The NCDA Brotherhood

The NCDA is the biggest fraternity in the nation that does not use Greek letters, there is simply no other way to put it. Never have I ever played in a league where the competition is so fierce and the arguments are so explosive. However, at the end of the day, you still find yourself becoming lifelong friends with that very same competition and the very same people you argued with. It is fascinating to me. No other club sport (and quite possibly any league in the world) has so many members who want to dominate each other, but also have mutual friendships with one another.

The NCDA is as much a social league as it is a dodgeball one, and that's what makes it so special. Like a national fraternity, each team is its own chapter with their own traditions and specialties, but every team is part of the same overall organization, and recognizes each other as equals. Whether it's the well established programs like Grand Valley State, or even the brand new teams like Ohio, everyone genuinely wants to have fun and benefit one another.

The 2016 Nationals hosted by Bowling Green State University only further proved this theory.

Many of the games were close, and many more of the games had both sides giving their all. When the dust settled and the game clocks hit 0:00, every team still took time to shake each other's hands. But that is not where it ends. Even in the moments after games, it is commonplace to see teams mingling with one another. Even the teams that, only five minutes prior, wanted to smash each other's faces in with rubber balls flying 65+ mph.

Move the clock one hour ahead. You will see members from one of those opposing sides help officiate for the team that might've just beat them on the court, and will do so without any bias or judgement while officiating to the best of their ability.

Move the clock eight hours ahead. Now you see teams literally partying together in hotel rooms and courtyards. Players will share their successes, defeats, and everything in between, but ultimately everyone is having the time of their lives.

Now it's easy for me to have my own opinions on the matter, however, it might be better to hear from some representatives around the league:

"My first semester at Towson, I didn't know a soul on campus, or in the city of Towson, for that matter. With some competitive dodgeball experience in my past, you can only imagine my excitement when I learned that there was a collegiate dodgeball league and my university had an established team. With high hopes, I showed up to tryouts, prepared to do some damage. What I wasn't prepared for was the family I would make over the next few years. As I write this, I can see remnants of bruises on my arms and legs that this family has left me. In any other family, this might be cause for concern. But in the NCDA, these bruises are colorful reminders of the love we have for the sport, and each other. As I look back on my time in the league, I will always be grateful for the bruises me and my family shared."

- Chris Thomas, Towson

"When most people hear dodgeball they think, "is it like the movie?" The easy answer, of course! We are teams from all over, with the goal of winning on the court. The NCDA is a very competitive league with athletes of all shapes, sizes and different backgrounds. Beyond the game we are a family. In the past two years I have had the pleasure of meeting so many new people. These are not just people you meet one time and never talk to again, these are people you see for years down the road and become closer and closer. This past weekend I witnessed a team win their match to move on in the tournament. At first I could see the excitement, but quickly followed by a large amount sadness. They looked across the court to see the losing team with their heads down in shock. They were happy to win but also upset their close friends season was now over. So broken up that there was tears on both sides of the court. I am fairly new to the league and to see that mix of emotion shows you just how close these teams are to one another.In college, each one of us has a goal. Graduate and figure out where our place is in life. Along the way we have tests, books to read and those huge papers due before finals. Those are things we will forget. The work, the stress it will all be in the past. But dodgeball, will forever be a part of our lives. It is memories like the one above that in 20 years we will all remember witnessing. We are forever members of this large family."

- Adam Pfeifer, Akron

"When I first came to college, I didn't know a soul in the state of Kentucky. I played a lot of sports throughout my life and was looking for something to fill that emptiness in college. Dodgeball became a great way to meet new people and to forget about school for a few hours a week. Without dodgeball, I would have never met the people I consider family today. Nationals is hands down the best weekend of the year. Its the one weekend where everyone from around the league comes together to mingle, and play in those highly intense matches. On the court, there is nothing but death stares, and 8.5 inch rubber flying at your face. Off the court, it's a family bond that you wouldn't trade for the world. This league, and the relationships you make with the other players, is something that I know myself, and many others will remember and talk about for the rest of our lives."

-Zachary Parise, Kentucky

The fact that players from other schools even wanted to help me out with this just shows how deep the connections run. Every second that I have spent with this league has been beneficial to me one way or another, both on and off the court. Time spent with the family is worth every second, so I guess that makes my team, and the NCDA, my family.