Goodrich – Many people remember playing dodgeball as kids’Victory World Outreach Church brings those memories back.
The church pastor, Jeff Stonerock, said he plays.
‘It’s a lot of fun, but I can’t throw the ball as fast as the high school guys can. The middle school students are also really good. They are short, agile and sometimes skinny. They can be hard to hit.?
The official ball is one that is used only to play dodgeball with.
‘The balls have a gator skin and it cuts the air really good. It doesn’t hurt because there is a Nerf ball on the inside. Even though players can throw it up to 68 miles per hour, it won’t really hurt,? said Stonerock.
Stonerock said they play using the old high school rules. He said two teams divided up by age groups, line up across from each other in the gymnasium. Double elimination tournaments are played. He said the tournament lasts about an hour and a half. If a team loses two games, they are done.
‘If someone hits you from the other team, you are out of the game. If you catch the ball your opponent throws at you, then you get one of your players back. The team with the last player in, wins,? said Stonerock.
Putting $1 into a pot at the beginning of the tournament makes things more interesting,? said Stonerock. ‘If a team wins and the pot is, say, $25, each player on the team would get $5.?
Playing dodgeball, Stonerock said, is attracting new players all of the time. ‘People usually bring a team of say, five people. Some of the girls from the Mott College softball team showed up one night,? he said.
Dodgeball is played every other Friday night from 8 to 10:30 p.m. at the Victory World Outreach gymnasium, 10291 Green Road. Details: (810) 636-2100.