If it were just an isolated incident, it would not matter as much. But “sack tapping,” or hitting or kicking someone in the testicles, is a YouTube attraction and is leaving serious injuries.
Take this story from Minnesota for example, which quotes a local urologist saying he performs three to four surgeries a year on teens who have been injured in these so-called games. He sees dozens of such injuries in his office that do not require surgery. All in just one community.
Late last year, WTHR-TV in Indianapolis took a deeper look at the rumors of widespread sack tapping (also called “ball tapping”). I appreciate that this station, which often proves to be thoughtful in its reporting, conducted a survey of school nurses to find out the extent of the phenomenon, rather than rely on anecdotal evidence. My friend and investigative reporter Bob Segall reported:
“It’s a disturbing game with devastating consequences, and a new WTHR survey suggests it is rampant in Indiana schools [PDF].
” ‘Ball tapping’ is the act of intentionally hitting or kicking a male in the genitals. Earlier this month, an Eyewitness News investigation showed the game has become commonplace in some area schools, resulting in serious injuries for students.
“As part of the investigation, WTHR also conducted a statewide survey of school nurses. The results are in, and they show the problem of ball tapping is more common and widespread than many school officials had realized.
“School nurses from 163 Indiana schools participated in the anonymous survey, and 33% of those nurses said they’re aware of ball tapping happening at their school within the past twelve months.
“But a closer look at the statistics shows the problem is much more serious in some schools than in others.
“23% of school nurses who work at the elementary level say they’ve seen or heard of ball tapping at their school. That number nearly doubles in high schools, where 43% of school nurses say they’ve seen it.
“And in middle schools, 62% of school nurses said they’re aware of students engaged in ball tapping.
” ‘I would have expected it to be a low number,’ said Mary Conway, president of the Indiana Association of School Nurses. ‘I would not have expected [school nurses] to have had much experience with it at all … because I think it’s something most kids won’t talk about with a nurse. I’m very surprised by this whole issue and it’s given me a new perspective.’
“Among the 72 middle school and high school nurses who participated in WTHR’s survey, 50% said they had seen students who came to the school clinic seeking assistance related to an incident of ball tapping. Half of those nurses also reported they had observed the problem several (more than two) times each school year, and about 10% said it happens at their school on a daily or weekly basis.”
A lawsuit involving sack tapping even ended up on the “Judge Judy” show.
