Kickball, Tag & Capture the Flag Labeled ‘Risky’ Sports by NY State
- Posted on April 19, 2011 at 2:55pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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The nanny state chronicles have grown. And gotten much more asinine.
New York bureaucrats have decided numerous classic kids games now pose a “significant risk of injury.” What games, you might ask? How about capture the flag, kickball, all forms of tag, and even Wiffle Ball.
The New York Daily News reports on how it happened:
The Health Department created a list of supposedly risky recreational activities – which also includes more perilous pursuits like archery, scuba and horseback riding – in response to a state law passed in 2009.
The law sought to close a loophole that legislators said allowed too many indoor camp programs to operate without oversight.
Under the new rules, any program that offers two or more organized recreational activities – with at least one of them on the risky list – is deemed a summer camp and subject to state regulation.
Ritchie said the regulations could cripple small recreational programs, forcing them to pay a $200 fee to register as a summer camp and provide medical staff.
“It’s crazy,” Dave Mullany, president of Wiffle Ball, Inc., told Foxnews.com. “Amid all this talk of us becoming a nation of overweight kids, we really need to promote activity and kids having fun. Should these kids go to summer camp and sit quietly with their hands folded? It’s a little disconcerting to see fun being legislated.”
The website lists some of the now “risky” activities:
- Capture the Flag
- Crab Soccer
- Dodgeball
- Flag Tag
- Flag Football
- Ga Ga
- Kickball
- Nuk-em
- Red Rover
- Steal the Bacon
- Tag (all varieties)
Health Department spokeswoman Diane Mathis told the Daily News the list is simply a set of guidelines, and not a blacklist.
“There will be flexibility in how the law is implemented,” Mathis said.
But one New York politician still thinks it’s ridiculous.
“It looks like Albany bureaucrats are looking for kids to just sit in a corner in a house all day and not be outside,” state Sen. Patty Ritchie (R-St. Lawrence County) told the Daily News.
“I don’t think Wiffle Ball is a dangerous sport.”



















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Comments (166)
mcpbob
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:32pmgoverment is making our kids FAT, LAZY and STUPID…we have to stand up and fight this nanny state crap and tell the goverment to mind their business and do the job they are suppose to do and don’t
Report Post »spreadcommonsensenot pc
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:31pmhahahahahahaha “greeeeeeef councelor” provided by the progressives,,,for losing, self esteem issues
Conservative (family)kids VS. progressive(focker) kids————————–bodybags—hahahahaha WUSSHEADS
Report Post »opaque blinders
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:58pmLol so true!
Report Post »dlbrooksii
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:31pmI have lived in upstate NY, I love the my home in the Finger Lakes, but in the last year I have come to the conclussion that as soon as housing prices recover I need to GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!!!!
Report Post »opaque blinders
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:29pmWow…..This country is insane……
Whatever happened to the campaign back in the seventies “Get High Off Sports not Drugs” Worked for me!!
Now it‘s Get High Off Drugs Not Sports since we don’t freakin’ have them any longer. Keep chasin’ the Dragon kids,
Report Post »needanotherReagan
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:29pmI was going to suggest they pass a law stating that all kids must be bubble wrapped before going outside, but that stuff is so bad for the environment.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:26pmThe Left DESTROYS everything!
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:24pmYep — the lib wimps — the ones that probably as kids were picked on and/or weren’t picked to play some games, got their feelings hurt, are not into sports (liked poetry & psychology), dysfunctional family, nonpatriotic, druggies, etc. are now in control of all these positions to make these laws.
Report Post »Sweet revenge! How about we ban walking — you could get hurt walking around. You might trip and fall. How about mandating wearing helmuts, etc. all the time to help prevent this?
Everyone should be very alarmed and outraged — let your reps. know & get involved folks!
