Tetherball is alive and well at Cleveland, with many students sometimes playing a game during recess and/or lunch. The rules used on our playground seem a bit different than in my day (when did I get old enough to say “in my day”?). I remember one hit only, no touching the rope, no grabbing the pole, and no holding the ball.

Today students seem to have fun playing tetherball without all those rules, and they don’t seem to need them. There are lots of smiles, they take turns playing, and they are having fun. That is one of the benefits of play – having fun.

Children can often find ways to have fun in a game without a set of rules, but there are times when rules do have a place. In a game of tetherball, where there are only two people playing at once, it is easier to be a bit flexible with the rules. When the games start to include groups of children, a few simple rules can often help in avoiding problems.

Take soccer. An easy to remember rule is no hands allowed (unless you are goalie). Any deviations from that rule and people get upset.

Recess and lunchtime behavioural problems (fights, arguments, exclusions, etc.) often start after someone decides to change the rules of a game, or have rules that are different for people they like. Changing rules during a game, or rigging a game against someone, creates unnecessary problems for all players.

So, boys and girls at Cleveland, some hints for playing a few key recess games are:

• For soccer – no hands allowed (unless you are goalie) and pass
• For football – two-hand touch (not two-hand shove) and pass to everyone
• For tag – no time-outs to avoid being tagged (why play tag if you can’t be it?) and chase everyone.

Not all games need rules, but when rules are in place, please stick with them.

• Play Fair
• Play Nice
• Let Everyone Play
• & Play Safe

Take care