12 Schoolyard Games That Would Be Lawsuits Today
These classic schoolyard games were fun at the time, but today, they would probably end with a parent-teacher conference — or a court date.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
Back in the day, playground games were all about scraped knees, bruised egos, and somehow surviving till recess ended. However, many of the games that passed as normal back then would never fly in today’s safety-conscious world. Here are 12 schoolyard games that would raise red flags in just about any modern school.
1. Red Rover Shoulder Slams
Kyra Malicse on Wikimedia Commons
Red Rover sounded harmless until someone got knocked flat by a flying tackle. The goal was to break through clasped arms at full speed, and more than one kid left the field crying or with a twisted wrist. Today, this would be more liability than team bonding.
2. Dodgeball to the Face
Kevin N. Murphy on Wikimedia Commons
Nothing says “good morning” like a rubber ball to the nose. Dodgeball was practically a sanctioned fight club, especially if older kids were playing. Schools today either ban it or soften the rules to avoid black eyes and bruised pride.
3. Smear the… Yeah, That One
Kampus Production on Pexels
This infamous game had no rules and a name that aged terribly. One kid ran with a ball while everyone else tried to destroy it. It was chaos, violence, and one injury report away from a lawsuit.
4. Crack the Whip Chaos
Ruth Hartnup from Vancouver, Canada on Wikimedia Commons
This started off slow but ended with someone being violently whipped into the dirt. The longer the chain of kids, the harder the crash landing. It was physics and poor judgment working together in real time.
5. King of the Hill Bruises
Krisadakorn Kongngoen on Pexels
Kids fought for top spot — literally. The hill could be a dirt mound or a playground slide, and the battle usually ended with someone falling hard. Schools eventually banned it for turning playtime into full-contact wrestling.
6. Jump Rope Whiplash
Maksym Kozlenko on Wikimedia Commons
Jump rope was all fun and rhymes until someone missed the beat. Whether double-dutch or solo, that rope could sting like a wasp when it snapped back. Teachers often stepped in to stop the rope wars before they escalated.
7. Freeze Tag Tackles
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Johnie Hickmon on Wikimedia Commons
Freeze Tag encouraged speed and stealth, but kids turned it into a contact sport. Instead of tagging, some went for full-body tackles to stop their target. It was not exactly what teachers had in mind for a friendly game.
8. Trampoline Trouble at Recess
DrSmartypants4 ln Wikimedia Commons
Portable trampolines made a rare appearance, and it always ended badly. No supervision and no padding meant someone was going to land wrong. One bounce too many, and the fun turned into a trip to the nurse.
9. Swing-Set Stunts
Jin Zan on Pexels
Jumping off a swing mid-air felt heroic, until it didn’t. Some kids tried to flip, others went for height records, and a few just landed wrong. Most schools now have strict swing rules for good reason.
10. Tetherball Smackdowns
chewonki on Wikimedia Commons
Tetherball could be oddly aggressive, especially when the rope wrapped around at lightning speed. Getting hit in the face was a rite of passage. It was half reflex, half risk.
11. Monkey Bar Mayhem
FOTO:Fortepan — ID 9571: Home pagePictureInformation page Adományozó/Donor: Kováts Lajos. on Wikimedia Commons
The monkey bars were a badge of honor until someone slipped. Broken arms, chipped teeth, and sprained ankles were common outcomes. Today, they often come with padded flooring, or not at all.
12. Slide Train Pileups
Thomas Taylor Hammond (1920-1993) on Wikimedia Commons
Kids loved going down slides in groups, forming “trains” that ended in pileups. It was funny until someone got a knee to the nose. Now, most schools are clear: one rider at a time, no exceptions.