I joined the Vancouver Dodgeball League this past Spring.
First, I should tell you that I have always had a fear of balls. Sport balls.
Two years ago, I decided to get over that fear of balls and took up Tennis. I really enjoyed it and still play (poorly, but play nevertheless).
Last year, I took up Volleyball with a group of my girlfriends. That was fun, but I never really got good enough to enjoy it completely. I think it will take more practice.
As I stated to my boss earlier this week, I probably would be very good at athletic sports, had my parents placed me in more Sporting teams as a child because I have that innate competitive spirit and endurance. However, I was placed in Piano lessons & Music history/theory for 13 years and Kumon (Math) classes instead. How stereotypically Asian (by the way, I am terrible at math!).
Anyway, back to balls.
I am now at the point where I can enjoy Dodgeball. I am not a good thrower, but here are some tips for girls like me who still want to play dodgeball:
1) Learn how to catch. This is a VERY important skill that not everyone can do. Do not be scared of the ball, even when it's flying straight at you, hard. You must catch the ball. If it comes remotely close towards you, lean into it, catch it against your upper chest (lower kinda hurts) and wrap your arms around those balls! Try to keep your upper body straight so that the ball does not hit your chest and fall off a slouched body (you're out if the ball hits your body and you don't catch it).
2) Ladies- Try to collect all balls and keep them in your zone. While the boys are throwing, continue dodging balls, catching them and keeping them in the zone. Roll them over to the throwers or hand them to the boys as they are busy zeroing into the other team & analyzing who else they will hit. Be the provider of balls and own it.
3) Act as a Shield. Be the sacrificial Lamb. If there are only a few of you left, this is especially the time to take on this role. You need to keep the throwers and stronger players on the floor, so shield the good players as much as possible and get hit instead so that they can continue to play and knock the other team off. Do that while catching balls.
4) ShowDown: If you find yourself in a ShowDown position (you are the last team member standing against the other team's last man standing), the best tip I received - and used to victory- is to allow the other person to throw the first ball. Dodge that ball. Once they've let go of that ball, RUSH THEM with your two balls. Even though I missed with my first two balls, my competitor also missed me twice, allowing us to go again. I was able to get him with my third ball when I rushed him with it and he was trying to run backwards.
5) Always try to catch people off-guard- when they're running backwards, throwing at someone else, not watching....
That said, I'm still not the best player, but I AM having a lot more fun than the first day when I got smoked in the head!
And no, I have not had to avoid wrenches yet.
First, I should tell you that I have always had a fear of balls. Sport balls.
Two years ago, I decided to get over that fear of balls and took up Tennis. I really enjoyed it and still play (poorly, but play nevertheless).
Last year, I took up Volleyball with a group of my girlfriends. That was fun, but I never really got good enough to enjoy it completely. I think it will take more practice.
As I stated to my boss earlier this week, I probably would be very good at athletic sports, had my parents placed me in more Sporting teams as a child because I have that innate competitive spirit and endurance. However, I was placed in Piano lessons & Music history/theory for 13 years and Kumon (Math) classes instead. How stereotypically Asian (by the way, I am terrible at math!).
Anyway, back to balls.
I am now at the point where I can enjoy Dodgeball. I am not a good thrower, but here are some tips for girls like me who still want to play dodgeball:
1) Learn how to catch. This is a VERY important skill that not everyone can do. Do not be scared of the ball, even when it's flying straight at you, hard. You must catch the ball. If it comes remotely close towards you, lean into it, catch it against your upper chest (lower kinda hurts) and wrap your arms around those balls! Try to keep your upper body straight so that the ball does not hit your chest and fall off a slouched body (you're out if the ball hits your body and you don't catch it).
2) Ladies- Try to collect all balls and keep them in your zone. While the boys are throwing, continue dodging balls, catching them and keeping them in the zone. Roll them over to the throwers or hand them to the boys as they are busy zeroing into the other team & analyzing who else they will hit. Be the provider of balls and own it.
3) Act as a Shield. Be the sacrificial Lamb. If there are only a few of you left, this is especially the time to take on this role. You need to keep the throwers and stronger players on the floor, so shield the good players as much as possible and get hit instead so that they can continue to play and knock the other team off. Do that while catching balls.
4) ShowDown: If you find yourself in a ShowDown position (you are the last team member standing against the other team's last man standing), the best tip I received - and used to victory- is to allow the other person to throw the first ball. Dodge that ball. Once they've let go of that ball, RUSH THEM with your two balls. Even though I missed with my first two balls, my competitor also missed me twice, allowing us to go again. I was able to get him with my third ball when I rushed him with it and he was trying to run backwards.
5) Always try to catch people off-guard- when they're running backwards, throwing at someone else, not watching....
That said, I'm still not the best player, but I AM having a lot more fun than the first day when I got smoked in the head!
And no, I have not had to avoid wrenches yet.
