@csfmap Your post gives me hope that maybe the overall population isn’t as snow-flakey as this thread would indicate. I had no idea dodgeball was such a big thing at colleges! What an easy way to participate in a group activity. I’m happy about that.
Right. That’s easy. The rope climb. 
Dodgeball is making a comeback. The key is the “nerf” ball. It’s not like those old rubber balls.
But they are still snow-flakey. Back in my day we used 16 inch softballs. That will put some hair on your chest.
I like four square. You can use painters tape or paint squares on the play ground. Jump rope is great aerobic exercise. The same year we did dodge ball once a week we also did square dancing once a week.
I LOVE ROPE CLIMBS! And no one hits you with a ball. 
As I mentioned earlier, one of the local schools changed the name from dodgeball to prison ball. Much catchier.
Ok, this thread agrees on one point with the article. Certain students hate dodgeball. Not a surprise to anyone, right?
But certain students, not all students.
Some students thrive on physical competition. Some students build bonds and teams. Some students develop agility and strategy, and find they are good at something.
Not “whoever you like”, because there are rules for who you can throw at. And the ball, in this study, is soft, not a basketball or soccer ball. Softer than the old kickballs, presumably.
So yes, bullies are bullies, and in physical sports the faculty has the responsibility to police the bullies, and they don’t always do that. But if soft balls are used and the only risk is doing poorly at a sport, then maybe failing at dodge ball is not much different from failing at math or music.
I wouldn’t say dodgeball is oppressive, but it’s kind of a pointless game…If they stopped doing it, I certainly wouldn’t miss it, but I wouldn’t have a problem if they kept playing it in schools…
“This is a bold thread, Cotton.”
Chance me threads are the dodgeball of CC.
I’m pretty surprised that this thread has gotten to nearly 250 posts before someone has mentioned the dodgeball game in the pilot episode of Freaks and Geeks. It captures nearly every dynamic discussed here. Very funny, and available on Youtube.
Couldn’t resist posting this:
Michelle Obama battles late-night host in dodgeball game
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/michelle-obama-dodgeball-james-corden_n_5d088b52e4b0ea7c4a4ec321
^^^Saw it. Teams were great.
“When they go low, we also go low” 
Here’s a direct link to the youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yRVdV3b8F0
A version of dodgeball called “murderball” used to be played at my high school until one day ball hit head, head hit wall, and participant died. So they stopped playing the game in gym class. This was a long long time ago.
I could hold my own (and enjoyed) dodgeball, but I can see it is not as much fun for the smaller, weaker, less coordinated kids who naturally become the first targets. So without reading the article, I basically agree it is not a great game to force an entire class to play. My favorite game was Red Rover, which I think was banned a long time ago and suffers from similar characteristics, ie the strong seeking out the weak and taking advantage of them.
Somehow I don’t see anyone throwing a ball at the former First Lady with the same ferocity that an 11 year old boy would use at the school nerd.
I loved the days we played Bombardment in gym. Balls lined up in the middle with the two teams on either side. You’d run to get a ball and throw it at someone. If you hit them, they were out. If they caught the ball, you were out.
Why? If I had a chance, I totally would (and it’s not that I don’t like her, I really do).
Unless of course I was told by the Secret Service not to.
“I LOVE ROPE CLIMBS! And no one hits you with a ball. ”
No, they can’t throw the ball that high to the gym rafter while you’re stuck trying to figure out how to get back down without needing major medical attention. Don’t think a tiny two inch foam rubber mat was going to help much. Am I the ONLY one who has a sense of self-preservation?
Using your arms, left, right, left, right, in conjunction with your legs (legs are optional of course) clamping the rope, you descend the rope. Technique! Then there’s no need for any mat. 
Well, not every body is made for rope climbing. Simple physics. Longer arms, weaker upper body strength doesn’t help. But glad you enjoyed it. I’m more of the archery and tennis type. I won competitions in those. And I stayed on the ground.
There’s a good reason basketball players aren’t doing gymnastics and teenage girls age out of that sport as they grow taller.
@MaineLonghorn that is the dodgeball of today; balls on the center line, grab one and shoot.