with ones on the bench (but each team retains the same "number" of players that had been on the floor). At the end of the fourth quarter, the team with the most points is declared the victor and is awarded $5,000.

If, after the fourth quarter, a tie is reached, the game goes into overtime, in which each team chooses three players to represent them on the court. There are no regenerations, and catching a ball does not bring in a new player- once a player is out, they are out for good. The team which can last the longest is declared the winner of the match.

In the third season, referees are able to give players red cards, much like in soccer. If a player is given a red card, he is out for the rest of the game. Players get red cards if they behave in a particularly improper manner too serious for a yellow card, such as physical contact with an opponent in a harsh manner. Red cards are uncommon, but have been given multiple times. One player, Brian DeCato, was even suspended for the season due to repeated offenses.

Hosts

For all three seasons, the hosts have been Bil Dwyer and Zach Selwyn.

ideline Reporters

*Season 1: Jerri Manthey of Survivor
*Season 2: Mary Strong
*Season 3: Michele Merkin of E! Entertainment Network

Commissioner

Rip Torn, who played Patches O'Houlihan in , joined in Season 3 as the commissioner of the league.

Referees

*Jim Burns (Head referee)
*Declan Galvin
*Greg James
*Chris Pierce
*Jim Hazelton:"Note: Pierce subbed for Burns in some of the Season Three matches."

Teams

Each team in Extreme Dodgeball has a gimmick. This may reflect the fact that gimmick teams were featured heavily in "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story". Usually, the members of a team share a common profession, indicated in their name.

In the first season, the teams wore clothing linked to their gimmick, for example the CPAs wore sweater-vests and neckties, the Stallion Battalion wore racing silks, etc. In subsequent seasons all teams wore uniforms similar to those worn in basketball, in team colors.

eason 1

*CPAs: Certified Public Assassins - Certified Public Accountants. CPAs were the season one champions, and winners of the $10,000 grand prize. They were also undefeated, with a record of 8-0
**Tobias "The Sniper" McKinney-Maker of the famous "Suicide Leap," where the thrower jumps over the center line, and hits the victim with the ball before he lands, therefore the kill is valid.
**Michael "Handsome" Constanza-Went on to be the MVP of the league. Had amazing throwing skills and clocked in with the most accuracy. Had an 82 MPH throwing speed.
**Mandy "Sunshine" Sommers - Known for catching almost any ball thrown at her.
**Steve Altes
**Gretchen Weiss

*Barbell Mafia - bodybuilders. Barbell Mafia won second place, being defeated by CPA in the final match.
**Tyrone "The Rush Factor" Rush
**Alan "Diesel" Grimes
**Jeramy "The Mountain" Freeman
**Amazon Beard
**Melissa "Coates Rack" Coates

*Armed Response - security guards.
**David "The Animal" Benedetto
**Clay "Chainsaw" Krueger
**Andrew "Barishnikov" Brawley
**Michelle "Manu" Manumaleuna
**Laura "Major" Farley

*Ink, Incorporated - tattoo artists. Known to Hate The Mimes
**Ben "Psycho/Evil Robot" Toth
**Shawn "The Hitman" Hauser
**Jessica Cabo "Wabo"
**Damion "The Omen" Troy
**Rebecca Pontius (sister of Mark Pontius of the Mimes and, later, the Reef Sharks)

*Curves of Steel - female bodybuilders, plus a male trainer.
**Kel Watrin
**Lillith "Fair" Fields
**Kimberly "The Kimminator" Estrada
**Maritza Franco
**Amelie McKendry

*Silent But Deadly Mimes
**Mark "Pretty Boy" Pontius
**Lamonte Goode
**Laura Hight
**Stephen Sande
**"Angelina" Jolie Bailey

*Stallion Battalion - jockeys
**Kenny "Dirty" Sanchez
**Mark "M&M" Munoz
**Michael Pipkin
**Christina "Shorty" Knizner
**Lissette Garcia

*Sumo Storm - Sumo wrestlers. This team never won a game. Their final record was 0-6, with the Certified Public Assassins beating them in the first playoff round.
**Billy Aquaviva
**"Captain" Americus Abesamus
**Dante Alighire
**Jon Beardsley
**Crystal "Chainsaw" Cartwright
***Katasha Nelson- filled in two games for Cartwright when she was injured.

eason 2

In this season, the teams are divided in the Classic Division and the Expansion Division. The former consists of the Top 4 teams from last season, and the latter consists of entirely new teams.

