New York state middle school bans playground footballs

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- A New York state middle school has banned footballs, baseballs and other recreational objects from the playground due to a recent string of injuries.

Port Washington schools Superintendent Kathleen Maloney said the policy banning objects including footballs, baseballs and lacrosse balls at Weber Middle School in Port Washington came after several playground injuries, WCBS-TV, New York, reported Tuesday.

"Some of these injuries can unintentionally become very serious, so we want to make sure our children have fun, but are also protected," Maloney said.

Long Island Jewish Medical Center emergency room director Dr. Salvatore Pardo said he has been seeing a number of middle school-age children with "head injuries, bumps, scrapes" and he is "worried about concussions."

Officials said students are being given softer, foam balls to play with during recess.