AIBU to expect team sports to be explained in schools

[Shiningmediocrity]

I’m Gen X, so it was pretty standard for PE teachers to not explain the rules of team games. DC has started secondary school and played netball for the first time. I asked how it went and said how strange it was looking back that we were never told the rules of sports we played. She said they weren’t told any either! AIBU to think that this would have changed by now? Lighthearted thread btw.

I have always been crap at sport but once we were playing rounders in a pe lesson in middle school (9-13) when the supply teacher covering the lesson suddenly got irritated with the pathetic non-hit of the ball everyone was doing by the time it got to my turn. You know the one, where you limply tilt your wrist so the ball falls to the floor and you just make a dash for first base.

She used me as a lesson in how to stand to wait for the ball with one of your legs ready to lunge, arm back ready, and to time it so the bat meets the ball with actual force. I remember the satisfying thwack of bat against ball, it soaring for miles across the field, and my team cheering as I ran a rounder (everyone on the other team was a bit stunned crap old me had done such a good hit and wasn't ready to go after the ball).

I feel like that was the only time during school pe I was ever actually taught to do anything or told how anything works! But I have never forgotten it!

I went to secondary school in the 70s. PE/games teachers were only interested in those who had experience or natural talent. But still shouted at those who made mistakes. Even in swimming non swimmers were left to mess about at the shallow end while the teacher coached the swimmers at the deep end.

This is actually a brilliant idea. I have no clue how any sport works at all. I know football you aim for the net and same with basketball but that’s my entire knowledge.

Nobody in my family played sports, I didn’t have a dad that shouted at the tv or have any basic knowledge at all. For me PE was hell on earth and I still am a bit scared of all sports. I work with people now who talk about sports all the time but I’m completely lost.

I would definitely take a class on this now.

The schools my children go to still do this. Games is a whole afternoon of field sports, football, hockey, lacrosse, rugby, anthletivs in the summer or cricket etc. PE is a separate lesson and they’ve done volleyball, gymnastics, dance, running, fitness etc.

You can’t play netball without proper bibs with positions in them.

I think it’s unusual never to have played netball in primary.

I played on school hockey teams late 80s early 90s and didn't have the over all rules explained. Had plenty of practice on corners and shit but had no idea why they were awarded. Only slight awareness of what positions meant defenders v forwards.
Primary school got netball posts just after I left.

I didn’t think it was that unusual not to have played in primary. It wasn’t offered at the primary’s after school clubs either. @PoppingbyI love that you got your moment to shine. A few pointers and a bit of guidance would have gone so far. Art was a bit similar actually. DD has a natural ability for art anyway, but I was still pleasantly surprised when she showed me techniques she learned at primary. I don’t remember being taught any really in primary or secondary apart from shading a cube and a crafting exercise to show perspective.

I went from enjoying PE in primary (apart from the horse that looked nothing like a horse) to dreading it in secondary. It put me off team games for life actually.