"Classic Division"
*Certified Public Assassins
**Tobias McKinney, returning
**Michael Constanza, returning
**Mandy Sommers, returning
**Art "Fly like a" Spigel
**Natasha Pospich

*Barbell Mafia: This team suffered a long losing streak, being eliminated after the regular season. This was surprising, considering most of their players were the same.
**Tyrone Rush, returning
**Melissa Coates, returning
**Jeremy Freeman, returning
**Vanessa Altman
**Alan Grimes, returning

*Armed Response: Were the season 2 champions, winning the $25,000 grand prize.
**David Benedetto, returning
**David "Don't Call Me Condoleezza" Rice
**Kel Watrin, returning from Curves of Steel
***Danno Kingman- filled in for Watrin when he was injured
**Tanya Fenderbosch
**Nicole Zingale

*Ink, Incorporated
**Ben Toth, returning
**Kimberly Estrada, returning from Curves of Steel
**Strati Hovartez
**"Scary" Kari Richardson
**Shawn Hauser, returning

"Expansion Division"
*Bling - Urban/Hip-Hop theme
**Alvina "Virginia Slim" Carroll
**Frank "The Tank", "The Big Pasta" Frisoli
**Portis "The Crazy Chinchilla" Hershey
**Mia "Pimpin'" Parler
**Adam "Malibu's Most Wanted" Ullberg

*Delta Force - military theme: came in 2nd place, losing to Armed Response in the championship match.
**Paul "Rambo" Green
**Lisa "The Beach Tiger" Marshall
**Geoff Mead
**Linda "I'm Crying" Overhue
**Bobby "Salmon" Roe

*Reef Sharks - surfers
**Chris Bullis
**Mark "Big Nasty" Long (of "Road Rules" and "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" fame)
**Mark Pontius, returning from Silent But Deadly Mimes
**Melanie Thomas
**Amy Wiseman

*MAD: Mutually Assured Destruction - scientists.
**Anna Bartsch
**Tarone Cathcart
**Gary "Spaz" Davis
**Marie Philman
**Mark Van Norden

eason 3

The teams in Season 3 are more city themes than personal themes. The teams each have seven players, including a celebrity team captain.
*Chicago Hitmen
**Hal Sparks
**Erik "The Breadtruck" Tillmans
**Kenneth Hughes
**Karim Phelps
**Rob Clyde
**Anna Bartsch, returning from MAD
**Marie Philman, returning from MAD

*Denver Hurlers
**Tara Dakides
**Bobby Roe, returning from Delta Force
**Danno Kingman, returned from Season 2's Armed Response (he had been their substitute)
**Gary "Spaz" Davis, returning from MAD
**Micah "Lead Me to the Promised Land" Moses
**Adrian "The Ghoul" Quihius
**Kelly Lavato
***Linda Overhue, returning from Season 2's Delta Force while Lavato is injured

*Philadelphia Benjamins
**Jeremiah "The Axeman" Trotter
***Michael Lee, filling in for Trotter while Trotter is injured
***Paul Gene, filling in for Trotter while Trotter is injured
**Art Spigel, returning from CPAs
**Chris Bullis, returning from Reef Sharks
**Justin Hill
**Morgan Hay
**Lisa Marshall, returning from Season 2's Delta Force
**Mia Parler, returning from Bling

*Los Angeles Armed Response
**Mario Lopez
**David Benedetto, returning
**Sebastian "Beam Me Up" Sciotti
**Kel Watrin, returning
**Damien Ward
**Tanya Fenderbosch, returning
**Mandy Sommers, returning from CPAs

*Detroit Spoilers - Lost all ten of their games.
**Kerri Walsh
**Strati Hovartez, returning from Ink, Inc.
**Ben Toth, returning from Ink, Inc.
**Adam Ullberg, returning from Bling
**David Rice, returning from Season 2's Armed Response
**Jason "The Boner" Caliz
**Kimberly Estrada, returning from Season 2's Ink, Inc and Season 1's Curves of Steel

*New York Bling - Season Champions
**Mia St. John - her first kill of the season was made in the championship game
**Tyrone Rush, returning from Season 2's Barbell Mafia; led the league in kills this season
**Wade Clark
**Brian DeCato
***Justin Leffler- filling in for DeCato while DeCato is suspended
****Matt Gibbons- filling in for Leffler while Leffler is injured
**Portis Hershey, returning
**Greg "The Dirty Hippy" Lang
**Tami "Goggles" Bahat