It really does depend on who is running the class.

Miss Cross's* playground technique was to pick the two loudest-mouth kids. They were the team captains. Then everyone would line up against a wall and they'd take turns picking team members. Disparaging comments were not discouraged ("But I don't want the fat/slow/foureyes/stupid one!") It really wasn't pleasant. I don't think competition should be discouraged or that it has to be all touchy feely -must-cosset-the-pwecious-egos. But what we had was an extreme and a not very healthy one at that. And it did turn me off (in my youth) a lot of stuff.

But hey, it also taught me how to brutalize little souls, so score.

* that wasn't her name, that's what we called her behind her back. I don't recall her real name.

I just can't see that dodgeball teaches any useful skills, other than How To Play Dodgeball. I always had good gym teachers, and I was never really all that picked on, I just think it's a pointlessly stupid game.

read the EWWWWW and should not have.

I think dodge ball with nerf balls might even be fun. I didn't hate it - but I was sort of a nonentity. Not many people knew me well, but no one hated me either. I usually tried to get out early.

I really wish gym could have been more fun for the nonathletic. Because I have to fight my "i'm not good at that so why should I do that" urges all the time.

It was 'kill the carrier' where I grew up. The way Robin descibes it, I might have had fun. I would have run around a lot and gotten in the way a lot . I foiund when I was playing soccer that - interference was something I was good at. Strong kick too, just no aim at all.

Except, how does that fit in with the fact that those who can't teach, teach gym?

Hey! My dad taught gym while coaching at some schools. I think I'm the only one who ever hated having him as a teacher.

"Desperately need a nap" isn't a valid excuse for going home sick, right?

God, I wish it were. Actually, I think it is sometimes. I am all about taking sick days if you've got them to spare.

DX, you can't be saying that classes are as dependent on the instructor as on the material, can you?

Wait, what?!? That's crazy talk.

I just can't see that dodgeball teaches any useful skills, other than How To Play Dodgeball.

I don't think field hockey or rounders or netball or the pommel horse taught me specific useful skills. Loved some, hated some, depending on how I liked to move or hit stuff. Generally, they got me mobile. I wasn't clear on there being much more of a point.

I think dodge ball with nerf balls might even be fun.

Reduces the risk of injury.

Miss Cross's* playground technique was to pick the two loudest-mouth kids. They were the team captains.

My grade school gym teacher, Mr. Hildebrandt, would have us line up and count off by 4's. He'd then decide which 2 groups would face off against which 2 other groups. A lot easier to keep teams fairly even that way.

Thanks Matt. I just called the printer and he was all "don't try to lay it out, I will lay it out." The "silly girl" was implied but not stated.

Well the upside is that the rest of my day will be far less frustrating. downside - 2 hours wasted.

We played Smear the Queer when I was growing up. (Apologies to my queer friends.) It was really rough and fun and exciting. I loved having the ball and running hard right through the potential tacklers.

We also played a kind of Kamikaze soccer which involved almost nonstop (soccer style) tackling and rough play on a field so huge that you spent the whole game in the middle never nearing the goal. It was similar to Smear the Queer in that there was lots of chasing and wiping out. Doing the soccer style slide tackle was incredibly satisfying, but it didn't really hurt when you got taken down.

Yay violent sports!

ita, did you really play rounders? What is it like, as a game?

Because I have to fight my "i'm not good at that so why should I do that" urges all the time.

This is familiar. There needs to be a Weekend Duffer track to gym, like there's a Vocational track in high school academic courses.