Why dodgeball and other traditional games are out of date for

physical education?
Alexis Medina, Brianna Meeks, Matthew Nickell, Ibro Soumah
Dr. Krause SES 266-006
March 5, 2020
Debate 1A: Negative View on traditional Games (Dodgeball and
Duck Duck Goose)
Brief Presentation Outline
Constructive Speeches: Alexis and Brianna
Cross Examination: Ibro
Rebuttal: Matthew

Constructive Speeches: Alexis and Brianna

Alexis’ Speech:
We of the negative team believe dodgeball needs to be banned throughout all school

systems. We back this claim up by utilizing the statistical analysis that SHAPE has employed to

in an effort to ban dodgeball. SHAPE America (Shape America.2017) states, “ Society of Health

and Physical Educators reasserts its position that dodgeball is not an appropriate activity for the

K-12 school setting because it does not support a positive school climate, the application of

appropriate social behaviors or the goal of physical education.”

Because the world and society is growing so rapidly, the status of what is appropriate in

the classroom changes just as quickly. This topic has been a discussion for many years now and

it is time to get the facts straight. As teachers, we want to promote a positive environment in the

classroom that will lead to positivity outside of the classroom. Dodgeball does not meet the

requirement of promoting a safe and positive environment to all students. Playing dodgeball

during class does not meet MVPA criteria of enduring 50% of the class time. Once a child is hit,

they go sit in a jail until the game is over or the teacher ends it. Are we as educators doing the

best for our students to be the facilitator by putting them in a situation that will (not?) lead to a

positive outcome?

I wanted to get a different perspective of quality physical education teachers in our home

community and how their students are affected by dodgeball. According to UNC graduate

Marissa Hughes from Greeley Central High School, “Dodgeball is a game many love, but

without the goal to achieve something. The teams will ‘win,’ but most get out before they can get
their physical activity for the day.” Another perspective is from 20+ year teacher Barb Johnson

who is also a UNC graduate. “Dodgeball is a game that does not have any roles. It is a very

dominant game that shows athletic ability. If you are not part of the athletic material, then you

get out of the game very quickly so then they just sit in the ‘jail.’”

The question you should be asking yourself is this: Why do we, as future educators, keep

something around that doesn't help foster a positive environment in the next generation? We are

here to address that today. I think SHAPE America (Shape America.2017) says it best,

“Dodgeball is an activity in which the sole purpose is to eliminate players by hitting them with

an object. SHAPE America acknowledges that physical educators can make modifications to the

traditional game of dodgeball in an effort to mitigate its negative effects.” We have to think of

this controversial topic not only as the leader of a classroom, but as a conduit of positivity to

future generations. Is this the best teaching we can provide for our students?
Brianna’s Speech:
As previously heard by Alexis, we of the negative team believe dodgeball needs to be

banned throughout all school systems. To begin, let's dive into a few more stories from people

who have memorable past experiences with the game of dodgeball in a physical education

classroom. PEteachersedu.org interved Ken Reed, the author of “How We Can Save Sports: A

Game Plan”, to get his opinion on the topic and hear his take on dodgeball. When asked to share

Ken Reed then stated “I was a multi-sport jock and playing dodgeball in school meant I could

use my size and athletic ability to pummel my less physically-gifted classmates before ultimately

battling my fellow jocks for dodgeball supremacy.” Ken Reed went on to say “While the game is

fun for athletes, it does not provide an outlet for weaker, slower, and overall less athletic kids to

have fun. This is especially so when more athletic kids have such a heavy advantage that less

skilled kids will spend the game not playing, but standing still on the sidelines”

(Peteachersedu.org). After hearing this is it not our jobs as future physical educators to highlight

and initiate an all inclusive environment? Wouldn't one say dodgeball does the opposite, and

exclude lesser skilled students?

Let's not stop at Ken Reeds story, but let us turn our eyes to Joy Butler. Joy Butler is a

professor who studies pedagogy and curriculum development at the University of British

Columbia. Professor Butler is looking at all of the effects that dodgeball can make on students

and what kind of message playing dodgeball makes. Butler states “The message is that it’s okay

to hurt or dehumanize the ‘other. The competition is about annihilating one’s opponent, and the

true definition of competition is between two evenly matched teams.” (Puckett,

independent.co.uk). As Butler states, competition is about beating another team who is equally

matched, but yet in dodgeball it is found to create uneven teams. Many physical educators work

towards creating a competitive environment in which students can become competent and
confident allowing the student to learn at their fullest capacity, dodgeball would eliminate this

possibility. As one can articulate, thousands of different personal stories on how dodgeball has

negatively had an effect on students, can be found anywhere, but referencing stories is not the

end to making our point, so let's change our focus and consider the statistics.

