Balls to the wall
Matthew Harrison
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Dodge or Die: Organizer Paul Periard braces for impact
photo: Aaron McKenzie Fraser
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High school's favourite sport makes a hyperactive comeback
Paul Periard has a vision for the city-nah, the whole country. The idea is simple, its scale is ambitious, its purpose, noble, and its execution, well, challenging. Preparations are almost finished for Ottawa's first ever dodge ball tournament this Saturday at Brookfield High. Its name: Dodge or Die. And Periard's not screwing around.
If all goes as planned, the city will eventually have a dodge ball team linked to others in Toronto, Vancouver, and Saskatchewan through a Canadian National Dodge Ball League, with all proceeds going to the cash-strapped AD/HD Foundation of Canada.
But before we get carried away, let's deal with Saturday's tournament.
Borrowing heavily from the circus-like atmosphere of that much-maligned Ben Stiller film, Dodge or Die will feature smoke machines, "death lasers," music by DJ Zeus, custom collector cards for teams, and a giant sound system set up by Ottawa's Geoff Brown, a 16-year-old sound-and-lighting whiz who cashed in making woofers for Silver City theatres. There's even a film crew to be on hand to document local teams like the Crotchless Panties in their glorious action.
Periard told me all this over coffee recently then started into the logistics of the game itself, which prove equally elaborate.
"We kept to the classic rules. For example, if someone throws the ball and it bounces off you and hits your buddy..." he pauses, and I ask if it would count as a double out.
"Shit! I didn't think of that rule," he exclaimed.
There were two weeks before
the actual event at this point, but Periard said he still had time to iron out some kinks, even if it doesn't happen until the day before Dodge or Die.He wasn't worried either. Procrastination, he told me, is typical of anyone with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. "We tend to get things done at the last minute," he laughed, then pulled out a black sketchbook.
Flipping through pages of drawings, mind-maps, web organizers, scribbles and slogans, he came to an illustration of a person slumped in a chair next to a wood stove. Above the picture, bold lettering: "STOP PUTTING THINGS OFF!!!"
It's not the only trait among those with AD/HD: being unorganized, hyperactive, repeating things, being highly focused one minute, then drifting away the next, and other "invisible traits that the public can't see," all come with the disorder, said Robert Cooper, director of the AD/HD Foundation of Canada.
Most of the public has heard of AD/HD or ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), and the controversial drug to help control it, Ritalin. But few parents or educators know much beyond that, Cooper said.
He mentioned Ontario Education Minister Gerard Kennedy's announcement August 15 that the province's high school drop-out rate had increased by 45 per cent-roughly 48,000 kids left school between the 2003 school year and the one in 2004-which he blamed on the elimination of Grade 13 and a lack of classroom attention from teachers.
Cooper said Kennedy's announcement failed to acknowledge that many dropouts were students with learning disabilities such as AD/HD. Budget cuts, large class sizes, and a lack of teaching assistants inevitably hurt them the most.
"AD/HD itself is a learning style, not a problem. If the learning style isn't addressed, then it becomes a problem, a disability," he said.
The mind-maps, web organizers, and pictures in Periard's sketchbook are just a few of the tools taught by Cooper and others to help people with AD/HD organize their thoughts.
Periard only learned of them at workshop given by Cooper in Ottawa. It's also where he got the idea for the tournament.
"We're all sitting in the boardroom and just like the film (Dodgeball) they need money. I'm like, 'dodge ball!' and people were all like, 'What? I haven't played dodge ball since I was in grade school.'
"That's the appeal," Periard said. "It's this game that everyone wants to play. I remember back in school that if it was raining and you couldn't go outside for gym, you'd be praying that the teacher would let you play dodge ball, but then they'd make you play some other stupid sport.
"Everyone played it in elementary school. Then you got to junior high and were suddenly cut off, forever."
Undoubtedly a hyperactive sport, I ask Periard if there was a metaphor for AD/HD in all of this.
