Dodgeball: A booming discipline in Burkina Faso

A team sport that is gaining ground

Dodgeball, a discipline that is still relatively unknown in Burkina Faso, is beginning to make its mark among the country’s sporting activities. This game, in which two teams of six players compete to eliminate their opponents while avoiding being hit, is often compared to recreational variants such as dodgeball.

To better understand the establishment of this sport in the land of honest men , Sport News Africa spoke with Aminata Paré, president of the Burkinabe Dodgeball Association.

An inclusive sport accessible to all

According to Aminata Paré, dodgeball is open to all ages. “Whether you are 8 or 80, you can play it,” she emphasizes, stressing that the sport promotes team spirit and social cohesion.

A modest but promising beginning

Currently, dodgeball in Burkina Faso is in its infancy:

• Three clubs are already active.
• Efforts are focused on training members and technical teams to lay a solid foundation for the discipline.

However, the lack of knowledge of this sport in the country is holding back its development. “There is a certain resistance, because few people still know about dodgeball,” admits Aminata Paré.

Support in search of expansion

• Available grounds : Training takes place in Bobo-Dioulasso , on the Belle-ville university campus. However, no dedicated grounds are yet available in Ouagadougou , although steps are underway to remedy this.
• Official recognition : Documents have been submitted to the Burkinabe authorities to obtain official recognition of the discipline.

A look into the future

The Burkinabe Dodgeball Association has great ambitions:

• Participate in the African Nations Dodgeball Championship (CAN) scheduled for October 2025 in Ivory Coast.
• Develop more clubs across the country.

A sport that carries values

Beyond physical activity, Aminata Paré highlights the benefits of dodgeball:

• Creation of social cohesion .
• Promoting the culture of peace .
• Strengthening team spirit .

A call to join the dodgeball community

The President appeals to the people of Burkina Faso to discover and adopt this discipline, which combines entertainment, physical effort, and human values. She takes the opportunity to salute the Ivorian Dodgeball Federation , which provides valuable support to the emergence of the sport in Burkina Faso.

Dodgeball is shaping up to be a sport to watch, uniting young and old alike through a spirit of camaraderie and healthy competition.