When's the last time you pondered playing dodgeball or even heard the word? In grade school, perhaps?

Maybe Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn's slapstick comedy flick of the same name reminded you of the sport when it was released in 2004. But for most, the reference to dodgeball is reserved for distant memories of something they played waaaaay back in the day on a schoolyard - during childhood.

Well, no more.

Thanks to a dodge ball tournament hosted by the Fauntleroy YMCA last year, the sport has been revived and has stepped up the age bracket to full on adults (in fact, participants must be 16 or over to play).

"After the tournament people were excited about it and really wanted to play on a weekly basis," says community programs and membership director and player Angie Hopkins. "We started a dodgeball pick-up night in October, and it's been going strong ever since."

On Thursday nights dodgeballers age 16 to 50 plus - both guys and gals adorned in gym shoes, shorts, ripped tanks and an occasional sweatband or two - gather in the gym at 7:30 p.m. to stretch and warm up for a night of throwing and dodging the four-colored spheres.

By 7:45 the music begins with tracks like Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll" to get you in the mood. You know the one, it goes something like this: "Ba na na na... Hey! Ba na na."

Then, it's game time.

And in case you don't remember the in and outs of dodgeball, here's how it works. Six balls are placed in a line at the center of the gym. Each team of six or seven players gathers along the back wall of the gym's opposing ends and waits for the whistle. When the whistle blows, both teams bound toward the center, and whoever reaches a ball first will pick it up and begin trying to tag out opponents. The first team to tag out all the members of the opposing team wins. The rules are also posted if you're a little rusty, but it's amazing how quickly the raw, competitive nature of this sport comes back.

"Playing dodgeball brings back all kinds of feelings from school days," says avid player and Fox Sports graphic animator Charlie Ganong. "This game really activates your fight or flight mechanism."

Once you get the hang of it, you can start scheming ways to improve your game.

"Strategy-wise, you want to aim low," advises teen player Hayden Prosser. "Because head shots don't count and if you throw it too close to the mid-section opponents can catch it easily."

But in addition to the strategy, many enjoy dodgeball because of the physical benefits.

"If you're tired of running on a treadmill for example, dodgeball's a great way to get you out and play," says Hayden's father Mike Prosser. "It's such good exercise having the same principals as racket ball - a lot of sprinting and stopping."

Though many players take the game fairly seriously, don't let that intimidate you. The Prossers promise they won't pick on anyone who's new.

So if revisiting schoolyard fun while getting a great workout sounds like it's up your alley, join the dodgeball crew at the Y and get throwing!

(Information Box)

What:

Dodgeball at the Fauntleroy Y

Where:

Fauntleroy YMCA

9260 California Ave. SW

937.1000

www.seattleymca.org

When:

Thursdays nights from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Price:

Free to Y members

$5 for non-members (but an annual $15 program fee may apply)

Or, buy a $15 dollar punch card for 4 visits and save $5

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