We apologize to those who have assembled teams for the event.  Any team that has already submitted [...]]]> Unfortunately, due to low team signups and other factors, we have decided to postpone our tournament.  At this point, we are unsure as to when the tournament will take place, but it is dependent upon sponsorships and other support.

We apologize to those who have assembled teams for the event.  Any team that has already submitted a registration will have it returned very shortly.  Call 574-849-7732 if you have any questions.

We still believe in this event, and it is very likely we will regroup and “get it together” in the future.  Many thanks to those who have supported the concept.

MANY MANY thanks to WZOW for helping us to promote the Dodgeball Spectacle.

Music provided by AutoVaughn. Check out their music at their website and buy it on iTunes.

Transcript Hi all, and welcome to the [...]]]> Here it is, Episode one of the podcast about the Lions Dodgeball Spectacle.  Soon to be available on iTunes, but you can listen right here or plug the following feed into your favorite podcatcher.  http://feeds.feedburner.com/lionsdodgeball

Music provided by AutoVaughn. Check out their music at their website and buy it on iTunes.

Transcript
Hi all, and welcome to the first episode of the Lions Dodgeball Podcast. This is the official podcast of the upcoming Lions Dodgeball Spectacle, and if you found this podcast via the website then you know something about that. If not, check out the website at www.lionsdodgeball.com.

This podcast is to keep you updated on what’s happening with the tournament. We’re still developing some of the specifics, so things are a little bit in flux right now, but we KNOW this is going to be a great event.

Here’s the basic information.

1. The Lions Dodgeball Spectacle is a co-ed tournament for amateur players 18 and up. So, all teams have to have at least three women, and they have to start each match.
2. It’s going to be on April 10, 2010, in Elkhart, Indiana. More about that later.
3. We’re an NADA Sanctioned tournament so we play by NADA rules, which means
1. You have ten players on a team, but only six on the floor at a time.
2. Games will run a maximum of three minutes each, and each match is a best two our of three
4. We’ll have no more than 32 teams, with preliminary round-robin matches in the morning and the final brackets in the afternoon.
5. ANYbody can play, as long as you’re 18 years old or over. The registration form, also at lionsdodgeball.com, gives you some more details, sign-offs, etc.

It’s all happening at Elkhart’s North Side Gym, which is a great facility for dodgeball players AND spectators. So if you’re not a player, come to Elkhart anyway, for a day of dodgeball action. Elkhart is right on the northern edge of Indiana, just a little east of South Bend, along interstate 90. and North Side is about 4 minutes south of the Elkhart Exit. You just go south on State Road 19 and you run right into it.

We’re just getting the Lions Dodgeball Spectacle off the ground and we’re still pulling in sponsors and partners to help us out, but we do know that the winning team will get a cash prize of between five hundred and a thousand dollars, and there will be other prizes as well, plus the winning team will be automatically registered in NADA’s Summer nationals We’re also putting together a bracket draw media event and party sometime in late March so we can build the excitement right up to the first beginning Rush.

Ok the entry fee for each team is $175, BUT, if you register your team before January first, you get the $25 early bird discount. Think about that. For a ten person team, that’s fifteen bucks a player. And, if you can get a favorite bar or restaurant to sponsor your team with t-shirts and entry fee, hey, that’s cheap advertising and it won’t cost your players a dime.

Oh yeah, here’s another good reason to play in or come and watch the Lions Dodgeball Spectacle: because all the proceeds support Lions Clubs’ service projects. So while you’re power-slamming your opponents or cheering your favorite team, you’ll also be helping to eradicate diseases like River Blindness, providing eyeglasses to those who can’t afford them, and even supporting leader dogs for the blind. Around the world, Lions is all about helping the visually impaired. So not only is the Dodgeball Spectacle a great event and a great game, it’s a great cause.

Keep watching the website and future episodes of this podcast for more news about the Dodgeball Spectacle. You can also contact me, Dave Dufour via the website with questions or comments, and we’ll try to use them in the next episode.

That’s all for now. We’re going to go out on this great tune from the Official Band of Lions Dodgeball Spectacle, AUTOVAUGHN, who have kindly let us use their music in the podcast. If you don’t know this band, you should — check them out on iTunes.

For the Lions Dodgeball Spectacle, I’m Dave Dufour. See you later.

North Side Gym was the nation’s largest high school gymnasium when it was built in the late 50s.  Over the years it saw plenty of Hoosier Hysteria as Elkhart captured a good share of state basketball championships.  In the early days of professional wrestling, [...]]]>

North Side Gym, Elkhart -- Site of the Lions Dodgeball Spectacle

North Side Gym was the nation’s largest high school gymnasium when it was built in the late 50s.  Over the years it saw plenty of Hoosier Hysteria as Elkhart captured a good share of state basketball championships.  In the early days of professional wrestling, big names like Dick the Bruiser were regulars here, along with the Harlem Globetrotters and numerous big-name rock bands.

Next April, North Side will host its first-ever midwest dodgeball tournament — the Lions Dodgeball Spectacle.  Up to 32 co-ed teams will compete for cash prizes, registration in the NADA adult nationals and of course, GLORY!

We will be uploading registration forms and other info just as soon as our legal-eagle gives us the OK.  Here are a few details to help your planning.

Registration is $150.00 per team of up to 10 (ten) players if you register before January 1, 2010.  After that, it’s $175.00 — still a good deal and under $20/player. There are only 32 slots in the bracket, so it’s best to register early.

This is an NADA sanctioned tournament, and we’ll play by NADA rules.  It’s also co-ed.  All teams must have three female players who START.  You can have up to ten players on the team for substitutions, but only six play at a time.  More rules and info can be found at the NADA website. Players must be at least 18 years old and be able to prove it with picture ID on tournament day (we’ll be checking).  There will be a captains’ meeting the night before the tournament to review rules, regs and procedures (it’ll be a fun time too.)

One more thing:  There is room for oodles of spectators in this facility.  If you’re a player, bring your friends, bring your neighbors, bring the whole dang family and make a day of it!

All proceeds from Lions Dodgeball Spectacle will help Elkhart Lions and Lions International’s work to help the blind and visually impaired around the world. So not only is it a great event, it’s a great cause, too.

More news to come — practice up and stay tuned!

Watch for more news.