Human Target Games in PE: The Ongoing Debate

By Jarrod Robinson · June 1, 2017 · 2 min read

From dodgeball to tag, human target games remain one of PE's most debated topics. Here's a practical look at where to draw the line and how to make games safer and more inclusive.

Why are human target games banned in parts of the United States? This is a question that keeps coming up in physical education circles, and it's one worth examining carefully.

The umbrella of "human target games" is broader than most people realise. It doesn't just cover dodgeball — it includes any game where the primary objective involves throwing, kicking, or striking an object at another person. That includes variations of tag with throwing, bombardment games, and even some relay formats.

The Argument for Banning

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and SHAPE America have taken clear positions: games where students are targeted with projectiles are considered inappropriate practices. Their reasoning:

• Physical safety — Even with soft balls, students can be hit in the face, and the force differential between athletic and non-athletic students creates genuine safety concerns
• Psychological safety — Being repeatedly targeted builds negative associations with PE, particularly for students who are already less physically confident
• Educational value — The skill of "throwing at people" has limited transfer to legitimate sport skills, while the same throwing accuracy can be developed through target games using non-human targets
• Elimination problem — Most human target games involve elimination, which means the least active students get the least activity time

The Counter-Argument

Many experienced PE teachers push back against blanket bans:

• Context matters — A well-managed game with foam balls, clear rules, and no headshots is fundamentally different from a free-for-all with rubber balls
• Student engagement — These games are often the most popular in PE. Removing them entirely can reduce student enthusiasm for the subject
• Teaching opportunity — Rather than banning, use these games to teach about appropriate force, consent, and empathy. These are real-world social skills
• Modified versions work — Games like Doctor Dodgeball, Pin Guard, and Medic Bombardment where eliminated players re-enter quickly address most concerns

A Practical Framework

Rather than a binary yes/no on human target games, consider this framework for evaluating any game in your PE program:

1. Activity time — Are ALL students physically active for the majority of the lesson? If elimination means half the class is sitting, modify or replace.
2. Safety — Are you using appropriate equipment (foam balls, light balls) with clear rules (no headshots, underarm throws only)?
3. Inclusion — Does the game inadvertently advantage certain students? Can you modify it so students of all abilities can contribute meaningfully?
4. Skill development — What PE skills are students actually developing? Can you articulate how this game meets your curriculum standards?
5. Student voice — Have you asked your students how they feel about the game? Not just the keen ones — the quiet students who might never volunteer their discomfort.

If a game passes all five checks, it's probably fine regardless of whether it technically involves "targeting." If it fails on even one, it's worth modifying or replacing.

Better Alternatives

If you decide to move away from human target games, you don't have to sacrifice excitement:

• Pin Bowling Games — Teams defend pins while attacking opponents' pins. Same throwing accuracy, no hitting people.
• Ga-Ga Ball — Underhand rolling in an enclosed area. Hits below the knee only. Incredibly popular with students.
• Capture the Flag variations — All the strategy and running, no throwing at people.
• Scatterball with tagging — Replace throwing with tagging for a high-energy chase game.

The beauty of PE is that we can achieve almost any physical outcome through multiple game formats. If human target games aren't working for your context, there are always alternatives that deliver the same skills and excitement.

Need game ideas for your next PE lesson? ConnectedPE's PE Games Generator creates custom games for any age group, skill focus, and equipment list.

Tags: games, advocacy, inclusion, pedagogy, debate