Puddle Duck
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:41pmIn my experience the Nerds end up being conserative 9 times out of 10 since they are not easy to dupe with simple slogans and rdiculous platitudes that make zero economic sense….kinda like Dingle Barry’s latest brainstorm for kick starting the economy and keeping/producing more jobs in the US by raising taxes on the same people/businesses/corp’s that provide the jobs……..yeah that’s genius alright, was that Goolsbee ism or did Tiny Tim pop out for a breather have a stroke and began blathering on about solving the world’s issues with a zip tie and a bix of strawbeery poptarts….nary a Nerd would swallow that crap unless the female doling it out the Nerd had a crush on…..I digress.
I think my sarcasm meter is pegged today.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:22pmBowel movements can cause hemroids….
>Be careful out there everyone.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:21pmYeah just keep letting them sit on their butts in front of the tv or computer and get fatter and fatter and keep on making those sissies one right after the other. Absolutely disgusting
Report Post »Lion420
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:18pmWhat a joke…kinda like the current generation of young Americans…scared of everything.
Report Post »GetUpOnTheWheel
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:18pmTAG? TAG! TAG? TAG!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »You have GOT to be kidding me? TAG?!
For the love of GOD…it’s TAG!
Mr. Nice Guy
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:52pmTag is helladangerous.
Report Post »Politikellyincorrect
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:36pmLast time I played tag, I lost my eye. The time before that, I lost the other eye. Now I’m deaf.
Report Post »Wait….
TheBeezKnow
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:18pmOMG. The health department workers should all sell their cars. They could get in a wreck on their way to work to come up with this ridiculous BS! Ironic too how they want to ban these games but they are the same losers who get violent during protests… I just can’t stand liberals.
Report Post »dmforman
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:01pmSounds like the workers need to lose their jobs. They have too much time on their hands.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:17pmAll child games MUST include a liberal “games counselor”, a medic, and a grief specialist for the loser.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:25pmTed, Ted, Ted, there are no losers, we are all winners just for playing! That’s why everyone gets a trophy!
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:45pmAnd we wonder why the youth in this country have so many misconceptions. Where, in this cotton ball world are they taught to cope with anything???????????????
Report Post »alrunner58
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:16pmAnd they want healthy kids? what a bunch of idiots.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:15pmNow our kids can use their recess time for something more useful… like making up songs about Barack Hussein Obama mmm, mmm, mmm!
Report Post »Two Party Scam
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:15pmWhat is changed will be turned back.
Nobama 2012
Report Post »spreadcommonsensenot pc
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:14pmWussy progressives trying to develop a generation of codependent lemmings………..
Man, I thought Calee was bad BUT—NY parasites you people just plain SUCK
The “progressive warcry”——–WHAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaa mama wheres my TEAT
Report Post »David, the Constitutional Libertarian
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:11pmWhat is the most dangerous sport in school?
That would be wrestling. More injuries occur in wrestling per participant than any other sport.
I could tell you some stories. What next, going to ban driving? Liberals and the nanny state, can’t live with em…………..WHAT, you expected more? LOL
Report Post »David, the Constitutional Libertarian
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:09pmHey any lib trolls out there? Up for a game of Dodge Ball? LOL
Read about this earlier. You Blazers better get on the ball, you may get bumped down a few more slots on the reading list.
Report Post »Two Party Scam
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:06pmPeople just don’t understand the dangers of Fingerpainting!!!
Report Post »SpunkyGal
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:30pmI was once a bored three year old who decided to create fun by jumping off the counter. I jumped too far, hit a wall, and broke my foot. That‘s why I think walls in houses are too dangerous and should be removed for children’s safety.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:03pmPick up sticks and freeze tag are next, very dangerous.
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:31pmpick up sticks is a reat game..a great game….
Report Post »Politikellyincorrect
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:23pmFreeze tag *is* on the No-No list!
C’mon now, think of the mental harm of being singled out and left frozen awkwardly in a yard all alone.
Report Post »Will obamacare cover the therapy? Who should pay for that!?
I say ban it!
Ban it all to HelI
alexw3086
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:02pmFirst!
Report Post »and to the republic
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:12pmyou gotta be quicker than that…
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:34pm@Alex
You were first, I saw it !
