EASTON, Pa. — The best part of dodgeball might not be what you see, but what you hear.
It starts with the rapid-fire thud of sneakers pounding the hardwood — a chaotic blend of rubber, foam and a repetitive, near-rhythmic, start-and-stop cadence.
Then comes the signature sounds of the sport: the high-pitched squeak of shoes skidding to a halt, the friction between soles and polished floor punctuating each sudden stop.
And, finally, there’s the unmistakable "thunk" you probably remember from gym class — foam balls slamming into the ground, ricocheting off walls and occasionally finding their intended target.
Welcome to Lehigh Valley Dodgeball, which kicked off its very first open gym on a warm, humid Monday night at Easton Area Community Center.
Dodgeball enthusiast Kris DeJesus beamed as a mix of familiar faces and curious newcomers filed through the door, ready to dive into the action.
DeJesus, a new city resident (and associate director for intramural and club sports at Lafayette College), is trying to build something new in the Valley: a community-driven, inclusive dodgeball scene — no teams or leagues yet, just an open gym, some good vibes and a hope for steady growth.
'Cool place to bring something like this'
If there’s anyone up to the challenge of starting something “from the ground up,” it’s DeJesus.
His dodgeball journey began at 14, in a church gym in Dover, Delaware, where Friday night games regularly drew 30 to 50 teens.
Later, he brought dodgeball with him to college at Stevenson University in Maryland, starting a club that quickly pulled in dozens of members.
“It was just so fun, just throwing the ball at people, dodging, catching, and just meeting other people who also enjoyed a random sport,” DeJesus said.
“It's not a mainstream sport, but we all just loved the environment and just like having fun.”
No matter where life took him — Delaware, Maryland and now Pennsylvania — dodgeball has followed.
“The Lehigh Valley just seems like a really cool place to bring something like this.”Kris DeJesus, founder of Lehigh Valley Dodgeball
“I just love playing sports,” DeJesus said.
“Growing up, I played football. I was an all-conference football player in high school. I played varsity lacrosse, track and field and football. I just always stayed active.
“The Lehigh Valley just seems like a really cool place to bring something like this.”
From open gym to league play
Right now, Lehigh Valley Dodgeball holds weekly Monday night open gyms through an affiliation with Philly Dodgeball, an official LLC.
The idea is to slowly build interest — maybe hit 10 players this week, 15 next week. If momentum continues, DeJesus said, he hopes they’ll expand into a structured league by the end of the eight-week summer session, which runs until Aug. 11.
“I'm hoping today we get 10, and if we get 10 today, hopefully that means next week we have 15,” he said. “Then if we can get a consistent 20, that's when I'll start promoting more.
“We're just trying to grow our base, I think, for the first eight weeks. And if, by week eight, we get like, 30 to 40 people that have come through, we can say we're gonna start a league now where there's gonna be teams.”
That’s where things can get competitive — and if there’s anyone who knows the competitive dodgeball scene, it’s DeJesus.
In 2022, he made Team USA in the cloth dodgeball division after being scouted through a tournament.
He made the cut at a two-day combine in Denver and later competed in the World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, where his team took home the bronze medal.
“It was an intense two days at the combine," he said. "My body was falling apart, but I was like, man, it’s for real. A lot of people stay in shape for this.
“I haven't really been playing as much, but now that I'm starting this here, I've recently started getting back into it.”
Dispelling dodgeball stereotypes
DeJesus has heard the skepticism.
“That’s just a game I played in gym class,” or “I've been hit in the face.” But modern dodgeball, he insists, is different.
Gone are the days of big, red rubber balls that were more appropriate for kickball. Games are now played with foam or cloth balls that are smaller, safer and easier to handle.
“Someone will just throw it, and sometimes it hits you in the face,” he said. “But people will be like, ‘Oh.’ And then they'll be like, ‘Oh, wait. That didn’t hurt. I'm good.’”
And the culture has shifted too, as evidenced by the number of women — including Sam Sayward, who founded Philly Dodgeball — who showed up Monday night to help encourage growth of the game in the Lehigh Valley.
“We have people of so many different professions. We have doctors and PTs (physical therapists) and bartenders, along with engineers and plumbers. You look at them in their professional life, and then you see them playing dodgeball."Sam Sayward, founder of Philly Dodgeball
Sayward said Philly Dodgeball started in 2022 with 40 people and has ballooned to more than 500 players, proving the game isn’t just for former jocks.
In fact, both DeJesus and Sayward say open gyms in cities such as Philadelphia or Los Angeles now often draw more women than men, and a wide mix of athletic backgrounds.
“Dodgeball is a super accessible sport,” Sayward said. “All levels of athleticism can play, and it's just one of those sports that truly fosters community.
“We have people of so many different professions. We have doctors and PTs [physical therapists] and bartenders, along with engineers and plumbers.
"You look at them in their professional life, and then you see them playing dodgeball.
"It's just so funny, because they feel like a kid.”
Structure, strategy, and style
Dodgeball, DeJesus explains, isn’t just chaos. There’s structure.
Six players per side. A 10-second shot clock to keep the action moving. Clear rules about ball control, team balance and court movement.
“Your life is more valuable on the court than off,” he said, laughing, explaining how players need to be smart, not just aggressive.
“You don’t throw all your balls at once. You hold onto them, use them to block, create pressure.”
And yes, catching a ball gets you more than applause — it brings a teammate back into the game and eliminates the thrower.
“I’ve caught two balls at once before," he said. "The gym went crazy."
As people — some from as far away as Stroudsburg and Manayunk — ran around the community center Monday, Sayward couldn’t help but smile.
“There's not a lot of places as an adult that you can just like, go to a gym, pay $65 (for eight weeks). How much does one night cost? This is only 10 bucks. Ten bucks for two to three hours of fun.
“And honestly, you don’t need anything fancy. Just show up in some athletic shoes, athletic clothes, and you can play. Get in there.”
Learn more and get in the game:
Join the Lehigh Valley Dodgeball Facebook group by clicking on its page. Or follow them on Instagram @lvdodgeball.
Open gym every Monday through Aug. 11 at Easton Area Community Center, 901 Washington St.
Drop in/sign up is $10 each week or $65 covers the entire summer schedule.
