Nascar, Battleball highlight activities at primary school
By JARED PUTNAM Union Sentinel Editor

Photo by Russ Krauskopf 2nd grade Battleball Champions: Mrs. Seabolt's class.

While traditional sports like soccer and baseball are drawing to a close for the summer, so are the unique activities offered by Coach Chris Robbins and the Union County Primary School.

Namely, the Nascar Race of the Classes and the Battleball Tournament.

Every year the 1st grade and 2nd grade classes get to kick off the second half of the school year by preparing for an event called the 'Nascar Race of the Classes." Kids are allowed to start practicing after Christmas, riding what Coach Chris Robbins calls "Razor Scream Machines," which are described as "souped up big wheels." The races take place in the Union County Primary School gymnasium.

The kids learn the concepts of pedaling and steering while getting their legs in shape. Once the races begin, each student goes head to head against their gender in their class until each teacher has a boy and girl representative out of their class. They are then entered into the Nascar Race of the Classes.

Photo by Russ Krauskopf 1st grade boys champion Lance Hill: Mrs. Thompson's class.

The event is a single elimination tournament to decide who will be school champions. "It is a really big thing here," Coach Robbins said. "The kids love it. They get to root for their favorite driver." At the end the winners receive a pizza party and a trophy.

Following the Nascar race is the second big activity of the spring, the Battleball Tournament. What is Battleball?

"We made it up six or seven years ago," Coach Robbins said. The game is single elimination as each class goes head to head in a 30 minute tournament. It is only done in second grade classes.

Battleball teaches kids numerous things, including concepts from baseball, soft- ball, bowling, dodgeball, and more. There are different types of balls in the game, and each one means different things, depending on where and how it contacts a player.

"It is complicated," the coach said. "It takes kids a minimum of two weeks to learn the whole game. Once they get it, it takes a couple more weeks to master it." But Coach Robbins said it turns into one of their favorite games. "There is not a day that goes by [that one kid doesn't say] 'can we play Battleball," he said.

Photo by Russ Krauskopf 1st grade girls champion Hannah Tanner: Mrs. Hussion's class.

The class that wins the tournament gets the honor of carrying the Battleball Trophy for the year. "They actually get to carry a trophy for the entire year," Coach Robbins said. "It is kind of an ongoing thing of who gets to carry it."

In addition to the physical fitness and overall fun elements of the games, Coach Robbins said that they teach important fundamental concepts to children.

"The chance to be able to compete is good," the coach said. "You have to learn to win and learn to lose and accept it. You have people who win and people who lose on any given day. We go on with it and have fun with it."

Photo by Russ Krauskopf 2nd grade boys champion Clay Moore: Mrs. Collins class. Photo by Russ Krauskopf 2nd grade girls champion Brianna Payne: Mrs. Collins class.