Those mean selfish conservatives hacked in an stole not only your top spot but your intelligent, thoughtful comment too!
All in good sport Alex…lol
Report Post »missionarydad
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:11pm@ALEXW3086,
There is always next time, unless of course those May 21st believers turn out to be right that is, lol!
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:01pmDoesn’t this just come down to being sued & being refused Obama Health Care?
Report Post »Dale
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:12pmThis is New York‘s way of making sure we follow moochelle’s ‘diet’. No physical activity at school, therefore you may not eat any un-healthy foods.
Report Post »Dale
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:15pmWith no school ‘games’, imagine the restless yewts. We need to drug them.
Report Post »jdh5750
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 11:57amAt least someone is thinking! This is about Obamacare. If the government has to pay the health care, they can’t afford children being reckless and twisting and ankle or something. Next it will be adult’s, you can’t play golf, or go rafting or rock climbing and so on. These are much too risky and the government can’t afford to waste money on you having fun.
Why has no one picked up on this???
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 7:28pm@jdh5750 – There have been similar discussions early on, but people who already made up their mind are cynical about the idea of their freedoms being taken away. The message and messengers get shunned. I’m with you, it needs to be a pronounced and uncovered.
Report Post »Two Party Scam
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:01pmAttention:
The Great Leader now advises that the following things are no longer acceptable in our Liberal Socialist/Communist ‘Community’
*Smiling
*Laughing
*Singing
*Dancing
*Talking
*Breathing
That will be all for now.
Report Post »T-2
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:26pmapparently thinking is a “risky” activity for them too….
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:38pmThe only activity or game allowed henceforth will be The Great Redistribution of Wealth.
Report Post »BlueStrat
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:03pmAnything not MANDATORY is strictly VERBOTEN!!
Why is it that every time I hear/read about another stupid nanny-state move like this, I keep thinking of an evil little Colonel Klink? Does Cass Sunstein own a monocle?
Report Post »KenInIL
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:39pmTaking risks is part of life and growing up !! Putting a minor crack in that invincibility shield early on is valuable. Small incidents early on keep one from doing something really stupid/dangerous later in life that gets them killed or seriously injured. I played these and other games and so did my kids. We got kicked and took hard falls because of them, but then you learn the difference between a hard fall on grass vs cement and are more careful later on.
Surprisingly I didn’t see baseball or softball in the list – how can they be excluded if whiffle ball is on it? Nor is tackle football – I believe it is a dangerous sport an any age – and unfortunately our better athletes pay the price as they age.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:50pmsounds like the Taliban is Afghanistan
Report Post »and to the republic
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 2:59pmThis is why the kid in Texas took the gun to school. He is one ticked off little kickball player…..
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:05pmDamn, you beat me to it!
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:11pmKids need more risk and less coddling. They’re being molded into scared little anti-life quivering masses of protoplasm that sit in front of a video game all day and never see the light of day.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:19pmNew York State, the home of the new destruction to American movement; along with the western state of California. Is there any way we can just gather the progressives and leftists along both coasts into these states and set them adrift into the sea, to never return?
Report Post »SpunkyGal
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:19pmKids + Risk = FUN!
Report Post »I miss the days when playgrounds had giant strides. Kids were flying off in all directions landing on asphalt. Wow that was fun!
SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:20pmThis is getting so ridiculous, a major generation a wusses is being raised. Kickball is dangerous, here is a trophy for participating, whats next? Go to school when you want and study the subjects that interest you!
All being raised by the generation whose parents were teens in the 60′s… Fracking hippies cant stand them!
Report Post »black9897
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:21pmI remember back in the 10th grade we would play these games to. Murder ball, or just another form of doge ball was a game we played like most high school PE classes do. We had to stop playing it (not enforced by the school or anything, but by our PE teacher) cuz a few girls got “hurt” *rolls eyes* it was dumb we had games to play. That was at a very small, private Christian school.
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:27pmAren’t we all ten feet tall and indestructible when we are kids? I sure was, if it involved kicking, throwing, chasing, tackling, catching, sliding, and DIRT I was all in!
