From Ancient Warriors to PE Lessons: The Story of Dodgeball

This children’s article, From Ancient Warriors to PE Lessons: The Story of Dodgeball, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children build vocabulary, learn about sport and teamwork, and discover the exciting history of this PE favourite. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.

A game of dodging and throwing

If you’ve ever been in a PE lesson and heard the teacher shout “Dodgeball!”, you probably knew things were about to get lively. Dodgeball is a fast-paced game where two teams try to hit each other with soft balls while dodging incoming throws. 

It’s a mix of speed, skill, and strategy, and, of course, lots of laughs when someone makes a dramatic dive to avoid a ball or get hit in the face (as long as it wasn’t too hard).

From ancient training to school halls

Believe it or not, dodgeball has been around for hundreds of years, but it didn’t always look like the game we play today. Historians think it began in Africa over 200 years ago, where it was used as a training exercise to improve warriors’ reflexes and teamwork. Instead of soft rubber balls, they used rocks or sticks! Thankfully, the game evolved into something much safer and more fun.

In the late 1800s, a British teacher named Dr James H. Carlisle saw people playing a version of the game in Africa and decided to bring it back to England. Soon, dodgeball spread to schools across Britain and then to the United States, where it became a PE favourite.

Rules of the modern game

Today’s dodgeball is much safer and much more organised. Each team has six players, and the aim is to eliminate the other team by hitting them with the ball. If you get hit, you’re out. But if you catch a ball thrown at you, the thrower is out instead, and one of your teammates can come back into the game!

There are now official dodgeball leagues and world championships, with teams from countries such as the UK, the US, Japan, and Malaysia competing. Professional players train for speed, teamwork, and accuracy, and some can throw the ball at over 110 km/h!

A PE classic that keeps evolving

Dodgeball isn’t just for schools anymore. You can find adult leagues, charity events, and even glow-in-the-dark dodgeball tournaments. The game is often used to teach teamwork and fair play. After all, you have to be quick, but also kind and honest about whether you’ve been hit!

So next time you play, remember you’re taking part in a game with a long and exciting history, from ancient training fields to modern sports halls all over the world.

Article vocabulary list

• Reflexes – quick physical reactions to things happening around you
• Evolved – slowly changed or developed over time
• Eliminate – to remove someone from the game or competition
• Championship – a major competition to find the best team or player
• Accuracy – how close a throw or action is to being perfect
• Teamwork – working well together to achieve a goal
• League – a group of teams that compete against each other regularly
• Charity – an organisation that helps people or animals in need

Comprehension questions

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