Local News

Dodgeball Team Can't Dodge Local Police

CARROLLTON (CBS 11 News) ― A group of North Texas teenagers is headed to a national dodgeball competition this summer. But they're having trouble finding a place to practice.

Now the Adrenaline Rush Dodgeball Team is in trouble with the law.

Timothy Poon, Scott Strittmatter and the rest of their dodgeball team have only two months left before heading to the World Dodgeball Competition in Las Vegas.

"We can't play anywhere in Carrollton now. The cops said if they see anyone playing dodgeball, whether it's us or any other group, they would write all of them a ticket," Poon said.

One player already got a ticket for prohibited use of a public park. The group was playing dodgeball on a tennis court in Carrollton.

"We're not doing anything wrong. No one's doing drugs; no one's drinking out here. We're just having fun," he said.

"When our parks department went out to do some inspections, we found quite a bit of damage. So we warned the kids," said Sgt. Jack Adams, Carrollton Police Department. "They continually had to warn them and warn them. Eventually we had to issue a citation for them playing out there."

Carrollton police say city tennis courts are for tennis only. The sign on the court states no bikes or roller blades are allowed.

"Football fields get used for soccer and football and marching band," said Strittmatter. "Ice skating rinks get used for hockey and figure skating, why cant we use dodgeball for a tennis court?"

They've also been kicked off a court in Addison. "We want to keep em in an area where they're enjoying our city facilities, but at the same time not damaging them," said Sgt. Adams.

Carrollton police say the parks and recreation department is working quickly to find a resolution. For now the players will have to find another place to practice.

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