Yes, I think that dodgeball is just as viable a sport as football (soccer), hockey, tennis etc. I am from England and in my school we didn't have dodgeball, but occasionally we had a similar sport called 'Danish Long Ball', which was brilliant. It was about accuracy, pace, agilty, basically the same qualities required for dodgeball.

I don't think it's fair on the pupils, or even the teachers to deprive them of such an experience, even if it only happens maybe once a year. All sports should get a chance to in schools to try and attract more players and fans of the game.

Another non-mainstream sport I played once at school was Kabaddie (I think that's what it was called) and for those who don't know, this sport is two teams of about eight on mats at to start with one entire team is on the mats and only one member of the other team and the basic rule is that the lone member has to get to the other side of the mat without getting beaten up. I'm not joking, this sport does seem to glamourise violence, but it was very much in good humour, there was the occasional dead-arm or leg, but it was just play-fighting. Even those who would normally be considered the bullies didn't really 'beat-up' the 'geeks', it was just fun and I think every secondary school should play it at least once per class.

Ever since the film 'Dodgeball - A True Underdog Story' the popularity of the sport has gone through the roof and this new-found interest in sport should be encouraged by parents and schools, especially with the current problems with childhood obesity.

To conclude, I think that all respectable sports should get a look in, despite the origins and history of it. Children should learn about this variety and expand their own personal knowledge and experiences.

Learn more about this author, Andrew Ward.
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