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📣 Announcing The Thing 2026 – April 18 & 19The premier dodgeball championship in North America is back for year five! The top teams women’s and Open division teams from the USA and Canada will be coming together to compete for the most prestigious trophy in North America. This two day tournament will take place on April 18 & 19, 2026 at the Academy Sports Center, north of Seattle.
Event Details:
Day 1: Saturday, April 18th – Round Robin, 8am-7pm
Day 2: Sunday, April 19th – Knockout & Placement Matches, 9am-6pm
Location: Academy Sports Center
Address: 2810 Lincoln Way, Lynnwood, WA 98087 (20min north of Seattle)
Registration Deadline: January 9th, 2026
Registration Cost: $450 USD
🏠 The Venue
We are so proud to host The Thing at the best dodgeball venue in the Northwest. The Academy Sports Center is a state of the art volleyball training facility with six full-size WDBF courts, lighting optimized for athletic competition, and vaulted ceilings to give even more room for incredible play.
📝 Tournament Format
Rules: WDBF Rules
Ball Type: 7″ Foam
Women’s Divsion: 12 teams, 6 American & 6 Canadian
Men’s Division: 12 teams, 6 American & 6 Canadian
Round Robin: 22min Matches, each team will play eight RR matches
Knockout Bracket: 40min Matches, Single Elimination + Placement matches.
Placement Matches: There are placement matches for every team that gets knocked out of the championship bracket. Matches to award 3rd, 5th, 7th, etc. Please be prepared to play 2-3 matches on Sunday regardless of your final placement.
Reffereeing: Teams will be given reffing assignments. Teams are required to provide four referees for each of their reffing assignments. During the playoffs, there will be experienced volunteer refs to support reffing assignments.
✉️ Team Eligibility:
Club Teams. The Thing is a club team championship. We invite the top club teams that compete together regularly throughout the year in the USA Premier Tour or the Canadian Provincial & Club Championships.
Nationality. Only Canadian teams are eligible for CAN invites. Only American teams are eligible for USA invites. The nationality of a team is determined on where the majority of their rostered players live.
Roster Requirements. Final rosters at The Thing must contain at least four members of the club roster from the qualifying event.
Declining Invite. If your team does not meet each of the above eligibility criteria, please contact our organizers immediately. We may also ask that you decline your invitation.
Want to know more about invites, elgiblity, and qualifying critera? Follow this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FocOaXXcgxAUcxIusJg6tSeza0L4Z3ZKaomcNidyjR0/edit?usp=sharing
Questions or Comments:
Reach out if you have any questions!
Email: [email protected]
- Lucas Boyle
2025 Tournament Director
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Academy Sports Center, 2810 Lincoln Way, Lynnwood, WA 98087-5620, United States
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