For $26, today's side deal gets you an eight-week dodgeball season and T-shirt (a $52 value) from AZ Dodgeball in Peoria, a Best of Phoenix event. The season begins March 10 and your team will meet every Wednesday night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Each team will be composed of about six to ten dodgers and chuckers, and while you won't need to sign up an entire team (the league will form the teams), you're more than welcome to invite friends to sign up with you. As with the dodgeball you played during elementary school recess, every player must be at least 18 years old.

The sport of dodgeball (which Brazilians refer to as "the beautiful but somewhat silly game") is about more than just dodging plush balls. It also involves throwing balls at other people and occasionally catching thrown balls. And that's pretty much it. This delightfully chaotic simplicity makes dodgeball a fun, addictive game that absolutely anyone can play. The camaraderie of teamwork and nostalgic schoolyard heroics might even distract you from the fact that you're getting some decent exercise. Ignite your competitive spirit and non-super athletic-ness for two hours every week and finally put your sweatband collection to its proper use with today's Groupon.

Reviews

AZ Dodgeball is a Best of Phoenix 2007 gig, as reported by Phoenix New Times writer Megan Irwin:

• In case you were wondering: Yes, it's exactly like you remember from childhood. Two teams throw balls at each other until only one person is left standing. The best part, according to Pewitt, is that anyone can play. This is one sport where you don't really have to be a super-athlete to have fun.

Jimmy Magahern with Times Publications writes:

• Call it a recess from the recession, an escape from the mounting worries of adulthood – layoffs, foreclosures, a plummeting stock market – by returning to the schoolyard sports of more carefree days.