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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wish there was a law against sports day

47 replies

Longlost10 · 18/07/2016 06:21

the dreaded annual purgatory has come round. Does anyone enjoy it or benefit from it? It seems to be so universally hated by staff, children and parents, I can't understand why we still force ourselves through this medieval hell. I'm tempted to just contact the school and tell the the whole family has food poisoning. I won't. of course, I never have, but I end ever sports day wishing I had.

OP posts:
Thelyingbitchandthewardrobe · 18/07/2016 06:24

I hated it at school and would have agreed with you, my DS1 currently lives for sports day so now I've got to say you ABU.

OK, your kids will have a dull day. Other kids will find other aspects of their education dull.

Only1scoop · 18/07/2016 06:25

Last week of term we had a fantastic time at sports day.

Dd is delighted with her 'egg and spoon' gold medal Smile

Lilaclily · 18/07/2016 06:27

My dd enjoys it !

Lilaclily · 18/07/2016 06:29

She's not all that sporty but she loves the sack race and egg and spoon race
I remember loving the skipping race
It was fun at primary school
Secondary school not so much with hurdles, shot put etc , I was rubbish at it, but parents don't go to secondary sports days round here

Mommym24 · 18/07/2016 06:29

It's just a bit of fun. Why would you dread it?

Felyne · 18/07/2016 06:30

I suppose it depends on the school. My DC go to a small infant school and sports days is lovely and followed by a picnic lunch with the parents. In a large school it's probably unbearable chaos.

KP86 · 18/07/2016 06:30

I loved sports day as a kid.

LarrytheCucumber · 18/07/2016 06:39

I remember a parent having a stand up row with the Head because her son was not made Champion Boy. Competitive families enjoy it because it gives their child a chance to shine.

Original poster
Longlost10 · 18/07/2016 06:39

unbearable chaos just about sums it up Felyne ( this is a whole day event in a secondary school with no outdoor space, so everyone gets bussed to some grounds somewhere else)

OP posts:
MsJamieFraser · 18/07/2016 06:44

Yabu, most at our school love it.

SavoyCabbage · 18/07/2016 06:44

My two love it. Mind, my nine year old would love digging trenches in a chain gang if it took her out of the classroom for a day.

Mcnorton · 18/07/2016 06:46

Our primary one is one where the kids are bussed to a local facility but it's really well organised. I hated sports day as a child but this seemed well done and the kids liked it. Sounds like your school is the problem. I would tell them what the issues are so they can improve rather than ban it.

Original poster
Longlost10 · 18/07/2016 06:49

when I say everybody, I mean the whole school, for the whole day, to a sports field. Parents are expected to attend too. I hate this so much!

OP posts:
Original poster
Longlost10 · 18/07/2016 06:51

In one of my Dcs school, sportsday is a compulsory saturday, 8.30-3.30, including parents.

OP posts:
MrsJoeyMaynard · 18/07/2016 06:52

Can't say I liked it as a child, not being sporty, but most of the kids at DS1's sports day seemed to be having fun.
He's at infant school - they had 1 or 2 serious races, but most were fun races. Obstacle races, egg and spoon, 'horse' racing, that kind of thing.

0hCrepe · 18/07/2016 06:53

The children where I work and my DC love it. My DC aren't sporty or bothered about winning but still find it a fun day. Why is it so bad for you, op? If it's secondary there will be lots of parents unable to attend, you don't have to go.

0hCrepe · 18/07/2016 06:54

A Saturday? Very odd. Is it a private school with strong sports teams?

MrsJoeyMaynard · 18/07/2016 06:55

It's a bit off making sports day compulsory if it's on a Saturday. I can easily imagine families having other commitments or preferred activities for weekends.

I always thought the standard thing for sports day was to have it within school time.

Lilaclily · 18/07/2016 06:56

Long-lost - private school ? Sounds par for the course if so

Original poster
Longlost10 · 18/07/2016 06:57

no, state school

OP posts:
Scarydinosaurs · 18/07/2016 06:58

Are you in the private system?

I can't believe everyone hates it! Even I loved sports day at school and I was rubbish at sport!

YABU

whattheseithakasmean · 18/07/2016 06:58

YANBU and I am amazed that whole school sports days happen at secondary. As soon as my children started high school, sports day was optional, so of course they never opted in - hoorah! Sports day is shitter than the shittiest thing in my opinion. I always hated it & so do my kids. i do not get why it has to be compulsory and parents attend - but at least in our case the madness stopped after primary school.

Just to add, I was a dunce at sport and my DH was captain of everything and king of sports day, so my children could have gone either way. In any case, it is irrelevant to future success as I earn more than my DH, if that matters, so worry not if your child can't run fast in a straight line. It really doesn't amount to a hill of beans anywhere other than school.

Scarydinosaurs · 18/07/2016 07:00

Don't go then. Your negativity must bring others down.

Staff at my school on the whole love sports day- especially if the weather is good. Kids happy, winning prizes, out the classroom...what's not to love?!

0hCrepe · 18/07/2016 07:01

Yep Saturday thing is weird but id try to make a fun day of it, picnic (with wine), DC seeing their friends etc. Why do you loathe it so much?

EccentricPickle · 18/07/2016 07:04

They do it really good at our school. They just play games in teams, for example, they take it in turns to shoot basket balls at the hoop, throw javelins (the spongy ones obv) and while they're playing it doesn't look like they're playing against each other - they just have fun playing. The teachers do tot up how many points the team gets though and they get a certificate sent home.

They all seem to have lots of fun and the headteacher is a nutter so she gets everyone into the spirit Grin. It's so much better as they don't race against each other.

I hated it at school. I was rubbish at sport, was a slow runner, always picked last for teams and was always berated for "making the team lose" as I came last Sad.