It’s hard to say “dodgeball” and not think of gym class — or, for that matter, Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller duking it out in the 2004 comedy.

But Rob Immel isn’t laughing. The 36-year-old will lead the US men’s team in the second ever, two-day-long Dodgeball World Cup, kicking off Friday at Basketball City with final rounds held Saturday at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater.

Immel expects the biggest challenge for his six-man team — and the trophy — will come from England, the former men’s team champion.

“They have strategy down,” Immel, a physical education teacher from Ballston, NY, tells The Post. “Every player on that team knows their role, and they execute it perfectly.”

The US Dodgeball team was established about three years ago, with participants finding their way onto the national team through local leagues and recreational games. Not only do members pay their own costs (about $4,000 per player to make it to the World Cup), but they’re from all over the country, making it hard to practice as a team.

“Individually we train, and then we get together through social media, talking strategy and sending out videos,” says Immel, who during college took over tennis courts for impromptu games. “We’re always talking dodgeball.”

He works out daily with a trainer to improve his core strength and range of motion — the better to throw a heavy, cloth ball at his opponents.

“My focus has been on my speed, my strength and agility. I know that at any time I have to be on the floor, up in the air, left, right, back and forth,” says Immel, whose trainer incorporates moves from various athletic endeavors.

“[My trainer] is taking certain aspects from different sports to try and cater it toward dodgeball — the movement of lacrosse, the throwing motion of baseball,” says Immel, who also uses free weights and a weight sled.

Another team member, Samantha Girardi, 25, from Bloomfield, NJ, has her own approach to training.

“I do kickboxing and cardio, which helps with side-to-side movements which is great,” says Girardi, a behavioral therapist.

Immel hopes a strong performance by the US team will help his beloved sport get more visibility and respect.

“The goal is … to see [dodgeball] in the Olympics one day,” he says. “Maybe not me, maybe my time has passed, but maybe my kids.”