"Imagine that each ball is labelled with things like self-esteem, people's views, self-control, and all this other stuff that gets thrown at you when you have this condition. You're just trying to dodge and survive, and all you really want is a shield. Eventually you're the last one standing."
The Tournament is scheduled for Saturday September 24 at Brookfield High School, 824 Brookfield Road, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with food available. Come and support the unsung heroes of Canadian sport or join in and make a team at the last minute!
I am a grade 10 student, during gym classes we play the game of dodge ball. I have seen the game being abused, in different ways. Most relevant is boys and girls whipping the ball as hard as they can so that they can hit a person with a huge blow mostly because they detest that person. Due to this students are now going into the changing rooms hiding from the game, basically skipping gym. Is this really promoting "active living" when students are not playing ether sitting down or run away from the game. This game is promoting all the wrong lessons in all aspects. Should we be teaching young boys and girls to whip-balls at each other when we cant have a snow ball fight. Next it will be throwing knifes!
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Lay Benwa
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| Memories of dodging the ball. |
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I feel so torn when I think about dodge ball. My memories of playing dodge ball in elementary school seem to be those of terror and anxiety. I can't remember any other 'gym' activity that created more of a Lord of the Flies environment. In fact, I think it's impossible to play the game without adding verbal barbs: "You're going down, sucker!" and "This is the end of you!". The liberation of actually being allowed, nay, encouraged! to throw things at you classmates sent the 10 year olds of my memories into spasms of mad delight.
And even though I was a skinny, uncoordinated "easy target" who would not subject herself to such pain today, I'm sure watching adults play the game in the aforementioned tournament would be truly hilarious. I wish the organizers lots of success. Just don't throw anything at me.
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Lee Higginson
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{20 votes}
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| Dodgeball Charity Event in Jackson, TN |
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I ran across this article when looking at my web stats for the past month and thought I would post a link to what we have been doing here in Jackson, TN. A local radio personality George B challenged the entire listening area to a dodgeball tournament. This was sent out over the airwaves of the WNWS FM listening area and several organizations and city/county government offices took up the challenge. One game resulted in over $2000 dollars raised for the charity of the opposing teams choice. The Police, The Sheriff's Dept., the County Commissioners, the City Council, The Minor League Baseball Team Staff, and a plethora of other teams came together to participate in this 2 month long tournament. You can view the Dodgeball videos here if you would like to see them. Note: they are still ongoing with a final double elimination tournament to culminate on the 28th of this month. You may get a kick out of the videos and pick up some pointers for your tournament. Let us know if we can help.
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Jeremy Rasnic
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| Nobody makes me bleed my own blood |
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I have good memories of playing dodge ball in school. I was about three feet taller than everyone else in my class so dodgeball was the only time I got to shine. It was nice being the first pick of the guys for once and it was perfectly acceptable to nail someone in the face with the ball. I can see how some people can have bad memories of it though, especially the kids who weren't so into sports or weren't liked, it was open season out there. But we're adults now, and this isn't mandatory so a tournament actually sounds pretty good. Getting adults out there for some friendly competition and exercise won't hurt anyone.
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Josee Lacroix
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{2 votes}
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Any sport out there that encourages kids to be active is great. This tournament is a great idea and I hope that it will start a new trend amongst teanagers because with the stats regarding obesity and teens, we should really encourage teens to do more sports instead of staying in front of the tv or computer for too many hours. Great initiative Paul!!
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Roxane Gibault
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{1 vote}
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A Canadian National Dodge Ball League? Well, at least there won't be a players lock-out or some silly strike to deal with because hey, thanks to Canada's fine educational system dodge ball was practically taught to every boy and girl since kindergarden. We're literally a nation of potential players. And let's be honest here, there isn't much skill involved. You've either got to whack somebody with the ball or or you've got to avoid getting whacked. It's for a good cause but I don't know if this will take off as they seem to think it will. At least most school yard bullies I remember have now found a vocation for themselves and their anti-social skills. Yay!
