To think that all kids should take part in Sports Day if they want to?

[KeithLeMonde]

OK, I'm ready to be told that I am being PFB about this; it's DS's first year at secondary school. He's just told me that he tried out for the various sports for Sports Day and hasn't been picked for any of them. There are no inclusive events - you only take part in an event if you are picked. So he's going to spend all day sitting at the side of the field watching others play sports.

Is this normal for secondaries? I know he's not the greatest sportsperson but he's keen and involved, and I would have expected that they would have some kind of inclusive events that everyone could take part in.

It's a rather old-fashioned boys' state grammar school if that makes a difference (his choice of school, based on the fact that his friends were going there, and not entirely my cup of tea if I am honest, though in general he's very happy there).

At dd's school they have to volunteer for sports day. If you don't volunteer you do normal lessons all morning and watch in the afternoon. Volunteers get to go in PE kit, do their event and watch when not competing so don't do any lessons. There don't seem to be any complaints anyway. Dd would never volunteer and prefers to do lessons her friend prefers PE so does the opposite.

That seems almost the opposite to my dd's Sports day which is this week. She is also in year seven.

Every pupil has to take part in one track event and one field event.

Take the point 100% about less academic kids getting their chance to shine, however:

(a) I don't think that kids who are bad at something should be made to sit and watch kids who are good at that thing, doing that thing, for anything more than a couple of hours. Whatever it is - music, drama, sport, reciting poetry.....
(b) DS is naturally academic. I'd much rather he was awarded by the school for sport, where he's a bit rubbish but really tries hard, than for Maths, which comes naturally to him and in which he can come top without actually making much effort.

However, obviously Sports Day is a competition (yes, part of a big inter-house contest that goes on all year) and not there to reward effort or encourage the less able. So the more sporty kids will be chosen. I do get that, and the lack of time thing that means they probably don't have time for everyone to have a go.

However, I love this, Geek: "Sports day should be exactly that, where everyone can exercise and try new sports and minigames such as goal-shooting, obstacle course etc". Like my DS, I was not very good at sport as a kid. It took me the best part of 40 years to discover that I actually enjoy doing active, sporty things. I wish school sport could be more about encouraging kids to exercise, have fun, and be active and not just about winning sodding rugby matches. But I guess that's a whole other debate.

That's what it was at our secondary school. I loved it; it was a great social afternoon.

Until I found my sport (shot put, and now I coach our regional Special Olympics team) I was one of those not included.

So... I found a way to get involved and volunteered to assist the race starter. I suddenly went from the quiet weirdo to one of the coolest kids in the school for a day because I managed (and loaded and shot) the starter's pistols.

I don't get the point about making the less academic kids shine: ime the kids who are struggling with academic subjects are often bad at sports too. And lots of academic high achievers are also very good at sport.

Back to my earlier points - PE should be about physical literacy but it is still too hidebound by convention - e.g an overfocus on games and competition rather than on personal physical development and fitness.
There will always be plenty of opportunity for competition for those that want it but the main focus on PE should be about incorporating it into daily life as part of life and not as a chore.
Sports Day should almost be like an in-school holiday where teachers can organise minigames and pupils can participate in them. There can also be a competitive element for the elites but no-one should feel they have to watch them.
It did get my goat about 'cheering on your teamates' when many people have no interest in spectating and for most school is something you have to go to - it isn't a given that you will automatically feel any camaraderie for the hundreds of other children who happen to have been born and live near you.

That was standard for my secondary - and as I was totally crap at sport it was fine by me As it was 4 houses competing against each other they would naturally pick the best athletes for each event & the rest of the school watched. I never thought anything of it TBH.

Mine wasn't like this but it was a small school with 100 pupils per year. I suppose coordinating 500 people is a stretch, let alone thousands. It sounds rubbish though, poor DS

DDs' school all y7-9 have to take part in sports day.