The Dodgeball Incident

The Dodgeball Incident was an event that happened to Edd in the past. This event was first referenced in the episode "Ed in a Halfshell." The incident is not seen in the series, but according to Edd he seemed to have had a disturbing experience during a game of dodgeball, and has since feared going to gym class. In fact, the threat of playing dodgeball frightened Edd immensely, and when Eddy was ready to throw the ball at him, he collapsed to the ground, catatonic. Although he is seen in gym class in "Ed, Edd n Eddy's Hanky Panky Hullabaloo" and in the episode "Cool Hand Ed," he often seems nervous. The Dodgeball Incident is probably the reason why Edd hates most sports, if not just one of many reasons.

Quote

• Edd: "Eddy, wait. I-I have a history with this game, I–what's that? I see flashes, Eddy. Deep-rooted images! Like tentacles! Strangulating every rational nerve! Oh, I'm reliving it, Eddy!"
  Eddy: [shows ball with a bucktoothed Edd drawing on it] "But it's got your face on it, Double D."
  Edd: "Listen to me, Eddy!" [Eddy prepares to throw the ball] "Eddy?! It's gym class all over again!" [wails]
  --From "Ed in a Halfshell"

Behind the Scenes

• In 2011, storyboard artist Raven Molisee provided insight on the Dodgeball Incident, mentioning how the full background of the incident was meant to be revealed in "Ed, Edd n Eddy's Big Picture Show" following the scene where Edd's hat is removed. The scene was ultimately cut for time and, as such, was never made into official canon.

“	The specific event was never actually revealed on the show itself, but it was to be revealed in the Big Picture Show. During a scene that was eventually cut for time, Edd shared the story with Eddy and Ed in a moment of bonding. Lets just say.. it wasn't what you'd expect. For "Pascifist"[sic] Edd it was quite the nightmare and (hopefully) would have been a bit more insight into his character. ...In Edd's old school other students mercilessly targeted him in dodgeball. After "too many hits to the head" as he put it, he finally designed a dodgeball-shooting cannon to retaliate. The resulting injuries to all his classmates scarred Edd much more than any abuse he'd received to his own person. This would have been the origin of his pacifism and a hint at why he was so crushed by the events in A Fistful of Ed. It can also be interpreted as a reason that his family moved to Peach Creek and perhaps it could be responsible for some of the coldness he receives from his parents. Edd has always had an irrational fear of authority and even of himself in some situations. This back story was my attempt to rationalize that without changing the core of his character. ...Before he revealed this secret, he took off his hat willingly in front of his friends as a sign he was finally comfortable with them. When he did, a newspaper clipping spilled out--with a photo of him when he was younger, in handcuffs, giving a public apology to his school. Its played much like the other scene in the movie where it comes off--you never get to see it, but you get to hear about the dodgeball incident instead... ...Little Edd in handcuffs, surrounded by microphones. You can see why he collapses upon recollection of the event. Sad that it never officially made canon. I took the responsibility of crafting the backstory very seriously.	”
—Raven Molisee, DeviantArt