I was reading Alpha Mummy’s post on the subject of Sports Day and as my comment was in danger of being longer than the original post, I thought I should put finger to keyboard myself.
Although my son is now at secondary school and thus the purgatory that is Sports Day is far behind us, I do my bit as a Governor and still attend every year. This week the chance to join some friends for a picnic lunch during the day was a big plus point.
To be fair, the social aspect of the day was always the better part; very convivial to meet up with chums, spread out picnic blankets, vie for the best location for videoing the little darlings and soak up the sunshine (hopefully).
Watching my son try his best over the years has been a double-edged sword. Not a natural athlete, despite being as skinny as a whippet, he has struggled in every conceivable race, managing only two third places for “shell in bucket relay” and “bean bag in hoop” race in Reception class. From then on he continued to run vertically, bouncing along with no forward momentum. There was a travesty one year when I was convinced his team won the Space Hopper relay race but the judges didn’t notice so again he went home with no rosettes.
His poor showing at Sports Day was a hard lesson for him but he always took it in his stride and I’m still convinced that the competitive element should remain as children need to learn that they will get knocks in life and they all have some talents which will be rewarded.
In Year 6, helped by the fact that there were only 6 boys in the class and they could choose which events to enter, Rory chose wisely and he and his equally unathletic mate cleaned up in the Slow Bike Race. For the uninitiated, the race involves pedalling as slowly as possible but without putting your feet on the ground. The winner is the cyclist who crosses the finishing line last. For once, control and balance were rewarded rather than speed: like the steady tortoise they agonisingly wobbled for what seemed like an age whilst the over-keen hares had shot off too quickly and finished too soon. How satisfying was that. A similar cautious approach earned him a first in the egg and spoon race. Thank heavens they provided spoons for the children: in years gone by parents were told to provide their children with “dessert spoons” and there were some decidedly iffy spoons on show: some were verging on the size of soup ladles.
Competitive parents at Sports days are a nightmare. Over the years I have been cajoled into being a judge on occasions and the job is terrifying, especially when trying to decide places for the infants who all have a habit of slowing down at the line and finishing together. Get it wrong and you have the parents to deal with. Thank God I wasn’t adjudicating the year some blustering parents came into school the following day brandishing video evidence.
As for parents’ races, now and again I have entered, particularly if there has been an added element of chance: balancing a bean bag on the head before throwing in a hoop always appealed more than the three-legged race or a plain sprint. Some mums enter every year and always perform well: one was so keen she entered the wheelbarrow race in the barrow position despite wearing a skirt and showing her scanties to the enthusiastic dads.
My husband, having seen the injuries caused to eager parents entering sports day events, sensibly wore a suit and brogues every year then shrugged saying, “Oh what a shame, I’m not properly attired, will have to sit this one out”.
This year was no exception with regard to parental fails. One dad fell awkwardly in the sack race, forgetting to let go of the sack as he keeled over. His blokey mates had fun shouting “Hey, not so good in the sack as you thought!”. Not quite so hilarious when, having shipped him off to A&E, it was discovered he had broken his collar-bone and had to have it operated on yesterday.
Have you any good Sports Day stories you’d like to share?
I might have one that I can do as part of 'Tales from the Heads Office'on my blog so I won't comment too long here other than to say well done all round. The whole thing can be a nightmare!
To any who think Trish is exaggerating, she's not. I work at Rory's ex primary school and although it seems unbelievable….even the bit about Mrs. W's scanties is faithful reporting.Please can I print this for the staff, Trish?
jfb57 – looking forward to reading your take on it!
Sally – Feel free to pass round staff room with the digestives!
Thank god we don't have Sports Day over here, although there are plenty of over communal picnic type school things. As my mother said to my aunt on the phone the other day, "They graduate getting off the toilet here".
Fantastic post. The issue of competitiveness is a big one – how much of it is good and how much is too much. LOVE the idea of a slow bike race. That sounds fantastic.
Thanks @ExpatMum and @Jennifer.
I think we should contnue with a competitive sports day but my problem with our school is that there are so many rosettes given out (particularly for relay races: 4 teams of 4, 3 teams get a place so 16/20 kids get a rosette) that it is far more keenly felt if you DON'T get a prize.
I'm so glad there's no sports day in my children's school. I know how important sports are and how this can be validating for some kids, but oh for those who're just not good at sports! Talk about setting them up with poor self esteem and a sense of failure! Also, I'm not big on mingling with parents, for some reason (I like parents very much when I meet them outside the school, so I don't know why!).
Laughing in recognition here! (am Governor too). I do think a bit of competition does them good but our school is very much ' they're all winners' and the losing team usually gets a cup for best sportsmanlike conduct' which my 10 year old is sick of being fobbed off with. It's the parents who are the competitive ones – even Eleanor nearly got elbowed out of the way in the toddler race last week. I never do the parents race – I was always rubbish at running – but the dads really go for it – getting down on their haunches like proper runners. This year there was a different headmaster in charge and the dynamic was totally different. He had them all chanting and greeted each child virtually when they finished their race. He even joined in the hopping race.
@Sandrine – it's a difficult decision for schools to make: at our school points are also given at sports day for their house teams which helps to offset the individual successes and failures. They do recognise academic achievement but only at the end of Year 6. So my unsporty son had to wait a while before he could get a public reward for his talents.
@Deer Baby – I must admit,as it is a small school, the competitiveness is offset by good humour and a sense of community. I like the sound of your new Head's style!
As bad as the unsporty kids feel at Sports Days – it's ONE day! The unacademic kids who are actually good at sports feel rubbish all year round! And now it is not considered The Thing to congratulate sporting prowess in case is makes the less sporty feel down, the sporty kids get no encouragement at all at ANYTHING!
All this splurge comes from a very non-sporty-at-school type but who managed to produce sporty kids. But hey – I don't send them to school anyway so I DON'T CARE!!!! Ha Ha Haaaaah!!!!!!!
Just thought I'd stick my oar in for good measure. Running away now. Slowly. Don't want to wee myself……..
@Madame SG – very valid points, missus! That's why our school continues to have a proper competitive Sports Day. It's great to see the sporty kids go home with a fist full of rosettes.
I think where we're getting it wrong, however, is the number of kids getting them (as I said, because of the relay races). In one class, one little boy was the only lad without a rosette and was so upset – he would have felt far better if he was one of a good few not getting anything.
Our sports' day was just about right. Competitive, but with each child competing for their house, rather than for themselves. But it must have been a bit confusing for the fastest and most coordinated boy in our class. He won everything, but his house came last, and everyone competing got the same medal and certificate. As my son was the one crying for the first hour or so, I was incredibly grateful for the one-size-fits-all medal, but hope the speedy boy gets to properly win when he gets a bit older. Love the story about the parents bring in giant-sized spoons!
@angelsandurchins – there's the dilemma, you take out the cometitive part and the poor lad who is sporty doesn't get proper recognition. No easy answer.
I was just so gullible with the spoons – they said 'dessert' so that's what I gave him. I should have given him a squodge of blu-tac.