INTRODUCTION

Cooperative PEACE sports

Softened non-competitive sports,

similar to the games we know, where

Everyone Succeeds, has Fun,

and gets a Good, Safe and Healthy Workout.

  Playful – light hearted, soft, modified rules/tools, graceful

   Everyone – success for all ages/abilities, encouragement

  Action – safe, healthy exercise, play all the time/all positions

  Cooperative – kind, loving, giving (no keeping score/losing)

  Enjoyment – laughter, exhilaration, friendship, skill building

Inner/Universal PEACE through True Play

‘Treating ALL as FRIENDS and as we would like to be treated’

 ‘play’ –  recreational activity (to refresh the spirit) without serious or harmful intent, and;

‘sport’ –  to amuse oneself;  frolic;  physical activity engaged in for pleasure;  pleasantry.

Some good reasons for participating in

Cooperative PEACE sports

 (1) A good, safe, healthy workout in the great outdoors; (2) the mindless exhilaration associated with stress free, in the moment, physical activity; (3) the comradery of playing with a supportive group of family and friends; (4) the amazing, unpredictable, graceful dance of people interacting with flying balls; (5) a big dose of laughter, joy, tranquility and inner peace; and (6) an opportunity to hone your skills (sort of like practicing and sand lot games).

‘ALL ONE TEAM’  –  ‘PLAYING to PLAY - NOT to WIN’  

'EACH PLAY is the GAME’

                              
Elementary aged children – recess, physical education classes, church leagues, after school recreation programs, home schoolers, summer camps, nature centers, sand lot games, new cooperative sports youth leagues, etc. 

Middle/High School students – physical education classes, expanded intramurals, church leagues, after school recreation programs, home schoolers, sand lot games, new cooperative sports youth leagues, etc.

Adults – church leagues, college intramurals, community recreation programs, civic groups, neighborhood sponsored playgroups, re-habilitation programs, corporate team building programs, family picnics, (intergenerational/coed play is always encouraged) etc.

PEACE sports offerings in St. Augustine, Florida

Some of the PROBLEMS associated with our

 traditionally designed, often much to rough,

 COMPETITIVE SPORTS

Quotes from four notable sports sociologists: (1) “Sports have become the narcissism of the smallest of differences”;  (2) “What we learn/do in sports often shapes who we become as adults and isn’t always as virtuous as we have been led to believe”; (3) “To turn this society towards peaceful, humane change, we can begin with the reform of sports”; and, (4) “Of prime importance is a redefinition of sports that emphasizes health, rather than winning, playfulness rather than aggression, and participation rather than consumptive passivity”.

EXCLUSION - a very small percentage of children continue to participate in group sports after elementary school (70% drop out) – the competitive system is designed to weed out all but the biggest, best, most intense, etc. The result is a very small, elitist, often egocentric and machoistic group of athletes who get most of the resources and attention, while the rest of us (oftentimes with unjustified low athletic self-esteem) have little to do but watch from the sidelines.

HEALTH CRISIS – is it any wonder then that we have such a large, inactive, obese, unhealthy population of both children and adults? Universal participation in group sports could be a great way for us to both exercise and have fun.

ROUGH/DANGEROUS - many of the sports are by their very design too rough, use balls that are too hard, or too large, etc. How can any game involving the use of protective equipment be referred to as play? No wonder lots of us are turned off – we are not about to sacrifice our bodies, just to play the games, or for the good of the ‘team’.

ADVERSARIAL – competition creates artificial adversarial relationships, with tremendous coaching, parental and peer pressure to win at all costs, resulting in conformist, aggressive, extreme, and unkind behaviors towards others.

VIOLENCE/INJURY – there are lots of injuries in traditional sports, limiting the athletic prowess of many for a lifetime (fact – in the US there are 4 million concussions a year in youth sports). Isn’t there something strange about some of our sports that require an ambulance to be in attendance at all of the games? This doesn’t seem very playful!

SERIOUSNESS – our obsession with winning is destroying the natural, innocent, carefree, loving, in the present moment, playful child residing within all of us. Some of our sports seem more like war. Where is the laughter?

ANXIETY/STRESS – we are yelled at by coaches, have to conform/perform to meet the expectations of others, are depressed if we lose or make a mistake, have to put up with unruly spectators, etc. Aren’t we supposed to be playing?