Report Post »Please don‘t anyone tell the socialist’s in New York State that breathing ends in death.
Let kids be kids for GODs sake!
Socialist want kids to be as miserable as they are.
Anyone up for a game of tackle football, Tea Party Patriots Vs. Socialist Stinkbombs? I’m all in!
Obama Snake Oil Co
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:28pmI knew when they went after Tobacco, they would come after you for anything deemed dangerous. We stood by and watched them kick smokers around to the curb and now they are coming after us in the name of “what is good for you” is “their control”. Well folks, we did it to ourselves and we ain’t seen nothing yet. Do you drive? Fly? Live in a hurricane risky area? Do you ski? Ride a bicycle? We all did this in the name of well we didn’t like the smell of smoke and then the EPA taking second hand smoking away from a judge that threw out the study…EPA ruled it was a carcinogen….we have heard about those guys that have more control than congress. We didn’t challenge it, we just let it go. Some thought it only applied to smokers, however, myself, saw it as a hidden agenda. Why? Anyone that would have me believe that second hand smoke is more deadly than what a smoker takes in…is challenging and expert in air and gas filtration who knows better. Now its kick ball with kids….I like to walk…so when does the government tell me walking, although good for my circulation could lead to expensive hip and knee replacement…..and they might have to pay for it through Oblambushcare.
Report Post »TIME4CHOOSING
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:30pmI am curious to hear what the left will have to say on this issue. They will probably say it is a left and right problem. It is kind of funny to me that the useful idiots of the world(AKA-Progressives), can never seem to realize that rules and regulations like this one and others like it( Happy Meal, Salt , and other food police rules), ALWAYS come from BLUE (Progressive) states, cities and Political leaders.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:31pmThis is why kids end up on drugs … we take away all the “risk” and they go out looking for some. Give me a break .. let kids be kids .. play and “get dirty”.
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:36pmNo, we can’t let our kids play Ga Ga, but as long as they listen to and watch the perversion of Lady Gaga videos, well that’s fine.
And on the Capture the Flag game, we might just be needing a generation skilled in that one.
Report Post »Politikellyincorrect
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:53pmI live on Long Island and have stories about the retarded, mindless, litigation-fearing, common-senseless decisions that have come from our school district and principal that you probably wont believe.
Report Post »After one child’s nose was broken playing catch with a football during recess, the principal banned “all balls” from recess (no joke). It doesn’t stop there. He went on to warn the children that they weren’t allowed to mimic “the throwing of sports balls” either, lest they risk having their parents called; followed by potential suspension.
My daughter who has medical restriction from “CONTACT SPORTS” is not permitted from participating in the annual “snowball fight” in which the school uses…. POMPOMBALLS!!!!
I kid you not.
Dahart
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:56pmHAHA, Dose anyone remember the story a few weeks ago were the Fed’s was looking a banning those plastic balls…..the ones you could get in and walk on water. Well they want to rethink that because we are going to need them to put our kids in to keep them safe if they keep this up.
Bubble wrap anyone?
Report Post »avenger
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:14pmnow I get it…..they are turning boys into wimpy woosies…
Report Post »woemcat
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:30pmFACEPALM!!!!! oh wait, is that dangerous? Never mind!
Report Post »Politikellyincorrect
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:32pmHere’s another interesting dumb NY school rule…
Report Post »Our elementary school banned all leather balls. So even in gym when the kids are learning to play something like say…. Basketball, they have to use a vinyl dodgeball (which of course they cannot ever use for actual dodgeball).
Leather balls are dangerous and hard don’t ya know.
Sgt.Crust
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 5:05pmTime is not on our side, and it is running short my Blazers…the more I see and hear, the more I am convinced trouble is coming our way! And believe me, I do not soley look at the Blaze – I am an analyst for God’s sake….
