Dodgeball...Sadistic or Super?

brooklynpotter wrote: kickball? wasn't that banned from elem. and high schools because it was such a sadistic sport?

i have very terrifying memories of kickball. you guys can't play croquet or something?

You're joking, right? Kickball is (simply put) baseball, minus the bats and hardballs, plus a rubber ball and feet.

I'm guessing you're thinking of the wimpified removal of dodgeball from many schools.

Wow. That's incredibly depressing. Even so, I fail to comprehend how Brooklyn Potter could see kickball as "sadistic". Seems a bit hysterical, no?

If it makes you feel any better, there are also organized dodgeball leagues in many parts of the country.

And what about giving kids the CHOICE to play dodgeball or some other activity? Hard to see how many would have a problem with that.

If the kids enjoy playing the game (which, when played correctly, can combine many athletic skills), and are given the choice to play or not play, then what's the harm?

Your stance seems to be, "I don't like the game, so it must be detrimental."

Dodgeball is often played with oversized, softer versions of Nerf balls, and rules prohibit targeting kids above the waist.

Last time I checked, no one got to wear protective gear for dodgeball... those red balls could HURT!


I hated dodgeball. But I loved kickball and soccer. In fact, I was the first girl in my 3rd grade class to decide hopscotch sucked and I'd rather be playing soccer with the boys.

I liked dodgeball too. I wasn't great, I was small and unathletic, but it's one way to learn how to lay back and take your shots when you can.

People voluntarily play the game? I thought it was something made up by PE teachers to fuck with kids for not behaving.

Dodgeball was sadistic. If you knew you had the slightest chance of being the last person left standing while a rubber ball slammed against the wall just narrowly missing your head while the class laughed at you then best to get hit early.

I liked kickball.

My wife met many of her friends playing adult kickball.* Dodgeball? Well, if you're little and move fast (i.e., shifty) I might see the appeal. Otherwise, bleah.

*and one wrote a book about it:

http://www.rejuvenile.com/

I loved dodgeball , kickball , softball , and basketball.

We played all those games in my elementary gym class.

When I got to middle school , I only remember playing basketball and then for some reason my gym teacher decided she wanted to start a dance class during the gym hour that I was in because it was all girls and about two boys.

In high school my gym teacher put us through some damn bootcamp style shit. He would make us run 8 laps around a huge gym , and if anyone stopped running he would blow his whistle and yell out his or her name and say blah blah is walking he/she better start running or you guys are starting over!! We would all (20+ kids) turn around and start yelling at that person "you better start running , start running!!!!".

When the weather permitted ( my luck it did alot) he would take us outside to run , but this was much worse.....my middle school and high school were on the same campus, and we had to run all the way around both schools , both huge playground/football fields , but not inside on the grass....no , outside on the sidewalk by the streets , where everyone driving will see our ass's running and some passers by would stick their heads out the windows and laugh at us as we ran.......this gym teacher was also the football coach , so he had us doing some of the teams exercises.....and I kid you not people , because he cannot see us after we turn around the 2nd corner , he would get in his car, and follow us to make sure nobody started walking !! Of course so many of us girls were walking since we thought he wouldn't see , and he drove by yelling at us to start running!! We were freakin' shocked, and started hauling ass!!

This one time he had us outside doing that 500k run again, lol , and my father happened to be driving by.....I saw a minivan coming down the street ,and I start telling the girls that were running with me that I think its my dad! I looked to see , and sure enough here he comes passing by looking at me and shaking his head.....I was like shit he is pissed.....he didn't stop he just kept driving.

My gym class was my last hour so 10 minutes after the run it was time to go home.As I am walking home I see my dads minivan again , and I'm like cool he is gonna pick me up today!!!.....nope....he drives right past me and doesn't stop!! Its a 30 min. walk home ,I was sooo tired, and he just left my ass.

I get home and he is their sitting in the kitchen.... I am pissed....I look at my mom and she starts laughing at me.I figured he must have told her about what he did to me.I felt like crap , tired and sweaty with a pitiful look on my face , hair a mess.

I decided to question him...I said ,"Hey why did you just pass by me? Why didn't you stop?".... he says, "Which time? The time you were outside running like the homeless"? Or the time you were walking like the lazy?" , My dad wasn't born in the US , so he talks like that and he has an accent.....I said," the 2nd one!" , he said , "because you were walking slow like the turtle , and you no pick up you feet"...I said "I WAS TIRED , YOU SAW ME RUNNING 10 MINUTES BEFORE THAT" ...and he says ," You walking with you friends, so I let you walk" , I was like "What friends??? ,it was a group of kids like 2 feet infront of me , why would you think they are my friends ? wouldn't I be walking WITH them not behind them?"......he changes the subject and asks " why were you running outside today with no teacher?? I told him he was driving around watching us....he says" tell him you no run outside like the homeless (everything with him is like the homeless) , you are girls , you stay inside the boys they run outside". After that day , whenever we ran outside , I'd be paranoid...afraid that every red minivan I saw might be my dad.

Thank God we didn't have to do the outside exercise everyday , he would make us do that once a week.The rest of the time we did the usual 8 laps , and then free play , basketball ,and volleyball inside the gym.

I was in great shape my freshmen year of high school , because of Mr. Perrys gym class.....I never took gym again after that....I went for ceramics and art classes instead.

I was still able to play basketball in gym....he would let me skip my art class sometimes because he knew how much I loved playing basketball.
I couldn't fail art , too easy , so skipping once a week didn't hurt my grade.