United Kingdom DodgeBall Association facts for kids
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| Sport | Dodge Ball |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | United Kingdom |
| Abbreviation | UKDBA |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Affiliation | EDBF |
| Headquarters | Stevenage, United Kingdom |
| President | Mo Islam |
| Official website | |
The United Kingdom DodgeBall Association (UKDBA) was a main organization for the sport of Dodge Ball in the UK. It was started in 2005 by Mo Islam. The UKDBA was based in Stevenage, United Kingdom.
This association was recognized by Sport England as the official national group for dodgeball in the UK until 2018.
Contents
Dodgeball Leagues in the UK
Premier League History
The Premier League is the top league for dodgeball teams in the UK. It began in 2010.
- First Season (2010): Six of the best teams in the UK played for six weeks. The Jammy Dodgers won the first title. They beat teams like Warwick Warriors and Leicester City Ligers.
- Second Season (2011): The league grew to eight teams. Bedford Bulls, a newly promoted team, won the championship in an exciting final week.
- Third Season (2012-2013): Derby Seahawks took the title. They won 11 out of their 14 matches during the five-week season.
- Fourth Season (2013-2014): The league expanded again to 10 teams. The Meteors won the title by a very small difference in the last week.
- Fifth Season (2014-2015): This season was also very close. Bedford Mighty Eagles, a new team, won the title. The Meteors finished second, just two points behind.
National League Overview
The National League is the second level of UK dodgeball. Teams from this league can move up to the Premier League each year.
- First Season (2010-2011): Teams outside the Premier League were split into four regional groups. Teams were ranked by how well they did in tournaments. The top two teams from each group went to the play-offs. Bedford Bulls and Meteors earned promotion.
- Second Season (2011-2012): The league changed its setup. An eight-team Division 1 was created. Division 2 was also set up with four groups for university and club teams. Reepham Raiders won the Division 1 title and moved up. Imperial Wolverines also got promoted. In Division 2, Bullet Dodgers won the play-offs and moved up with Winchester Bullets.
- Third Season (2012-2013): Fellows Appreciation Society won the Division 1 title. Bullet Dodgers also got promoted. Balls of Steel returned to the Premier League after winning a special play-off game. Fellows Appreciation Society let their club mates, Dirty Ducks, take their spot in the Premier League. Bedford Mighty Eagles won the Division 2 play-offs. All teams that reached the play-offs were promoted because the league was changing.
- Fourth Season (2013-2014): The National League was reorganized. Division 1 and 2 were split into three regional groups of five teams: North, South West, and South East.
- In Division 1, the top two teams from each group played for two spots in the Premier League. The bottom two teams from each group played to avoid being moved down to Division 2.
- In Division 2, the top two teams from each group played for three spots in Division 1. The bottom two teams from each group played to avoid being moved out of the league entirely.
University Dodgeball Leagues
There is a University Premier League for top university teams. There is also a University League 1, which is divided into North and South regions.
Women's Premier League
The Women's Premier League started in 2013. The six best women's teams in the UK played for five weeks.
- Bedford Mighty Eagles won the title with a week left to play. They competed against teams like Leicester City Ligeresses and Southampton Dodgettes.
Local Dodgeball Leagues
- Leicester League: This is a local league in Leicestershire. It includes teams such as Bullet Dodgers, Leicester City Ligers, and Hinckley Dodgeball Club.
- Social & Fun League: This league is run in London by an organization called GoMammoth. It focuses on fun and social play.
Women's Dodgeball Growth
Just like men's dodgeball, women's dodgeball has its own leagues. In the two years that the UKDBA was the main governing body, 12 new women's teams were formed in the United Kingdom. Dodgeball has become a very popular sport in universities across the UK for women.
