Activity Focus: Dodgeball

This week we spoke with Erin Berube (ErinB), the Supervising Producer of XWeighted.com, about her love of dodgeball.

How long have you been playing and what do you like about it?

I have played dodgeball in a rec league for 2 seasons(about 6 months).Our team just folded,so I’m on the hunt for a new team. I absolutely love dodgeball- I think it’s the most fun I’ve ever had exercising.

I like that it’s easy and relatively non-competitive while still being a good work out. I love team sports but I didn’t play many growing up, so I’m drawn to things that no-one really knows how to do!

Is it an easy activity to start?

Yes it’s easy to start playing dodgeball. I think the biggest thing I had to get over was the fear of pain. But the balls are foam (not rubber- like I recall from my childhood) and getting hit with the ball doesn’t hurt. Unless you  take it in the face... which luckily has not happened to me.  

Do you need to have a basic level of fitness?

People with a varying levels of fitness can play dodgeball. The fitter you are- the more you can participate. If you’re not as fit, you can take lots of breaks until you build up your cardio. It can be a great workout if you want.  

You only need to know how to throw, catch and dodge. And if you can’t catch or throw, you’d better just be a good dodger.

What equipment do you need?

You just need work out clothes - nothing else. If you are playing in a league, they provide the balls and pylons. If you are just playing pick-up, I guess you’d need the ball and a line. A few teams in my league would dress up for theme weeks. It was funny- but not necessary.

How expensive is it to do this activity?

To play on a league is about $60/season in Vancouver (assuming you have a team of approx 10 people). You play about 12 games per season so it’s only about $5 per game. Definitely worth it.

What kind of a workout does it give you?

I would say it’s primarily a cardio workout. However, it’s also a great workout for your legs and your throwing arm. I was pretty sore the first few games. It’s a lot of sprinting and back and forth movements.