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Pedro Eggers
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{20 votes}
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Dodgeball?...Dodgeball? Oh yeah , that's the game where you get your head caught between a cinder-block wall and a hard rubber ball, thrown by a huge Auto Mechanic in training. When you come to ,he's standing over you saying, "next time you're dead!" then when it's your turn, you line up said Auto Mechanic, but knowing it will only bounce off of him like a fly, you nail him right in the ball joints! and as your standing over him this time, he's saying, " now your really gonna get it!"only this time he sounds like Mickey Mouse. Sounds like great fun. But, at my age, and like the movie 'Dodgeball', I'll just watch and laugh.
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David Fairhead
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{6 votes}
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| Dodge dive duck and dodge |
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I thought the movie Dodgeball was hilarious but being forced to play dodge ball in real life in high school against the boys' team was one of the most dreaded activities. Who wants to get hit really hard? Geez.
There is already an Extreme Dodgeball show on one of the American television stations and the costumes are funny but not as good as the ones in the Dodgeball movie. I don't think I would watch dodgeball. Too painful.
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Sue Michal
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{6 votes}
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I remember playing dodge ball as a kid at school. I hope that kids can still play it; with all the bans on playgrounds, mittens with strings, and other 'Hazards", it wouldn't surprise me to hear that whipping your classmates with a ball in the playground is no longer allowed.
I think that this will be a great event for a good cause--much research is needed on AD/HD and quick! I also agree that this could be an interesting national spectator sport.
What is most interesting to me as a woman is the possibility that this sport, like Ultimate Frisbee, has the potential to be a co-ed affair as there are few (if any) advantages that one gender has over the other. I think it would be great to see teams of men and women duking it out for some sort of championship cup. I also think that some businesses and offices should consider dodge ball as an extra-curricular activity for their lunchrooms; let people blow off some steam!
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Chris Cloot
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{6 votes}
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| Not against it but still... |
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Well, I must say that I find the idea of "throwing a ball as hard as you can on someone else" to be a bit dangerous. I mean, in other sports like baseball, you must hit the ball and send it as far as possible. There may be injuries or casualties, but it is not the primary goal of that sport. But when you decide to hit someone with a ball, well the risk of hurting yourself increases a lot.
And they should be protected. But how can they protect themselves with pads and still have all the freedom of their movements? Anyways, with the movie "Dodgeball", the sport has now more visibility and I think it's ok. It will probably give the chance to a lot of kids who are not good in any other sport a place for fame.
I know for a fact that in the city next to mine there is a league this year. A new concept. They are mostly men, but they enjoy the sport because it gives them a way to let out all the anger and the steam they have inside. So in a way, i'm against the idea of dodgeball, but I'm also for it.
But one thing that is for sure, it's not the end of it.
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Elaine Chalifoux
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{1 vote}
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contact and registration information
I noticed there was no contact information in the dodge ball story.
I would like to add the contact information for anyone who is trully interested in joining this tournament.
To register visit www.canadiandodgeball.com or call the AD/HD Foundation of Canada at 613-233-3226. Credit Card registerations excepted at this number also.
Thank you for your time and I hope to see you at the tournament.
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Kris Soucy
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{2 votes}
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I played Dodge ball before and I had a blast. It's a real fun sport and it's also interesting to watch so I hope that a lot of people will go watch this tournament. The players need all the encouragement they can get!!
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Brian Fung
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{1 vote}
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I'm all for it. all sports should be given a chance to be a regular playing league and if possibly, nationally televised. If people can sit and watch Lacrosse, i don't see why this sport shouldn't have a chance. and c'mon...every kid has played it so don't tell me the majority wouldn't be for it. I think it would be a healthy way to blow off steam. No one gets killed in it either...i prefer the title "King's court" as we called it when i was young.
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Ger Madden
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{1 vote}
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