Palatine schools considering making bag toss part of gym class

Think about the bean bag game known as baggo or bags and you'll be forgiven for conjuring up images of a tailgate bash in the shadows of Soldier Field or a fraternity front lawn.

Physical fitness, on the other hand, likely doesn't come to mind.

So should a game that often is played while holding a beer be incorporated into an elementary school's physical education curriculum?

Absolutely, says Geno Randazzo, one of the world's top-ranked players.

The 43-year-old Justice man met with P.E. teachers at Palatine Township Elementary District 15 this week to pitch baggo as a school-sanctioned activity, complete with a curriculum that shows how baggo is in line with local, state and national physical development and health standards and specific lessons tailored to grades K-12.

District 15 is listening.

Sandy Drucker, District 15's physical education facilitator, said Randazzo's lesson plan teaches cooperative learning, strategy, teamwork, left- and right-brain stimulation, and body and core balance.

There also are warmups involving aerobic and anaerobic exercises. Randazzo's company, MyCornCoach, makes an overlay that dissects the wooden board into segments so players can understand bag placement.

“Believe it or not, cornhole fits the bill,” Drucker said. “We're constantly looking for new ideas and concepts because we want to keep things fresh and kids interested.”

The game consists of eight bean bags and two slanted wooden boards with a hole in the center. Using an underhand toss, players throw the bags onto the board — or, better, into the hole — and rack up points based on where they land.

It doesn't discriminate against athletically challenged youngsters. A kid who gets picked last for the dodgeball team can dominate a bean bag board.

“Young, old, short, tall, fat, thin, special needs — it doesn't matter,” said Randazzo, whose wife, Margarita, is also a top-ranked American Cornhole Organization player. “It can build self-esteem.”

With growing concern over childhood obesity and limited gym time — District 15's elementary students have physical education only twice a week — the game may be a hard sell to some parents.

But Drucker said most PE teachers already put on two-week recreational units that feature more leisurely activities such as bowling or bocce ball.

“It's not your mother and father's gym class anymore,” Drucker said. “This is just another avenue that could make P.E. fun, and it's an experience children can carry on through adulthood.”

Not a day goes by that someone or some company pitches an idea, lesson and piece of equipment to the district, said Mary Zarr, assistant superintendent for instructional services. It will be up to Drucker to get feedback from teachers who attended Randazzo's presentation and then consider logistical factors such as storage and cost.

In the meantime, Randazzo said he's only begun his mission. He envisions the game played at schools, backyards and even prisons across the nation.

“We want to keep kids moving and help them lead a healthy lifestyle, and this is something exciting that will get them off the couch,” Randazzo said. “It's not just about tailgates anymore.”