Should Dodgeball Be Allowed In School?

Picture this: round objects flying over heads, bodies zooming back and forth, the delighted squeals of children as they try to avoid elimination. Yes, this is the time-honored game of Dodgeball, and it is in danger of being eliminated from many schools and recreational programs. Opponents of the game argue that dodgeball actually teaches the wrong message to kids about life and might negatively impact their self-esteem. While that may be the case for a few kids, actually what dodgeball tries to teach is how to survive in a tough world. In other words, school should not ban dodgeball because it not only develops physical skills but more importantly, it also builds character to help kids prepare for the future.

To begin with, like most active games played in gym class, dodgeball

Most kids, especially in their teen years, battle identity and bullying issues. As a result, playing games like dodgeball might provide those kids an opportunity to face their demons and feel successful. For instance, Rick Reilly in his article called “The Weak Shall Inherit the Gym” tells a touching anecdote about a school victim of bullying named Melvin who was able to stand up to the school bully named Big Joe during a game of dodgeball. Reilly writes, “...all of a sudden, he got plunked. . . . Joe whirled around to see who’d done it and saw that it was none other than Melvin, all 83 pounds of him, most of it smile.” What this shows with that smile at the end is that Melvin had gained confidence and strength from facing his tormentor. Some groups like NASPE might argue that it’s the weak kids that suffer from dodgeball because they get eliminated too early and thus don’t get enough exercise. However, that isn’t always necessarily the case. Shouldn’t victims and people perceived as weaklings have the chance to rise to a challenge and be