[Sicon]

Did anyone else play "Smear the Queer" during recess? The game was simple: one boy would throw a football as high in the air as he could. All the other boys (usually at least 10, often closer to 20) would fight to catch the ball. Once caught, he was "the queer", and tried to run from everyone else. Everyone else chased him and eventually gang tackled him. That boy would then throw the ball up, and the cycle would repeat.

We played this "game" all of the time, and would come in from recess with grass, dirt, and sometimes mud, all over ourselves. There were also the associated scratches and bruises from tackling or being tackled.

We loved that game, and no one (including teachers) had any problem with any of it. This was in 4th-6th grade. It was just boys blowing off a tiny portion of their boundless energy.

I can't imagine any part of that recess experience being allowed today. And that's a serious problem, for many reasons.

[Adder]

absolutely...tho not at school, usually.

[FatherofFive]

one boy would throw a football as high in the air as he could

We called it 'Touchdown' because the object was to score a touchdown after you got the ball.