Elementary school flashbacks aside, dodgeball a growing adult sport
Upwards of 300 athletes are in London, Ont. this weekend for a major tournament.
But the visitors are not here for any sport you might be expecting, including hockey or figure skating — they are taking part in the Forest City Invitational Dodgeball Tournament.
The adult competitors, from across Ontario, collectively enjoy a sport, and most were happy to leave behind in elementary school.
Joey Poitras admitted, as a child, he did not love dodgeball.
“Not at all,” the 17-year player from St. Catharines, Ont. confirmed when asked by CTV News London.
But as an adult, Joey said it is a different story.
“I’m not the smallest kid in class anymore,” he said. “It is now redemption.”
Players at the Forest City Invitational Dodgeball Tournament are seen in London, Ont. on Jan. 28, 2023. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
Michelle Dermott, of Milton, Ont. has been playing dodgeball for eight years.
“I remember dodging a lot in elementary school and just trying to survive,” she recalled with a chuckle.
But now, as a seasoned pro in the sport, she’s a threat on the court.
“Yes, my throw has definitely developed as I’ve been playing for a while, and I feel very confident in my throws now,” she explained.
The basic rules of a modern dodgeball game expand on what you may recall from school. There are 12 players and six balls.
Players at the Forest City Invitational Dodgeball Tournament are seen in London, Ont. on Jan. 28, 2023. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
“If you hit the person anywhere on the body, they are out. And if you hit the ball, and the other person catches it, they bring in a player,” explained Steve Hickson, a Londoner and Dodgeball Ontario executive.
And while it looks like getting smacked by a ball might hurt, injuries from running are far more common. After all, Hickson confirms the rubber balls from your gym class are long gone.
“So if it hits you, it doesn’t hurt. Because a lot of us have full-time jobs and we don’t want to come out and get hurt,” Hickson said.
And after a three-year-long tournament pause for COVID-19, all are simply happy to be able to play, bruises or not.
“It’s great physical activity. Great team sport. Good at taking out your aggression, for sure," said Poitras.
The tournament is taking place at Mother Theresa Catholic School in north London through Sunday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Spain abolishes national bullfighting award in cultural shift
Spain scrapped an annual bullfighting award on Friday, prompting a rebuke from conservatives over a backlash against a centuries-old tradition they see as an art form but which has run into growing concern for animal welfare.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.