Dodgeball
Working with Junior High kids this year has been quite an education. They are constantly surprising me. Just when I think that I have them all figured out, they do something crazy, random and unexpected. I guess it's just part of their age and the "I'm a kid- No, I'm a teenager" schizophrenic tug-of-war they are experiencing. They sure keep you on your toes! One thing I did not expect at all is their love for Dodgeball. When these kids get anywhere together all they want to do is play Dodgeball. It amazes me that they will play Dodgeball 5+ hours straight. Some kids never even leave the court! Every now and then a rogue game of basketball or two-hand touch will erupt in the middle, but Dodgeball is always victorious. I know that a movie recently came out about the game and there are televised Dodgeball games on cable. but I'm not sure that has influenced the popularity of the game too much. I think the kids would have been just as pumped about it if it was just a game they played every now and then in P.E.
Those of you that are not aware of this new Dodgeball revolution may be as shocked as I was to find that the game is not the same playground favorite we all remember. In fact, it was only a month or so ago that my friend Mark and I were reminiscing about those fond Dodgeball matches of yesteryear. How simple it was then: we lined up against a brick wall and very large boys hurled volleyballs, basketballs- you name it- at our head, back, stomach and groin with the sole purpose of inflicting as much bodily pain as possible. Let's not forget the emotional torment of being lined up execution style with no escape from the coming onslaught of balls. Some of you S&M types may be getting excited, but we have Dodgeball nightmares to this very day! Of course, the public school system was a lot different back then- back when students were tortured in the name of eye/hand co-ordination, quick reflexes and team sportsmanship. Don't forget- we were having fun!
Needless to say, 15 or so years later, I was appalled when my Junior High kids wanted to play Dodgeball. I had hoped that the game had sailed off into oblivion so that no subsequent generation would be subjected to its horrors. To my surprise, in this new, more PC age, Dodgeball has evolved. No more firing squad line-ups- the participants are scattered all over half-court; Now, participants can jump and move and even run away from the ball! Even better- the game is now equal opportunity: I can pick up the ball that was intended for me and throw it back at whoever threw it in the first place! It's almost a completely different game! I wonder if any of my other P.E. favorites have undergone this change- like steal the bacon or square dancing (yes, I was abused during square dancing lessons, too!). Here's another one that's a little random: Remember when wearing a helmet while riding your bike was the dorkiest thing ever? Now, it's totally normal... (I DID NOT wear a helmet by the way- Just in case some of you were wondering. I did have the coolest pink bike in the whole neighborhood.)
Those of you that are not aware of this new Dodgeball revolution may be as shocked as I was to find that the game is not the same playground favorite we all remember. In fact, it was only a month or so ago that my friend Mark and I were reminiscing about those fond Dodgeball matches of yesteryear. How simple it was then: we lined up against a brick wall and very large boys hurled volleyballs, basketballs- you name it- at our head, back, stomach and groin with the sole purpose of inflicting as much bodily pain as possible. Let's not forget the emotional torment of being lined up execution style with no escape from the coming onslaught of balls. Some of you S&M types may be getting excited, but we have Dodgeball nightmares to this very day! Of course, the public school system was a lot different back then- back when students were tortured in the name of eye/hand co-ordination, quick reflexes and team sportsmanship. Don't forget- we were having fun!
Needless to say, 15 or so years later, I was appalled when my Junior High kids wanted to play Dodgeball. I had hoped that the game had sailed off into oblivion so that no subsequent generation would be subjected to its horrors. To my surprise, in this new, more PC age, Dodgeball has evolved. No more firing squad line-ups- the participants are scattered all over half-court; Now, participants can jump and move and even run away from the ball! Even better- the game is now equal opportunity: I can pick up the ball that was intended for me and throw it back at whoever threw it in the first place! It's almost a completely different game! I wonder if any of my other P.E. favorites have undergone this change- like steal the bacon or square dancing (yes, I was abused during square dancing lessons, too!). Here's another one that's a little random: Remember when wearing a helmet while riding your bike was the dorkiest thing ever? Now, it's totally normal... (I DID NOT wear a helmet by the way- Just in case some of you were wondering. I did have the coolest pink bike in the whole neighborhood.)
posted by Unknown at 7:43 PM
1 Comments:
Oh....the good old days of dodgeball!!!
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