TOOLS/RULES – some of the sports involve so many players in a game that there isn’t that much action for everyone, especially those with less athletic ability. Others, by their very design, are too difficult at first for those with less athletic ability to master, and so many get discouraged and give up, resulting in a lifetime of low athletic esteem.

SPECIALIZATION – more and more we have to concentrate on one sport and one position in that sport. We don’t have time to play many sports, we certainly can’t play every position, or work on developing ambidextrous skills, etc.

BENCH WARMING – we are cut from the team or have to just sit around while others get to play. What fun is that?

Our culture increasingly glorifies winning, aggression, violence, extremism, etc. in sports (all as being heroic, manly, etc.), and puts athletes on a pedestal to be idolized. The mind set that competition (trying to be better than someone else) is the only way to make sports worth doing and to bring out the ‘best’ in us, is a learned behavior, and one many are questioning. To indoctrinate our children in this way, as appropriate, and as the only way, seems a great injustice.

Sports do not have to be difficult, rough or involve competition – in fact, they can be much more worth doing (healthy, successful for ALL, non-injurious, exhilarating, stress free, refreshing, skillful, fun, friendly, loving, etc.) when we are gentle with each other and focus on the process (“each play is the game”), rather than on some arbitrary adversarial creation of someone else’s ego-centered mind (keeping track of the past, winning/losing, being superior, etc.). Why must we take sports so seriously?

The many VIRTUES of re-designed, softened,

Cooperative PEACE sports

FULL PARTICIPATION – all ages and abilities, encouragement, intergenerational, coed

ACTION/HEALTH – smaller teams and fields, more action/exercise for all participating

SOFT – softer and sometimes smaller balls, graceful interactions with playmates

FRIENDLY – kind and peaceful (no adversaries, no aggression, no machoism), sharing

NO VIOLENCE/INJURIES – no roughness, no getting hurt or overextending our bodies

TRULY PLAYFUL – cooperative (no competition/no losing), loving, giving - never serious

FUN – inner peace, exhilaration - no anxiety, stress, hurt feelings, or performance expectations

MODIFIED TOOLS/RULES – success for all, skill development, equality in all aspects

DIVERSITY – play all sports, all positions, challenge all skill levels, ambidexterity

PLAY ALL the TIME – no bench warming, no cuts, drop-in/out at any time

In COOPERATIVE PEACE sports, the emphasis is on the acceptance of differences. Everyone is accepted for who they are, and where they are at – no one is superior to another in PEACE sports – we don’t use the words better or best, winner vs. loser. No one is excluded. As the name implies, in PEACE sports we soften the games, rejecting all forms of aggression, violence and extremism. Instead, we are encouraged to be careful and to just be ourselves, not pushing ourselves beyond reasonable limits, acting PEACEably towards ALL – never trying to be better than others.

The emphasis on smaller playgroups is simply to ensure that everyone is actively engaged and gets more good healthy exercise. So where as before, for example, a 4th grade class of 24 students might play a game of softball or kickball with 12 on each side, in PEACE sports, there would be two simultaneous games played, on smaller fields. In the case of COOPERATIVE SOFTBALL for example, the 12 most experienced/skilled players might play in one group, using bats and a really ‘soft’ ball, while the others might use racquets (modified tools/rules), and a really “soft” ball as well, thereby challenging and encouraging everyone to successfully participate.

This isn’t a given however, for it’s also virtuous to mix the skill levels up, asking the more skilled players to help mentor, assist and encourage those with less experience and skill (giving to others is a major aspect of PEACE sports). Other characteristics of COOPERATIVE SOFTBALL, for example, include a focus on equality, (e.g., everyone hits every inning) and there are no expectations placed on the players, (e.g., there are no outs or errors). Diversity (developing ambidextrous skills and playing all positions) is also encouraged. Everyone has fun and kindness reigns supreme.

To re-emphasize, for us, “Each play is the game.” We play in the present moment – the outcome is exercise, fun, and friendship - not winning/losing. “We are ALL ONE team”, and we are “Playing to PLAY  - not to win”. We already live in an increasingly violent, stressful, and competitive world. For those who choose the status quo – rough, competitive sports, so be it. But for the rest of us, the vast majority, can we not create, nurture, and spread ALTERNATIVE, more PEACEful ways to play with and treat each other.

