fun is fun

fif was able to catch D's Third's soccer game yesterday. Great fun, the girls from both schools had a good time. Classic lower squad game with everyone playing.

After the teams gave each other a cheer, they lined up to shake/high five/fist bump
whatever (the funster is a hold out believer in the firm handshake) and instead they...bumped elbows. No, seriously.

fif wonders if this is now common practice at all schools? fif's original reaction was "stop the world, I want to get off", but is still pondering this weird sight.

Do football teams now bump elbows at the end of a game? Ewww.

neatoburrito

They may have a "no handshake" policy during this flu season. We visited a school this weekend and it was the first thing admissions told us. She said the kids do air handshakes or bump elbows. I laughed at the elbows because that's the germiest place on the body, with all the sneezing and coughing into it nowadays.

Personally, I thought it was a great idea. But, yeah....it is weird.

goaliedad

Actually, the outside of the elbow (lower forearm) is a place on the upper body where your eyes, nose, and mouth won't come in contact with so you won't injest any germs from those locations directly.

Anyone remember the old Q-tip commercials where they tell you never stick anything inside your ears except your elbows? (Go ahead, try this at home)

I had never heard of elbow bumping, but it would make sense. I'll have to remember to ask goaliegirl about this and whether it is now the practice with field hockey.

neatoburrito

So square dancing is out of the question. All those linked elbows would be a catastrophe.

hola3

Many field hockey teams are "slapping sticks" instead of shaking hands at the end of the game. Lots of little things seems to be keeping the swine flu at bay for most schools.

hockeykid841

Seems a little ridiculous to me. Its not like they've had there hands on each other the entire game or anything.

keylyme

It is ridiculous and I did notice plenty of handshaking still going on at my son's game last w/e in addition to boys walking off the field with their arms around each other's shoulders, etc. They still all stand in a huddle at football and soccer games and you are a lot more likely to transmit germs by shouting in eachother's faces. In the intensity of the game, you are much less likely to cover a sneeze or cough....I think many of us have seen how athletes blow their noses (sans Kleenex) while on the field...then wipe with their arm, back of hand, etc. They then proceed to bang into each other, touch the ball, etc. In light of all this, I really don't see the handshake ban doing much.

hola3

It's interesting. A school doctor I know was fairly confident that the odds of kids playing sports outdoors (regardless of their bumping etc.) was unlikely to pose much risk of transmission because most fluids would transfer to body parts not normally placed near eyes, nose, mouth. He was, however, concerned with handshaking since it was direct contact between body parts that are routinely covered in germs and frequently placed on,near,in eyes/nose/mouth. He was pushing for the no handshaking and feels that it may be effective in preventing "cross-contamination" of student bodies. On the other hand, he thinks "indoor" sports are far riskier and will likely result in group infections. Apparently outdoor vs. indoor is important in determining risk factor. One major factor driving these precautions is the dramatic threat (8-10x more mortality than the common flu is not insignificant) of Swine Flu to young children and pregnant women and if you've been around bs for a while you'll notice a fair share of mothers/expectant mothers on the sidelines coaching, the schools are also trying to protect them in addition to students. Recently, during the Hotchkiss breakout of swine flu, pregnant coaches were asked not to travel with their teams and a volleyball match was rescheduled. Schools are taking this seriously for a lot of reasons and personally looking a little silly at the end of a game seems to be worth it.

Periwinkle

I presume all these students and teachers use doorknobs?

PaulaZaria

maybe it's just their thing?

starz27

Yes, I do agree the no handshake rule is quite ridiculous. most of the time its more of a high five anyway, there is contact for much time. but yes, at my last field hockey game we did the "stick slap" instead. in terms of doorknobs, at my school, every night somebody sanatizes all the knobs in the dorm with a wipe, I don't know about the rest of the school

mhmm

have you tried to attend a public function recently where as a matter of course you would shake hands with people? Its been elbow to elbow nonsense at a number of events I recently attended . (hope noone sneezed into the peanuts)

Periwinkle

Elbow to elbow? In Massachusetts, we're still shaking hands. How old fashioned! I have to say, I'd prefer to bow than to bump elbows.

If you're afraid of H1N1, then no nuts, chips, or shared dip for you! Even better, let's have events al fresco, to avoid sharing the air. What a pity Seinfeld ended.

headingtohkiss

I'm a student at Hotchkiss and we now have to elbow bump because of swine flu. Even when the headmaster gave out awards, he insisted on elbow bumping everyone.

almost there

Swine flu honestly isn't that severe (at least for me and the other people who got sick at exeter) I felt bad for about about a day and then I felt better. I'm glad I got it now because I have immunity so I feel fine shaking hands.