University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: April 6, 2006

By KEVIN FRYLING
Reporter Contributor

Just a couple of years ago, "dodgeball" for most people meant little more than memories of grade-school gym class—a game falling out of practice as fast as a playground ball aimed at an unsuspecting target.

The childhood game of dodgeball is enjoying a resurgence at UB. This semester, 448 students are playing on 56 teams, among them these students involved in a game on a recent Saturday evening.
PHOTO: NANCY J. PARISI

But that's no longer the case. Dodgeball—with all the excitement and fun it offers—has seen a dramatic resurgence in recent years, and UB was not picked last when it came to recognizing the trend.

Dodgeball first was offered on campus as a pilot project during Funfest in February 2004, recalls Ed Wright, assistant director of recreational and intramural services in the Division of Athletics. Twenty teams signed up to play.

Since then, student response to the game has been strong, Wright says, noting that 350 students signed up to play on 40 teams when the game was introduced as an intramural sport in spring 2005. Involvement has grown to 448 students on 56 teams this semester, he says.

The exact reasons behind the game's surprise turnaround are unknown, but staff and students alike have their opinions.

Wright suggests one reason is the fact that dodgeball today has developed a more carefree spirit than the game of one's childhood. Those hard rubber balls of the past? Now the projectiles are foam. And the focus is on fun, not winning, he says.

During the college years, students spend a great deal of time competing, Wright notes. "Students are competing in classes...for parking spots," even in their social lives, he says. "Dodgeball lets you just have some fun out there and enjoy and laugh at yourself.

"In this complex world, there is something appealing about the simplicity of the game," he says, adding that it's a great stress reliever for students.

And indeed dodgeball is a simple game. Teams meet Wednesdays and Saturdays in Clark Hall on the South Campus and pair up in a best-of-five series. Each game runs 10 minutes. Get hit below the shoulders and you're out. Catch a thrown ball and the other player leaves the court. There's not much else to know.

"It's a sport where you don't have to be super-athletic or have played it before to play," says Nick Snopkowski, a junior psychology/communication major who, as head official of dodgeball, oversees every game and serves as a referee.

"People are there just to have fun and look ridiculous."

Moreover, many students feel dodgeball is "less intimidating" than some other sports, he adds.

Snopkowski speculates the popular movie "Dodgeball," starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn, increased interest in the game as well. "There were a lot of requests from the student body (for the game) because the movie had just come out," he says.

"I believe the film triggered fond memories for many individuals who played the game in elementary school," Wright adds.

But the movie is only part of the equation. Released in July 2004, "Dodgeball" came to theaters a full four months after the pilot Funfest event.

The film was just "icing on the cake," says Chris Biondolillo, a senior majoring in Spanish and history who says he first played dodgeball in middle school and participated for years on an unofficial team with friends at UB. He joined his first intramural team this semester after returning from a semester abroad in Havana.

Biondolillo says his athletic interests include tag football with friends and a form of Brazilian martial arts known as capoeira. But, he says, "Dodgeball is my favorite sport."

Snopkowski says the average 6- to 10-person team is made up of a group of friends. Other teams are composed of students who share a residence hall or are members of a Greek organization. Players range from freshman to seniors.

"Dodgeball appeals to students across the board," Wright says.

Gabriella D'Angelo, a senior architecture student who has participated in both intramural and club soccer, says this is the first year she has played intramural dodgeball. Most of the members of her team are architecture majors, she says, noting that an element of childhood nostalgia often attracts students to the game.

She says dodgeball has seen a "real-life revival" as a sport since the movie's release in 2004. "I remember seeing it on ESPN when I was flicking through channels," she says. "That's intense."

The regulation volleyball court in Clark has been outfitted with large nets to divide the playing space for dodgeball. Most of the time there are three games going at once.

"It's a pretty exciting environment," Wright says.

Dodgeball is but one of a number of intramural sports offered at UB, Wright says, noting there are 80 intramural basketball teams, 70 volleyball teams and 60 indoor soccer teams, plus smaller numbers of roller hockey and floor hockey teams.

"Intramurals have certainly become a way of life here at the university," he says.