YOUTH SPORTS: The Dodge Ball Debate

Educational leaders are debating the appropriateness of dodge ball in physical education classes. They want to end all human target games. After reading an article about dodge ball in our local newspapers (Targets: Schools wrangle over sports that may lower self-esteem, The Baltimore Sun, November 26, 2000, page A21), I was pulled in several directions.

First, the headline mentioned sports. However, the article is about physical education classes. The two are not synonymous at all. It appears that the headline writer did not know the vastly different audiences that teachers and coaches deal with day in and day out.

Second, banning human target games might eventually result in the termination of other sports. Football, soccer, and hockey, not to mention kickball, might fall into this category.

Third, the case against dodge ball is that it destroys self-esteem. That is, those who are less skilled are getting hammered by those who are well skilled. That seems to be a pretty weak concept. If we go down that road, we had better do away with testing and grades.

As an aside, I used three rules to keep dodge ball games active. First, players were not permitted to hit other players above the waist. Second, I used versions where no players were eliminated. Finally, when the target caught the ball, the thrower was penalized.

Fourth, I feel strongly that it is a duty of teachers to see that students do not use any of their school activities to malign and degrade other students. My first encounter with cruel students was as a substitute teacher over 20 years ago. Students in a well-to-do school made life miserable for "other" seemingly defenseless students.

Teachers should not permit taunting or any other form of verbal intimidation in any class.

Fifth, dodge ball activities do not belong in the core of any curriculum under any circumstances. If that is the case, then it is being done by lazy teachers who are offering the classroom equivalent of mindlessly movies and videos. Dodge ball encompasses an exciting variety of games that most students seem to enjoy. Apart from throwing, catching, agile dodging and rapid action, they have limited educational value in comparison to what could be offered.

Finally, the varying forms of dodge ball are suitable lead up games for students in the elementary grades. They are satisfactory playground activities. They are also adequate rewards for getting things done properly in class. In most cases, however, dodge ball is best played on the playground during free time.

Make dodge ball a common activity in the physical education curriculum. Nope! Eliminate dodge ball games. Never! Use it as a reward. Good idea! Let the students play it on their own time. Yes! Ban target games. OK, but do it when we do away with grades!

Jack Hustlar is founder and CEO of the North American Youth Sport Institute, www.NAYSI.com. For a variety of resources involving all sports for volunteer and school coaches, teachers, parents, youth leaders, administrators, club staff, and youth work professionals, see the award winning www.NAYSI.com.