Football, basketball and bulldog banned in playground.

[Spidermama]

I think this is ridiculous.

Does anyone else's school ban these things?

Aparently someone broke his wrist playing bulldog but kids break their wrists for all sorts of reasons don't they? It's part of childhood.

In my day bulldog involved catching and holding on to the people who are running across. These days it's just tagging them aparently.

and football is banned??why??

what about skipping/hopscotch/hula hoops??

ridiculous.....totally ott

I expect there have been ongoing playground problems with them and the wrist thing could have been the last straw.

British Bulldogs was banned when I was at school in the Dark Ages 70's, but our version was pretty violent!

I imagine football has been causing some problems - they need a plan to sort the problems, but can't see why basketball would be banned.

I think it all depends on the size of playspace available. For example if there was a huge field and play area as well, then yes, it is rediculous, you're right. I have two sports mad boys, for them it's great to be able to commandeer the playground (field only available when warm)with big groups of their mates for football, tagging, whatever. My two gorgeous, delicate neices, however, end up literally squashed into a small part of the playground, with the bulk of other girls/younger kids, and have been subject to a smack in the face by a football - kicked by a big strong boy - with no warning. So, to be fair, you may feel different if you were the parent of one of those children.

Bulldog is allowed for juniors but not infants. They also play a game called manhunt which is similar to bulldog. Football causes a lot of arguments so they have a rota of which year can play. The arguments often end up with certain classes being banned from playing football as a punishment.

bulldog often banned

I know junior school teachers who would willingly ban football all the time, it causes so much chaos and bad behaviour. Rugby would be fine.

Yes bulldogs banned at our school, football only allowed on pitch with change of shoes and trousers due to mud. The school we were at in the states banned dodgeball (as policy in the whole state) yet over here my DS just did it as an option!!! Guess it is a world where teachers are afraid to be sued and once someone is injured it gets banned (would want the OFSTED rating to go down would we)

It does depend on space. Year 5 & 6 (mainly) boys trying to play football can take over an entire playing field. Where do the rest go. And we have problems with little year 1s getting flattened if they accidently stray into the game area (which seems to lack boundaries in the excitement) or get hit in the face by escaping balls. We had to put some regulation in as the younger and less active children were getting scared at playtime.

Where do the rest go. Whoops missed the ?

its the health and safety i work for navy training corp , you wouldnt believe how pathetic the rules have become, i was told by my sons pe teacher at middle school ball sports hoops ropes all now banned as they can cause accidents so children may get a ball in face yada yada yada they will ban going outside next altogether ffs they are allowed the sponge footballs though but no other kind at our school anyway

We have a football yard and have just installed basket ball hoops also have an area where children can go if they don't want to play these type of games ( with giant snakes and ladder, ludo , chess , tables and giant connect 4 or just to sit

I tried to say on a thread a few months ago that all ball games and running had been banned in my DS's old school's playground and NO-ONE believed me!!! Got accused of making it up!!!

Over protective head teachers, fear of being sued and a wish to do away with competition were the root of the problem there (it was the sort of school where nobody won on Sports Days and everyone got a carrot stick instead .

Bulldog I undersrtand being banned as it can get quite heated.

our first school were like that everyone got a rosette but then when the following year they got to middle the teachers scream come on reds or whatever ( i agree in the later) as its real life everyone cant win ad they need to learn that but they the DC's were shocked at the way everyone chanted against the other teams ect ect

I think a lot of Primary Schools are far too over protective. Children are sent constantly to First Aid even for the smallest thing, so when they get to Middle / Upper school it's quite a shock for them.

I agree with the over-protection, but at school it is often in response to LA advice or the shadow of legal actions. You can believe how stressful it is for heads and teachers when parents threaten or start legal action or formal complaints because of accidents. If a school is negligent it's a different matter, but the emotional distress to staff caused when formal letters and investigations are carried out because a child tripped over another child in the playground and badly twisted a knee, or a child that fell off the playground climbing frame (all H&S checked by LA) and broken a limb is unbelievable. Been there; sleepless nights, antidepressants, police and union involved who eventually decided there was no action necessary as it was an unavoidable accident. But it made us all look closely at activities to prevent having to go through that again. I know of so many schools that have scared out of trips because the risks.

Often is a space issue.

Does the school have a school council? If so why not get your DD/ DS to write to/ speak to school council about what they would like to be able to do at lunch time.

Our school have time limits on football otherwise the playground became dominated by football and non football playing kids had very little space to play.

Myth: Children need to be wrapped in cotton wool

mrz I'm so tempted to put this on the parents' noticeboard... Don't think I'll be allowed

bulldog is usually banned due to the high numb er of injuries, tears and complaints from parents.

What's the reason for the football and basketball ban and is it temporary due to recent arguments?

Our school did ban football for a long time because every game was turning into an argument/fight, not because of health and safety issues. It is now back on but with a rota and classes cannot mix in the same game.

I have never heard of Bulldog but the name souds like it could go wrong anytime.

crazygracieuk, the game that children call "manhunt" here is very similar to hide and seek, is it the same one you are refering too?

Never heard of the mighty British Bulldog?

Not a game called that no but I did not grow up in Britain, might explain it?

Rules British Bulldog

1: One bulldog (or maybe two) stands in the middle of the pitch, with the runners lined up on one side.
2: The runners try to get to the "home" area of the other side of the pitch without being caught. If the bulldog holds a runner for long enough to say "British Bulldog, one, two, three", then that runner becomes a bulldog.
3: The runners try to evade two bulldogs running back again.