Over the years dodgeball injuries have been presenting themselves more and more. BC

Children’s Hospital emergency department averaged six injuries a year from 1992 to 2004. From

2012 to 2014, an average of 28 dodgeball injuries presented to BC Children’s Hospital

emergency department each year. Of these, 66% were between the ages 10 to 14 years old. BC

Children's Hospital emergency department stated that 40% of these dodgeball inflicted injuries

were fractures and less than 50% of dodgeball injuries were fractures to the thumb or fingers

(activesafe.ca).

To conclude, dodgeball is not a sport fit for the physical education classroom and should

be banned from school systems. It was made apparent that dodgeball has a lifelong effect on the

students who were forced to play throughout their school years. Not only does dodgeball create

these effects in children but it also increases the risk for injury. All the negative side effects that

stem from dodgeball can be simply resolved. The way to resolve the issues presented would be

through one simple task, banning dodgeball from physical education nation wide.
Cross-Examinations:Ibro

1. Why would we set up our students for failure/embarrassment just because they are not as
athletic as the other students?
2. Why are we jeopardizing and putting our students in endangered situations, that allows
them to be unsafe?
3. Isn’t the first primary duty is to provide safety for each individual student?
4. Why is there minimal participation being portrayed in these activities? Aren’t we
supposed to have an all inclusive space?
5. What are some modifications you can implement to improve the overall utilization of
these activities?
● Other questions will be created based on other evidence.

Rebuttal:Matthew
● To Be determined during recess based on affirmative information.

Closing Argument
● We have heard stories from my colleagues on the stories of what dodgeball has done to

kids' image of Physical Education. All of us here want to give each student that walks

through our doors a quality physical education experience that meets the needs of the

children, but this obviously does not. It looks at the needs of the athletes, not the needs of

all students. Several thousand students in the United States every year are affected

negatively by dodgeball each year. Do we just forget about those kids and move on? No

we care about each student or at least should as teachers. There are plenty of areas to play

dodgeball in a competitive environment, but targeting kids in a P.E. class, who may not

be driven by competition, and many times are forced to be in a P.E., further giving them

a bad perception of physical education. Furthermore, as Bri and Alexis mentioned earlier

it doesn't meet the physical Education national standard. Even Shape America and Shape

Colorado have publicly stated P.E. is better off without dodgeball. Clearly, there is only

one answer for dodgeball and it is not in our classroom. Thank you.
APA Resources
Active & Safe Central. (2020). In Dodgeball Overview. Retrieved from
https://activesafe.ca/dodgeball/

Advanced Solutions International, Inc. (2017.June 3.). Proposition: Dodgeball is not appropriate
physical education activity. Retrieved from https://www.shapeamerica.org//

Artipatel. (2019, June 7). Experts say dodgeball is 'legalized bullying' - is the game really the
problem? Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/5355416/dodgeball-
bullying-children/

Jensen, D., C., Elledge, & R., A. (2013, November 30). Associations Between Teasing, Quality
of Life, and Physical Activity Among Preadolescent Children. Retrieved from
https://academic.oup.com/jpepsy/article/39/1/65/1015693

Woodworth, J. (2010, December 15). Why dodgeball is a bad game for kids. Retrieved from
https://www.recordonline.com/article/20010424/news/304249970

Chen, G. (2010, December 9). Dangerous Dodgeball: 4 Lawsuits Stemming from P.E. Retrieved
from https://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/dangerous-dodge-ball-4-
lawsuits-stemming-from-p-e
Peteachersedu. (2015, July 22). In Dodgeball May Have a Negative Impact on
High School Students. Retrieved from
https://www.peteacheredu.org/2015/07/dodgeball-may-have-a-negative-impact-
on-high-school-students/

Puckett, L. (2019, June 10). In Dodgeball is ‘oppressive’ and ‘dehumanises’ people, study
claims. Retrieved from
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/dodgeball-oppressive-
dehumanise-study-research-professor-school-a8952606.html
Additional Information Provided

- More Dodgeball Troubles in New York

A Bronx school has also seen its share of dodgeball woes. Last year, a family threatened a
lawsuit against a Claremont school that brought more than 100 students into the gym at one time
for a dodgeball game during indoor recess. The middle-school students were given hard soccer
balls instead of the rubber balls typically used for the game, according to a report in the NY
Daily News.
- Not Enough P.E.?
In an age where many parents are concerned about some of the activities that are taking place in
a physical education class today, others are worried that their children aren't getting enough time
during the school day for physical activity. In fact, in California, parents are learning that they
can take action against a school district that doesn't provide sufficient physical education for
students, according to SF Gate.
- NASPE believes that dodgeball is not an appropriate activity for K-12 school physical
education programs. While NASPE agrees kids need a daily dose of physical activity to
combat the growing childhood obesity epidemic, it states this activity should include
positive experiences so that kids want to be physically active outside of physical
education class and throughout their lifetime.
Notes: (print one for everyone)
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