A Team Yellow member tries to make a dodge during a dodgeball game at the U of A Butterdome to set the Guinness World Record for the largest dodgeball game. 1,200 people played. (JASON FRANSON/QMI Agency)

The University of Alberta made history Friday when around 1,200 students, faculty and staff gathered to hurl squishy red balls at each other.

Although it will be several months before officials from the Guinness World Records verify it, organizers say the noon-hour dodgeball game in the Butterdome was the largest the world has ever seen.

The group shattered the former record of a 450-person game and easily reached its goal of attracting over 1,000 players.

“We thought it’d be a really good event that could bring the campus together,” said Nick Dehod, a spokesman with the university’s student’s union, moments before the big game started. “I’m really excited.”

The student’s union and the campus residence’s association came up with the idea for a record-breaking game after talking to students who live in Lister Hall, where they play the game regularly.

“Dodgeball is kind of in our blood,” said Kasia Leary, a fourth year education student who used to live in the residence. “I was expecting (a big turnout). We’re a pretty big campus.”

“It’s a game for everybody,” said science student Janet Le, explaining the appeal.

The players were randomly separated into teams of green and gold, representing the school’s colours. Over 400 balls were set up at the centre line while participants cheered and mascots danced around the makeshift playing field.

Grayson Gross, a grade seven student, slipped on a yellow shirt along with his dad Doug, who works for the faculty of physical therapy.

“His strategy is to hide in the back,” Doug said, smiling.

Only the most eager of the packs sprinted to the middle line when the game officially began. They retreated just as quickly and an endless stream of balls began flying through the air.

One by one, players were picked off and slunk away to stand with the spectators.

Although they were slow to start, the gold team was declared the winner in the end.

Organizers will have to submit video and photo evidence of the game, along with verification from community witnesses to Guinness before they officially receive the title.

alyssa.noel@sunmedia.ca