Dodgeball for Grown-Ups: How a Playground Game Became a Serious Sport
The gym-class favorite now has adult leagues, national teams and world championships. And the competition is anything but child's play.
Athletes World
• Dodgeball has moved beyond the school gym, with adult recreational leagues and international competitions bringing new energy to the childhood favorite.
In 2024, teams from 35 countries gathered in Graz, Austria, to compete for a world championship. More than 1,300 athletes, coaches and officials attended, with teams battling for international titles.
The sport? Dodgeball.
Yes, the same game you probably remember from elementary school has become an organized international sport. At the 2024 World Dodgeball Championships, Canada captured two titles, the United States won another, and Austria swept all three cloth-ball divisions. (World Dodgeball Federation, 2024)
The sport? Dodgeball.
Yes, the same game you probably remember from elementary school has become an organized international sport. At the 2024 World Dodgeball Championships, Canada captured two titles, the United States won another, and Austria swept all three cloth-ball divisions. (World Dodgeball Federation, 2024)
