Forget about the playground game that children play at recess.

If Monday91裸聊视频檚 national team practice was any indication, the dodgeball played at this week91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚f you really pay attention to it, it91裸聊视频檚 a lot of intensity, it91裸聊视频檚 a lot of athleticism and it91裸聊视频檚 a lot of strategy,91裸聊视频� said Canadian head coach Victor Gravili.

And mention the 2004 movie 91裸聊视频淒odgeball: A True Underdog Story91裸聊视频� at your peril.

91裸聊视频淭he Dodgeball movie is like Caddyshack to golf,91裸聊视频� said Dodgeball Canada vice-president Alex Svetlovsky. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 like asking Tiger Woods about the gophers on the golf course.91裸聊视频�

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

Balls fly around at breakneck speed. Players who aren91裸聊视频檛 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 91裸聊视频攁lthough the occasional 91裸聊视频漟ace shot91裸聊视频� can sting.

Canada is a world powerhouse in the sport in both men91裸聊视频檚 and women91裸聊视频檚 play. The national men91裸聊视频檚 team won gold at last year91裸聊视频檚 world playdowns in Melbourne, Australia while the women91裸聊视频檚 side took silver.

Big things are expected again at this year91裸聊视频檚 championship starting Wednesday. The men91裸聊视频檚 team is virtually identical to last year with all eight players from Toronto or surrounding area.

The women91裸聊视频檚 side has four Toronto players with others from Elmvale, Ont., Charlottetown, Ottawa and Winnipeg. A second Canadian entry 91裸聊视频� dubbed Team Maple Leaf 91裸聊视频� 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 you91裸聊视频檙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 team91裸聊视频檚 players are all out, the opposing team gets a point. The team with the most points after 40 minutes wins.

91裸聊视频淚 think the biggest misconception is people think that it91裸聊视频檚 a bully sport that is really easy to be good at as long as you91裸聊视频檙e strong, and that91裸聊视频檚 not true,91裸聊视频� said Canadian middle player Halen Sky. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 plenty of people that have great arms but they can91裸聊视频檛 dodge at all and they can91裸聊视频檛 catch.91裸聊视频�

The sport requires more than just a 91裸聊视频済rip it and rip it91裸聊视频� approach. The faking, ball-pumping and hesitation are all critical to a team91裸聊视频檚 success.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 constant action, constant thinking, moving on your feet, lots of throwing,91裸聊视频� said Svetlovsky. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a great fun time.91裸聊视频�

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