I used to teach an after school program for many years before I became a teacher in the school system.
I have many 'memories' of playing dodgeball. What a fun game. We used the 8 1/2" red rubber ball or Nerf soccer balls or a combination of both. Sometimes we'd use Nerf footballs if we were running low on supplies. I liked the rubber balls because they tended to bounce off the person they hit. We had the rule that if the other team caught the ball, then the person who threw was out. The directors of the program were allowed to play, but we had to stay in the back... so we wouldn't nail somebody with the ball at close range. Or we'd throw it lighter if we were close... don't want to hurt any of the kiddies. Although there were a few 5th graders that would 'accidentally' get blasted!
Some of my best memories of dodge ball:
-- One time we were playing in the gym and it was raining outside. The gym we were playing in had a leaking roof and leaked on a small area of the floor. To be safe, we would put cones around that area so children wouldn't slip, but we'd keep playing.
Well, my method of playing was pretty sneaky. I'd target someone out of the corner of my eye and not look at them. If I wasn't looking at you.. I was aiming for you. If you were moving, I was aiming at you. Well, one time the rubber ball rolled to me, but as it came to me, it rolled thru the puddle of water. I didn't see it roll thru. Well, I had my back to the other team, picked up the ball, turned around and fired. I aimed for this kid that was on the far side of the gym. Well, sure enough I hit my target. Right in the arm. But then this kid started crying and seemed to be in pain. Didn't make sense because I was so far away and the kid was a pretty tough 4th grader. Well, then I realized that the ball was wet. A wet rubber ball makes a really nasty red mark on your arm and must sting pretty bad. I really felt bad about that one.
-- One time I was playing in a smaller gym and there were only a few people left on the other team. Like I said before, I aim for anybody moving. Well, this kid sure enough started running across the gym so I decided to light him up. What I didn't realize was that he was headed to the hallway to go to the bathroom. Well, I threw the ball and hit him right as he pushed the bar to open the door and the kid goes flying into the hallway. I was a little lucky no parents saw their kid being blasted into the hallway. There'd be a lot of explaining to do.
OK.. let me stop walking down memory lane...