From the early days of grade school gym class, the sight of colorful foam balls lined across the center line of the gymnasium meant just one thing — it was time for dodgeball.

At one point in time, dodgeball was a playground activity for the youth. Today it has been turned into an opportunity for students at Iowa State to live in the past.

“It’s kind of like playing at recess everyday in fifth and sixth grade,” said Zane Pennock, sophomore in civil engineering. “It takes you back, and I didn’t really do it in high school, so I do it out here I guess.”

Pennock and other students at Iowa State can thank actors Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller for the opportunity. Shortly after the movie “Dodgeball” debuted in the summer of 2004, the sport took off, and shortly thereafter it was added to the intramural collection.

“[Dodgeball] started about five years ago when the movie came out,” said ISU intramural coordinator Garry Greenlee. “Our popularity was from about 220 to 230 teams the first year, and it has remained steady.”

As one of many offerings in the intramural program, dodgeball has not only remained steady in participation for the last five years, it has been among the most popular sports played. This year, Greenlee says 240 teams signed up to play, and with five players per group, at least 1,200 students are taking their talents to the court.

What makes dodgeball so popular with students, Greenlee said, is the simplicity of the game. You either hit the opponent or get hit, and the rules are at a minimum. Greenlee said, “Anybody can throw or catch,” and at night from Sunday through Thursday at Lied Recreation Athletic Center, students do just that as they compete to be the best.

The ultimate goal, as most students will say, is to get their hands on the coveted intramural championship T-shirt. Dodgeball may be just a game, but just as it was in grade school, there is still a desire to be competitive.

“Everybody wants to know who the winner and loser is, and everybody wants to try and be the winner,” Greenlee said. “It is competitive just like the teams sports, but it’s still fun.”

James Robinson, freshman in electrical engineering, agrees with Greenlee, and sees a similar environment each night as he oversees the matches as a referee.

“It’s not too competitive,” Robinson said. “Most people come to have fun, it’s a really fun thing to do, and I have fun just refereeing it.”

As with all intramural sports offered, competition is only one reason for participation. Intramurals offer students an opportunity to take a break from the often stressful student life, and many students enjoy the many chances provided.

“It’s a nice break from studying and tests and classes,” Pennock said. “To have the multitude of different sports they have is great.”

Dodgeball is just one of many popular sports that students take part in. Greenlee says the team sports — including flag football, basketball and broomball — are the most popular. No matter what offering any student might choose, however, Greenlee believes intramurals are an essential part of the college experience.

“You can’t study 24/7,” Greenlee said. “[Intramurals are] a great way to have a stress release, and they offer socialization by playing with others. You have to do something with your free spare time. Everybody loves to play sports; this is just another way to do it.”