Once upon a time, cursive handwriting and dodgeball were the hallmarks of grade school. Then, a majority of the United States adopted the Common Core State Standards, which failed to mention cursive, MarketWatch reported. This empowered schools to drop the subject altogether, a decision many have fought back against based on the idea cursive improves children’s reading and motor skills.

These standards don’t exactly target dodgeball, but The Week reported it is following cursive out the doors of grade schools. Some schools deem the gym class game too aggressive for students to play, possibly leading to student injury. But like cursive, dodgeball may improve children’s developmental skills, specifically their motor skills.

Motor skills refer to any action that involves the muscles: fingers, toes, wrists, and so on. Parents reported that “when combined with increasing-hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills… open new doors to exploration, learning, and creative expression.” And based on the findings of a 2013 study, having good motor skills can foster greater social skills.

Trouble sitting, standing, and even speaking are early indicators that a child’s motor skills aren’t developing properly. Not only do experts believe this will start to affect their social abilities, but it may also negatively affect their academic performance. Finnish researchers found children who scored poorly on agility, speed, and manual skills experienced poor motor performance in first grade, suggesting students benefit from greater motor skills outside the gym.

Problems with motor skills are common, according to Scholastic, though they’re not always obvious. Children can love running, jumping, and skipping, but their coordination over the years may not improve and could begin to lag behind. In which case, a game like dodgeball can offer vital practice for those experiencing delays.

“The first step in working with motor delays is to provide more practice,” Scholastic concluded. “If the child has trouble throwing or catching, get a large, soft ball and play dodgeball games with it. Don't make it seem like work. Just allow the child the pleasure of throwing, catching, kicking, and hitting it away.”

Have a look at the video above to see what else is being dropped from schools' curriculums.