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 5:37pm@Sgtcrust
Report Post »Correct. We are heading into waters that are uncharted. Troubled waters. Most of us have prepared, hopefully enough. Find a way to network with like minded individuals for where you are located (adress) today may become extremely unhealthy tomorrow, have a plan. Avoid choke points, highways, main roads, transportation hubs (airports, train stations, subways), buy a scanner and tune it to FEMA bands, get rid of traceable electronics, and most of all GET RIGHT WITH GOD !
enemy of the statist
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 6:30pm@SpunkyGal: You are so right. When I moved into my neighborhood in NJ 10 years ago (I grew up in NJ) I couldn’t believe that there were no children outside all summer long. Yet children live in the neighborhood. Yes they come out on Halloween (with their parents). The days of outside play have long gone. It is all about camps and forced fun at a level that the parents, and I guess government, can tolerate. So sad.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 7:33pmThe good ol’ USA soon to be run by the KGB .
Report Post »Let’s wrap the kids in white Styrofoam & belt them down in a 5 point harness seat .
Now for them to use the bathroom there’s a different tactic so please stay tuned with the KGB run government for further orders … oops I meant “recommendations” .
waggie
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 7:55pmOh please! And the government wonders why so many kids are obese. Geez!
Report Post »katamb55
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 8:21pmActually, any sport (especially dodge ball) was extremely risky for those of us who were considered nerds, too fat, too skinny, not cute enough, etc., etc. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be banned. So glad I was a kid in the 1960′s.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 9:01pmI can’t wait to see which jackass here in NY decided to make this provision! I am calling everyone in my district to get this piece of crap legislation removed. We’ll just have a bunch of Fay Camps here in NY. What freakin hypocrits!!!!!
Report Post »missionarydad
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 9:14pmMaybe that is what the Socialist Nanny State has in mind as an agenda. Take away all wholesome activities that can really help the kids to unwind and get rid of a lot of aggression and that would increase the chances they would resort to violence and illegal activities like joining gangs, more fighting and bullying, to find some excitement in their lives etc.
What is sad is I grew up in upstate New York and I remember at our school we would have P.E. every day which included all of those activities. We would also get a lunch and recess combined for a 1 1/2 hour period. I remember the fun we had and we did it everyday. There would be like 40 or more of us boys and we would wrestle, chase each other and gang tackle which included a game where you would throw the football to someone and everyone would chase them down and dog pile on them and another where everyone carried someone on their backs and each team would try to knock the other teams down and there was a mountain of dirt and we would play king of the hill and we were rough and I never remember anyone getting seriously hurt, mostly just the wind knocked out because it was rough activity for not wearing “protection”
The teachers or school officials never bothered us during that time except when it was time to go back inside they would blow a whistle and we would line up and file back to our classrooms. It is really sad to think how Communist New York has become since those days. The kids today do not know what real freedom is, or the priceless feelings you would have when 10 or more kids would be trying to take you down and they had a really difficult time doing it. What has happened to our generation of parents to treat our kids like such whoosies when we had it so good. I guess some are so selfish and self centered that they feel they are the only ones who deserved a happy childhood and now that they are grown they want to make damn sure the children of today are miserable.
http://www.saywhatyoureallymean.blogspot.com
Report Post »ozchambers
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 9:21pmHey, I didnt see a popular football game from my childhood on the blacklist ; “SMEAR THE QU##R!”
NOT promoting hatred, but I cant help but laugh imagining uber-libs like Pelosi having an epileptic fit seeing kids playing THAT!
Report Post »ozchambers
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 9:23pmat MISSIONARYDAD: AMEN!
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:02pmThe only other goofy place that would be ridiculous enough to draft this malarkey is California. Now we get another look at the nanny state that the progressives have in mind for America. And somehow, I don’t think this will play well anywhere else in the country. Please come quickly, 2012.
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:02pmIm going to make a challenge to NY state. Give me 10 good reasons I should relocate my business and my family to New York. Because I can come up with reasons why no one should. GIve me your reasons why you wouldnt relocate to NY.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:37pmNew York is broke they want the two hundred DOLLARS.
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on April 20, 2011 at 5:47amI’m still scared of dodgeball. Most scary game ever. Government will save us.
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