to think non competitive sports day is ridiculous and a waste of time

[PanicMode]

I went to a prep school where every child's strength was encouraged - whether one's strength was academic, sporting, musical, art, drama etc, it was found and nurtured.

My children's (state) school does non competitive sports day, which I think is ridiculous and in addition is unfair on those children that excel at sport - when do they get to shine or have their potential realised? (This is not because my children are fantastic at sport btw - they really aren't!).

(And for those who are going to say if you don't like it, move to the private sector - if you'd like to pay my four sets of fees, then I'd be eternally grateful )

[Vallhala]

Whilst your detractors are at it, perhaps they'd also like to pay the school fees for my DDs because I agree with you wholeheartedly.

[thirtysomething]

Another in agreement here - my DD's state schol does this and yet they don't think twice about singling out the most talented children in other realms - music, art, drama who then get chosen for every prize and other children don't get a look-in. Seems totally inconsistent that children arent's allowed to excel at sports!

[slushy06]

Our school is a state school and we have competitive sports I agree BTW.

[PanicMode]

And here I was thinking I was being all contentious!

[Reallytired]

Surely school sport is about fitness for life rather than atheletic prowess. There are plenty of a opportunities for competitive sport through clubs outside school.

In a non competitive sports day the children get to compete in loads of activites rather than sitting on the sidelines being bored witless and waiting for their one race. They are in teams so there is an element of competition. The children loved it and prehaps thats the main thing.

Unlike the majority of prep schools most state schools have children with special needs. Do you really feel proud of the fact that your children can run faster than a child with mild cerabral palsy?

[MrsC2010]

I don't get it either. Surely it's ok not to be good at everything, it's an important lesson for I would have thought! My school (public, like the the OPs...not sure if there is a correlation...) was very supportive of all talents, and that meant giving them all the opportunity to shine. Sports Day was one of them.

[fruitshootsandheaves]

I agree with you too. We have a silly system where the children go round the school field in their teams taking it in turns at the 'sports' in varous places and the scores are all added up at the end.
It is really unfair on the children who are sporty and not so academic. After all a lot of them are trying to beat each other all the time at all other aspects of school life.

[PuzzleRocks]

YANBU It is daft.

[slushy06]

Reallytired that argument can be used to justify anything for example would you be happy your child won the spelling contest when there are dyslexic children in your class. By refusing only competitive sports they are pushing those who are good at sports (mine are not BTW) out but letting every other area be great at something.

[racmac]

I dont understand this non competitive stuff either - we try and make them competitive with SATS - they are encouraged to be the best but when it comes to sports - no we have to be all nice and say everyone is a winner.

Which is why our country is crap at sports

Reallytired - i understand the point you are making but perhaps that child with cerebal palsy is far cleverer at Maths or English than a child that is excellent at running.
should we all be kept the same in case not to be better at someone else

[MayorNaze]

utter piffle

ds and dd1s sportsday this week - 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th get a sticker with their place on - everyone else gets nothing. any moaning or crying? none whatsoever

winning team overall gets large cup. again no weeping into hankies and counselling offered to the losing sides.

and this is state primary too.

bolleuax, IMHO

[slushy06]

Riven I don't think your dd should be dis-included I think they should do a mix of both sports competitive and ones that include everyone. Sorry if I do cause any offence.

[kittens]

Our school (State) does a mix of both, they do a non competitive carousel of activies which the children love and then have some running races where the winners get to race each other. So it works well for all children as they all end up with loads of house points!!

[MayorNaze]

dd1 is in yr3, didn't win anything and couldn't even remember what her 2 stickers were for

she has always been about the taking part and the fun

[PanicMode]

They have PE lessons don't they - where they run around and learn about fitness etc and I think it would be possible to have competitive races running concurrently.

I am in agreement with thirtysomething - they recognise the talents of the children in every other arena but the sporting one, which discriminates against those whose one specialty may be sport.

Of course I'm not 'proud' that my child can run faster than a child with special needs; the argument is surely that if a school recognises talent in other arenas, it is unfair not to do so in the sporting one - many children don't do after school clubs.

[upahill]

I agree with you OP and I'm speaking as a parent whose children are rubbish at sports.

I think it is a chance for those who aren't academic but are good at sports to shine.
Those that are academic may realise that they can't always be good at everything and also there are winners and losers in all aspects of life and you have to take it on the chin.

I like to see good sportsman ship.I.E the winner being gracious in his/her win and the loser being accepting in his/her lose.

[Reallytired]

Children who can't read, can't sing, can't act are not publically humilated.

"It is really unfair on the children who are sporty and not so academic"

Many sporty children are good at academic work as well.

Some children are completely useless at everything. Sports day does not give them any chance to shine. Life is not fair.

School sport should be about fitness for life. If you want your child to do competitive sports then there are plenty of opportunities to do it outside school. You do not have to pay school fees.

Sports day is not optional, and publically humilating Fatty does not him encourage him to be more active.

At least the team sports days are fun.

[upahill]

I was the fat child who couldn't run at school but I still would prefer an old fashioned sports day to all 'everyone is equal' stuff.

[slushy06]

Children who can't read, can't sing, can't act are not publically humilated. Well they were in my school we had to stand up and do our times tables read chapters from a group book, perform plays and sing during music. What did you do in school exactly?.

'Many sporty children are good at academic work as well. ' And many are only good at sports.

[herladyshiplovesedward]

dd goes to a large (600 pupil) primary school..

they usually do a 'team activity day' where the children go round lots of events (netball, skipping, dribbling ball through cones etc.) and the house with the most points at the end wins - its FUN

this year, it was traditional sports day races.. only year 3/4 on our afternoon but still 3 hours of race after race after race - it was BORING, for both adults and children

[MrsC2010]

I was useless as sports day type sports, I was pretty good as high jump etc (tall with v long legs) until about 14 when others started catching up heightwise and I lost my advantage! After that I was pretty pants. However it never scarred me for life.

[herladyshiplovesedward]

also, sports day for the children was compulsory at my childrens school..

but when it came to the teachers race, there weren't enough willing teachers for it to happen, which i didn't consider very sporting