Bans and Restrictions
Tag and other chasing games have been banned in some schools in the US and UK due to concerns about injuries and complaints from children of harassment. In 2008, a 10-year-old boy in Omaha, Nebraska died while playing tag when he suffered brain injuries from falling onto a metal pole, and a school dinner lady in Dorset was left partially paralyzed after a 13-year-old boy playing tag ran into her in 2004. She failed in her attempt to sue him for compensation.
A principal who banned tag in their school said that "In this game, there is a victim or It, which creates a self-esteem issue. The oldest or biggest child usually dominates." A dislike of elimination games is another reason for banning tag. In some schools only supervised tag is allowed, sometimes with a type of tagging called butterfly tagging—a light tap on the shoulders, arms or upper back.
The president of the US National Association for Sport and Physical Education said that "Tag games are not inherently bad ... teachers must modify rules, select appropriate boundaries and equipment, and make sure pupils are safe. Teachers should emphasize tag games that develop self-improvement, participation, fair play, and cooperation." The UK Local Government Association encouraged the playing of tag in 2008, saying that children are overprotected ("wrapped in cotton wool").
Read more about this topic: Tag (game)