Benchball
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Benchball The game of Benchball is a variation of dodgeball. Instead of being completely eliminated from the game like dodgeball, when you are hit, you run to your opponents side of the court and stand on a bench that is placed against the wall. While on the bench, no one can hit you. You stay on the bench until someone from your team throws a ball to you, if you manage to catch it, your back in the game.
The Rules
You have a team of between 10 and 20 people on 2 sides of a gym. You place 6-10 dodgeballs on the center line of the gym. Everyones hand must be touching the back wall before the game can begin. When the referee says "go", you run and try to grab a ball on the center line before your opposition does. You can block balls being thrown at you with a ball that you hold, but if the ball gets knocked from your hands while attempting this, you are out. Balls to the head do not count, however, to be a good sport most players will still take the hit and go off. Also, if catching a ball that is thrown at you, the thrower of the ball is now out. Alternatively, if you block a thrown ball with your ball, and it richochets into the air and someone on your team catches it, the thrower is out. There is a line about 2½ to 3 feet from the end of the wall, if someone on the opposing team is trying to save a team mate and you catch the ball behind this line, it does not count, you are not out, you just throw the ball back to the opposition. The following is not a rule, but an act of good sportsmanship. When you get saved by a ball from your side, giving the ball back to the person who saved you is good if you hope to be saved by that person again. Most games last between 10 minutes from anywhere to an hour. When the game is over, the balls go back into the middle and the teams switch sides.
Variations
Of course, other rules have been added for additional fun. For instance, in place of having your hand on the wall at the beginning of a game, you may have to start on your back or stomach. Also running to the center of the gym, running back , touching the wall and then getting a ball is also oftenly used.
Summary
The game of benchball was created by Eck Trask, a P.E. teacher in Canada. Hopefully you too will be able to have the fun he has taught to hundreds of students.
