Forget about the playground game that children play at recess.

If MondayB次元官网网址檚 national team practice was any indication, the dodgeball played at this weekB次元官网网址檚 world championships at the Pan Am Centre in Markham, Ont., will be a wild, eye-darting experience.

The sport is a mix of power and deception combined with agility, defence and co-ordination.

B次元官网网址淚f you really pay attention to it, itB次元官网网址檚 a lot of intensity, itB次元官网网址檚 a lot of athleticism and itB次元官网网址檚 a lot of strategy,B次元官网网址� said Canadian head coach Victor Gravili.

And mention the 2004 movie B次元官网网址淒odgeball: A True Underdog StoryB次元官网网址� at your peril.

B次元官网网址淭he Dodgeball movie is like Caddyshack to golf,B次元官网网址� said Dodgeball Canada vice-president Alex Svetlovsky. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like asking Tiger Woods about the gophers on the golf course.B次元官网网址�

For the uninitiated, live dodgeball is like the sporting equivalent of a multi-ball pinball game.

Balls fly around at breakneck speed. Players who arenB次元官网网址檛 whipping balls are faking throws or doing their damnedest to get out of the way.

The ball itself weighs 140 grams, is seven inches in diameter, easy to grip and is soft and cushiony. The sound upon contact is much worse than the pain, which is minimal B次元官网网址攁lthough the occasional B次元官网网址漟ace shotB次元官网网址� can sting.

Canada is a world powerhouse in the sport in both menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 play. The national menB次元官网网址檚 team won gold at last yearB次元官网网址檚 world playdowns in Melbourne, Australia while the womenB次元官网网址檚 side took silver.

Big things are expected again at this yearB次元官网网址檚 championship starting Wednesday. The menB次元官网网址檚 team is virtually identical to last year with all eight players from Toronto or surrounding area.

The womenB次元官网网址檚 side has four Toronto players with others from Elmvale, Ont., Charlottetown, Ottawa and Winnipeg. A second Canadian entry B次元官网网址� dubbed Team Maple Leaf B次元官网网址� has been added to both eight-team fields as a replacement for Pakistan, a late pullout due to visa issues.

The basics are fairly simple. In a broad stroke: get hit and youB次元官网网址檙e out. Catch a ball and the thrower is out and one of your teammates returns to the floor.

Six players per team and six balls on the floor. When a teamB次元官网网址檚 players are all out, the opposing team gets a point. The team with the most points after 40 minutes wins.

B次元官网网址淚 think the biggest misconception is people think that itB次元官网网址檚 a bully sport that is really easy to be good at as long as youB次元官网网址檙e strong, and thatB次元官网网址檚 not true,B次元官网网址� said Canadian middle player Halen Sky. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 plenty of people that have great arms but they canB次元官网网址檛 dodge at all and they canB次元官网网址檛 catch.B次元官网网址�

The sport requires more than just a B次元官网网址済rip it and rip itB次元官网网址� approach. The faking, ball-pumping and hesitation are all critical to a teamB次元官网网址檚 success.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 constant action, constant thinking, moving on your feet, lots of throwing,B次元官网网址� said Svetlovsky. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great fun time.B次元官网网址�

Many players started in local leagues and worked their way up to the elite level. Malaysia, the host of the first world championship in 2012, is also expected to contend.

The playoffs begin Friday and the finals are set for Saturday.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press