by Thomas Walters

Created on: November 22, 2008   Last Updated: December 14, 2008

Ban Dodgeball? You have got to be kidding me! This sounds like overprotective parents got together and decided that children should never be exposed to anything that has anything to do with anything that happens in the world. Dodgeball is not going to kill anyone, maim anyone for life, or scar anybody emotionally. It won't influence children to become murderers and felons. You know what it might do, it might sting for a minute, that's about it.

I would like to start by saying that LIFE HAPPENS. People are singled out, people lose. That's what makes or breaks people, whether or not they can overcome losing and be better because of it. You have to realize that it will happen all of kid's lives. They will always lose or be singled out. Dodgeball is just one of the times this happens. If anything, it helps to prepare them for when they lose in things that really matter in life.

I am officially ending any suspicion people had about children getting hurt in dodgeball right here. No one ever suffered a serious injury playing the game of dodgeball. Sure there are awkward freak accidents, but that happens everywhere. Pain lasts a minute and a half after being hit by a dodgeball, maybe not even that. I don't care if little Johnny gets hurt easily, dodgeball won't kill him. Besides, he probably likes the game.

Another thing, have you ever told your child, "Try the food before you decide you don't like it?" Same principle here. If you've never tried dodgeball and only go off what you hear and what experts say, then how do you know it is a bad influence? It could be a good thing, it could relieve stress, it could help kids focus in school. How do you know though, you've never tried it.

A lot of focus has been put on what a bad influence dodgeball is on kids. You can trust me, just because your child played a game of dodgeball, he/she will not grow up to hurl objects at people. No matter what experts say, I trust the new generation has enough common sense not to go that far with it. This works the other way too. The victim's of the dodgeball games will not be timid their entire lives. It may strike a blow to their confidence. Sometimes it will really hurt them. If parents would simply talk to their children, and tell them that it's just a game and that it won't change anything, maybe we wouldn't have to end dodgeball.

Banning dodgeball is a step in the wrong direction. Dodgeball has never been a threat or an influence on children, although movies do a good job of depicting it that way. It has never affected anyone's lives in a major way. It has simply been a fun way to pass time, and I think that shouldn't change.

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