Games where kids chase each other – tag or even cops and robbers – are generally banned in Natomas Unified’s elementary schools. No grabbing or pushing is allowed.
At Natomas Park, students can only toss and catch a football – tackling or blocking isn’t permitted. But the no-contact rule applies beyond the grade-school gridiron.
During lunch recess one recent afternoon, yard supervisor Janice Hudson spotted a first-grader pushing a girl on the swing.
“Do not push,” Hudson told the student. “Let her push herself, please.” —Sandy Louey
I wasn’t exactly the kid who was picked first for sports teams, but my height gave me an advangate in basketball and volleyball. And due to a bizarre chain of circumstances I placed second in an seventh-grade wrestling tournament. Nothing formal — the gym teacher just paired us up over a period of several gym classes. I beat a kid who was a friend of mine, who was just having fun and didn’t try very hard. Then I got creamed by a jock, and thought my wrestling days were over, but I had to keep wrestling in the tournament of losers. I accidentally hit a mid-tier jock in the nose with the back of my hand, and he forfeited the match to go to the clinic. The next jock I was supposed to wrestle was goofing off and wasn’t around when it was his turn, and he forfeited that match, too. Suddenly, I realized I had won the tournament of losers, and found myself facing the alpha jock.
I immediately flopped on my back and pounded the mat three times, surrendering. That was somewhat less humiliating and a lot less bloody than being beat fair and square. It also robbed the alpha jock of the adrenaline fix he’d been hoping for.
Still, a ban on first-graders pushing each other on swings? That seems excessive.
Wow, the elementary school my children went to still play “capture the flag”, tag football,and red rover at recess. They still have to exercise during PE also. The physical contact in our district begins from 5-12 grade. You have to be involved in a sports activity to have your hands on “anyone” else. Watching the hormone enraged teenagers deal with no contact during school is difficult, and at times a bit humorous. I do feel for them though. I remember being that age. You think you know and have it all, and the adults tell you diffrently. It happens every generation.