Can’t we take time out to ‘truly play’ - refreshing our spirits without serious or harmful intent, getting a good, healthy and safe workout, sharing fun times together with our families and friends? We believe these games will enrich your life and the lives of others around you.  Won’t you please give them a try? A new way begins with each of us! 

BUILDING COMMUNITY and CREATING HARMONY through ‘TRUE PLAY’

Please note: In the near future we will be using newly designed,

really ‘soft’ water-resistant balls, called EARTHballs,

with a whole earth logo – earth, humans, plants, animals, fish, etc.,

 helping us to focus on appreciating and caring for the NATURAL WORLD.

An aside - HOW I ENVISION PLAYING SPORTS

 

When I think about playing a ball game, I think about the challenge for example, of making a leaping catch (baseball/football), or returning a hard hit shot at the baseline (tennis), or a making a left handed slam dunk (basketball). I think of being outside, feeling the wind in my face, watching the clouds float by overhead and being with my friends, laughing, and getting a good workout.

 

I want lots of exciting action, and if it is a group game, I want to play every position. I absolutely refuse to sit on the bench while others play. I do not want to get hurt or hurt someonelse.  I want to play with balls that are easy to handle and are not to hard. I want to play on surfaces that are easy on my body.

 

I want to play ambidextrously. Sometimes I want to just play gently, slowly, and gracefully.

 

I don’t want any mental stress – winning the point, making a critical error, etc. The words winning and error, for example, are the creations of someonelse’s mind. Ball games can be everything I want, and actually a lot more, without keeping score, winning, errors, etc. I don’t need to feel superior to you. I just want to have fun with you. Instead of viewing the game as having an outcome (the score – winning), I want to view it as a process, in the moment. To me, EACH PLAY is the GAME. This concept may be difficult to accept at first. It is contrary to everything we have been taught. The concept that the earth was a sphere, and not flat, took a while to settle in. Open your mind to the possibility that there is another way to play.

 

When I play, since I am no longer concerned with scoring and winning, but instead focused on the challenge associated with each play, I will intentionally try and provide my teammate(s) with challenging opportunities, knowing full well that they are going to do the same for me. I have nothing to lose!

 

I might chose to play in two forms. Sometimes helping those less skilled than myself – it is nice slowing the game down at times. At other times, I might choose to play with those of a similar skill level for the challenge/workout involved.

 

I really don’t want a bunch of fans around yelling obscenities at the other team or some coach telling me what to do. I don’t want adversaries. Friends will do just fine. Would you like to give it a try – COOPERATIVE BALL GAMES?

 

A COOPERATIVE PLAYPARK VISION

 

I would like someplace to go on a regular basis where other like-minded children and adults could play COOPERATIVE SPORTS. I can envision a beautiful, multi-acre park, with a small wind and solar powered carousel, a kiosk explaining the philosophy and structure of the cooperative games, and a harmonium installation (easy to play, naturally harmonizing, permanently situated, musical instruments);

 

Set in among the shade of some deciduous trees are several picnic tables (suitable for dominoes as well), a children’s play set, four “moonball” goals (see the next section for an explanation) arranged in a circle at different heights, two half sized volleyball nets (4-5 ft. high), two outdoor ping pong tables (no nets), two horseshoe setups, and around the parks periphery, in amongst the trees, a 9 hole Frisbee/bat and ball golf course;

 

In a fairly large, well drained, open grassy area, two fenced in grass tennis like courts (no nets), two 3 base ‘soft’ball/kickball fields (using two sides of the court fencing as backstops), and two small rectangular fields for soccer and football (using the other sides of the court fencing as backstops – one mounted with a rebound board - suitable for dodge-ball, alone hitting and throwing practice, etc.);

 

A small storage/maintenance shed for game equipment, etc., and a recycling station for park users with information about how recycling saves earth creatures homes, and;

 

A large artistic sculpture surrounding all of the above entitled, “Life on Earth – cause and effect – the last 100 million years”.

 

Would you like to share in some way

in the creation of this vision?

 

If so, please contact me at dickbozung@.cooperativesports.org.

 

 Gandhi – “The true practice of life is to find the better side of human nature and enter into hearts,”

and,

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."