Chrissie
23-09-2011, 09:29 AM
This is nuts:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3830603/School-bans-real-footballs-from-the-playground.html
A SCHOOL has banned proper footballs from the playground — in case kids get hurt.
Instead, youngsters will have to kick soft sponge balls during playtime.
Parents are furious at the ruling — but the school said it follows "a number of incidents" involving the leather-style balls.
Mum Kirstie Davies — whose son Harvey James is among the 300 pupils at Harewood Junior School in Tuffley, Gloucs — branded the move "stupid".
She added: "They've never had any fatal accidents because of a leather football."
One dad of a six-year-old boy said: "It's health and safety being stupid. My lad's a bright little player and he won't learn if he's not kicking a proper football."
A mum with two kids at the school added: "There's more important issues than rules like this."
And Tam Fry, chairman of the Child Growth Foundation, said: "George Best and all the football stars wouldn't have made it if they were kicking sponge around.
"No one wants a child to be damaged by having a football kicked at them, but it's just unbelievable to prevent our children learning things."
And Nick Seaton of the Campaign for Real Education said: "It's ridiculous. Sponge balls do not behave like leather balls so it is not going to help young footballers."
Head Andrea Mills said pupils and staff were consulted on the decision. She added: "It's about having children able to play while keeping everyone safe."
She said the school still use leather-style balls for organised games and PE lessons.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3830603/School-bans-real-footballs-from-the-playground.html
A SCHOOL has banned proper footballs from the playground — in case kids get hurt.
Instead, youngsters will have to kick soft sponge balls during playtime.
Parents are furious at the ruling — but the school said it follows "a number of incidents" involving the leather-style balls.
Mum Kirstie Davies — whose son Harvey James is among the 300 pupils at Harewood Junior School in Tuffley, Gloucs — branded the move "stupid".
She added: "They've never had any fatal accidents because of a leather football."
One dad of a six-year-old boy said: "It's health and safety being stupid. My lad's a bright little player and he won't learn if he's not kicking a proper football."
A mum with two kids at the school added: "There's more important issues than rules like this."
And Tam Fry, chairman of the Child Growth Foundation, said: "George Best and all the football stars wouldn't have made it if they were kicking sponge around.
"No one wants a child to be damaged by having a football kicked at them, but it's just unbelievable to prevent our children learning things."
And Nick Seaton of the Campaign for Real Education said: "It's ridiculous. Sponge balls do not behave like leather balls so it is not going to help young footballers."
Head Andrea Mills said pupils and staff were consulted on the decision. She added: "It's about having children able to play while keeping everyone safe."
She said the school still use leather-style balls for organised games and PE lessons.