From Nurse to Dodgeball Champion: Lily Nguyen’s Journey

In her role as a practice nurse at Moorebank Family Medical Centre, Lily Nguyen spends a lot of time helping her patients to lead safer, healthier lives. But when it comes to her own downtime her choice of fitness could be considered a little bit dangerous. Lily plays dodgeball at a national level and has represented her country in two world championships.

Yes, that’s right, dodgeball. That sport where the aim is to avoid the heavy balls being thrown at you by the opposition while trying to do your best to inflict as much damage as you can in the same way.

So how and why did she get involved in such an unlikely sport?

“I had a friend that needed a female player for his team which, at the time, required a minimum of two females on court. So, I gave it a try and I loved it from the very first moment,” Lily explains.

“I have been playing since at least 2014. It’s super fun, being able to hit someone without hurting them. Well, usually anyway.

“It’s competitive, it’s fast paced, and you are faced with a possible six balls flying around at all times. It’s chaotic and you need to stay alert. Being able to intimidate your opponents with just intent was a small quirk of the sport that really drew me in when I had no experience.

“But there’s so much skill involved that can be improved upon, from an individual and a team perspective. It also requires individual skills such as focus, throwing, catching and fitness, which really helps but doesn’t necessarily define whether you can play or not. That means it is also great for newcomers.  

“There are also teamwork skills, including synergy, roles and strategy. I could really go on and on about it.”

Teams consist of six a side with several substitutes, depending on the competition as rules can vary. There is a captain and the positions on court are two on the wings, two in the centre and two support players.

Most Australian social competitions are mixed division, and the state tournaments also have separate women’s and men’s divisions.

Lily said the game can get “very physically demanding” with all the movement up and down the court, dodging, jumping and throwing.

“It’s particularly tough in a one-versus-six situation where you are the last surviving player on your side, and you still have the whole other team alive. It can get rough if you get hit in the face, which is legal, or if you jar your fingers. Most injuries are usually from dodging, where you throw yourself out of the way of an incoming ball and your knees or ankles take the brunt of the force.”

Lily started trialling for the Australian team in 2017 and finally got selected in 2022.

“I have represented my country twice in the mixed foam division in Canada in 2022 and Austria in 2024 where there were more than 30 countries competing and more than 100 teams,” she said.

Australia’s current global ranking is fourth, with teams gaining silver or bronze nine times since 2014. International competition is tough and, Lily says, getting tougher every day. “The USA, Canada and Malaysia consistently place top four and have really great throws,” she said.

However, the sport’s popularity is increasing in Australia. Last year Sydney hosted one of the largest social international competitions, known as the Asia Pacific Invitational, which attracted 112 teams from 10 countries.

And what does Lily’s family think about her involvement in this potentially dangerous pastime?

“My sister and her family came to watch some of my games at the most recent world championship which was very exciting, and they enjoyed it thoroughly,” she said.

“I think I’ve been playing so long that most of my friends are from dodgeball, and they obviously love it too. I met my partner though dodgeball and he can throw a ball at 130km/h consistently. So even though I may be the better overall player that is pretty scary for anyone on the opposing side.”