Dodgeball gets a bad rap, but played right it is one of the most joyful games in the gym, and nobody has to sit on the sideline for ten minutes. These variations come from Marc Gold, a longtime Queens physical education teacher and author of The Dodgeball Manual. Each one keeps the whole class moving.
A quick safety note
Use soft foam balls, never hard rubber ones. Set a clear rule that throws stay below the shoulders, and give younger classes a bigger, slower ball. Safe games are fun games.
1. Doctor Dodgeball
Each team secretly picks a "doctor." Anyone hit sits down until the doctor tags them back in. When a team's doctor is out, the round ends fast. Great for teamwork and mystery.
2. King (or Queen) Dodgeball
Each team secretly chooses a leader that everyone else protects. The round ends when a leader is hit. Suddenly every throw and dodge has a mission.
3. Scatter
Every kid for themselves. The class starts in the center, a ball is tossed up, and whoever grabs it is the first attacker. Fast, funny, and endlessly replayable.
4. Four-Square Dodgeball
Split the floor into four squares with four teams. Getting hit sends you to the sideline to cheer. The last player standing wins for their square.
5. Non-Dominant Hand
Everyone must throw with their off hand. It levels the playing field and produces a lot of laughing.
6. Pin Guard
Set a bowling pin behind each team. The goal is not to hit players but to knock down the other team's pin. Turns the whole class into defense and strategy.
7. Cageball
Nobody is a target. Teams throw foam balls at a giant cageball to push it into the other side's zone. Perfect for classes that need a no-elimination option.
8. Medic Freeze
Hit players freeze in place instead of sitting. A teammate must tag them to unfreeze. Everyone stays in the action the whole time.
The Dodgeball Manual
Fifty dodgeball games from the greatest gym class in Queens. Hardcover and Kindle on Amazon.
Buy on Amazon Learn moreWant all fifty?
These eight are just the start. The Dodgeball Manual collects fifty games, grouped into six easy sections with clear rules and one fun twist each, and it is available on Amazon in hardcover and Kindle. It is built for PE teachers, camp counselors, and any kid who loves the thud of a ball off the gym wall.
Looking for quieter reading-time picks too? See our roundup of the best basketball books for kids.
Frequently asked questions
What ball is safest for dodgeball in PE?
Use soft foam balls, never hard rubber ones. Foam balls move slower, are easier to dodge, and keep the game fun and safe for elementary students. Add a rule that throws must stay below the shoulders.
How do you keep kids from sitting out too long?
Use no-elimination or quick-return variations. In Doctor Dodgeball and Medic Freeze, hit players rejoin fast, and in Four-Square Dodgeball everyone stays active across four teams. The goal is maximum movement for every child.