Wiffleball - Safety Controversy in Spring 2011

Safety Controversy in Spring 2011

In April 2011, the government of New York state proclaimed that wiffle ball (as well as kickball, freeze tag, and dodgeball) was unsafe and a "significant risk of injury" for children and declared that any summer camp program that included two or more of such activities would be subject to government regulation. The story often became a source of ridicule and amusement, with Parenting.com sarcastically commented "According to new legislation introduced in New York State, to survive classic schoolyard games like Capture the Flag is to cheat death." Wiffle ball executives originally thought the order was a "joke". The company has never been sued over safety issues in its 50+ year history. The disapproval of people from across the nation pressured the NY legislature to remove wiffle ball and many other entries from the list of high risk activities, such as archery and scuba diving, that require state government oversight.

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