To loathe organised sport and what it does to children?

[AssemblySquare]

There is a back story to this but it’s long and boring. I’m just sick and tired of sport being held up as this wonderful thing that brings people together, but all I have ever seen and experienced is divisiveness, bullying and meanness. I’m so done with it all, especially at grass roots level and at school where most kids seem to get shouted at by PE teachers and coaches taking out their own frustrations that they weren’t quite good enough to make it.

@TheMoth

Except, once I got to high school, no one gave a shit about my appalling handwriting. And kids who struggle with maths aren't humiliated in front of others. They tend to get extra help and are often pretty good at PE, so their peers don't mock them.

That’s exactly it.

yeah -- we were forced to sing in class, primary school. Group singing, but even so.

I tried to only mouth the words but the teacher told me off for that. So I sang & other Kids openly sniggered at my lousy singing. If teacher noticed, she didn't stop them.

I still sing when I feel like it. Although I'm struggling to see personal growth or benefits in all my many years of performing arts failures I still believe it's good that kids are encouraged to try performance arts. Including in school.

@FuckingFabulous

5 year old had sports day this week just gone. Fucking hell, you'd think some of the parents had their life savings riding on the outcome. Screaming "GO ON ISABELLE, RUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNN!!!!" And when one little boy fell over, the dad started hollering at him to get up and another dad was screaming at his son who stopped to help his friend to "JUST GO AROUND HIM, ALFIE!!!" And not clapping the children that were given first place stickers unless it was their child! They didn't even clap their own kids when they finished the race if they didn't place in the top three. It was disgusting. A couple of the kids started crying because they were confused and overwhelmed and the head teacher ended it early- she said because of the heat but I think because of the five or so arsehole parents who were treating it like the olympics.

I hate these parents. They need therapy.

@CrazyNeighbour

I do blame them for mocking me loudly in front of my classmates, for telling me I was useless, for telling me if I didn’t stay fit and healthy I’d never have babies, and for numerous other similar things.

Crap teaching style undoubtedly, not limited to PE, and not universal amongst PE teachers.

Except a hell of a lot of us have experienced it from PE teachers, and only from PE teachers (and their acolytes the sporty bullies)

I'm sure if you had sporty children or ones who enjoyed PE/liked their PE teacher you'd feel differently.

I'm guessing the main issue with school sport is that team sport is the only practical way to accommodate a class of 30-odd children – so we all ended up playing netball or rounders or hockey etc for that reason. It must be hard for a PE teacher to do, say, table tennis or trampolining or weight training with that many children.

It's interesting that so many of us found activities we enjoyed either outside school or when we were a bit older. Physical activity is a 'good thing' but only fun once you find something you like doing! But I don't think generalisations like 'I loathe organised sport' are terribly helpful.

@CrazyNeighbour

Except a hell of a lot of us have experienced it from PE teachers, and only from PE teachers (and their acolytes the sporty bullies)

And MN is massively skewed to people who have performed excellently at academics, who will not have experienced it whilst in top set physics or economics.

Does anyone really think that the majority of posters here with a child who would be bottom set in sports give a shiny shit about the kids who are bottom set in maths and French and history. The vast majority are massive hypocrites: and not one of them has a coherent idea about what they want that stands the most basic scrutiny…. And I’m not even a teacher.

I don't expect there to be much public humilation leading to bullying etc after a Maths or Physics test. It's completely different. Schools/teachers don't publicise the pupils who scored the least in homework or exams, yet the "failures" are obvious to see in sports.

There is a huge difference between activity and sport. I'm not remotely worried about whether my children improve their skills at sport because unless they plan to be a professional athlete or pe teacher these are not vital skills. Fitness is important but is a separate matter. There's far too much fuss made over pe and competitive sport in schools. I'd quite happily see it scrapped and made into an optional extra for those who want it.

5 year old had sports day this week just gone. Fucking hell, you'd think some of the parents had their life savings riding on the outcome. Screaming "GO ON ISABELLE, RUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNN!!!!" And when one little boy fell over, the dad started hollering at him to get up and another dad was screaming at his son who stopped to help his friend to "JUST GO AROUND HIM, ALFIE!!!" And not clapping the children that were given first place stickers unless it was their child! They didn't even clap their own kids when they finished the race if they didn't place in the top three. It was disgusting. A couple of the kids started crying because they were confused and overwhelmed and the head teacher ended it early- she said because of the heat but I think because of the five or so arsehole parents who were treating it like the olympics

They sound like psychopaths.

@0None0 really? You loathe happiness and improved self esteem? Because that's what finally not having PE anymore did to me. During 6th form when I chose my own subjects and extra curricular activities I changed from a bullied and timid wreck to a much happier and more confident person. PE was a breeding ground for bullying and I was glad to see the back of it.

I'm very sorry that you've had this experience OP. YANBU in relation to your own personal experiences. But with regard to children's organised sport in general, I think YABU - we have only had very positive experiences with sport incl football, tennis, cricket, gymnastics.

Pe at school put me off any and all sport forever
I hated it from the fact that it was compulsory It involved taking your clothes off - teenage girls in a communal changing room without adult supervision was hell
You had to join in even though it wasn’t
Interesting and we weren’t given a choice of what sport we did
The humiliation of being ‘picked’ for teams
The forced shower after. The teachers actually kept a record of who was on their period ( you didn’t have to shower if you were on) -
No thanks.

I think there is no comparison between team sports and academic subjects as those who aren't good at say maths aren't made to feel like they are letting everyone down. They don't have to stand in the assembly hall in front of the whole school and parents and answer algebra questions while people jeer and laugh as they get it wrong. There is no team picking aka popularity contest based on grades. There is no adulation and hero status and trophy for the kid who aces GCSE maths. I could go on. It's just not comparable.

Remember that guest post a couple of weeks ago advocating for equal access for women's and girl's sports being rather taken aback by the weight of negative feeling about how PE is STILL being taught when it demonstratively is seen in a negative like by the majority of people.

I was also surprised that she hadn't thought of the link that too much PE time is still based on training boys on how to die like men on a battlefield not on focusing on activity, skills and inclusion.

But organised sport didn't do anything for my weight, which is what the poster I replied to was implying it should have done, if it's so essential in the fight against obesity

Maybe you weren't trying very hard?

@SamusIsAGirl

Remember that guest post a couple of weeks ago advocating for equal access for women's and girl's sports being rather taken aback by the weight of negative feeling about how PE is STILL being taught when it demonstratively is seen in a negative like by the majority of people.

I was also surprised that she hadn't thought of the link that too much PE time is still based on training boys on how to die like men on a battlefield not on focusing on activity, skills and inclusion.

Yes poor woman. There's a load of outdated rubbish on here based on people's experiences from many years ago. School PE has/is changing and sports degrees emphasis inclusion in teaching all the way through. It must be absolutely soul destroying having to teach kids who don't give a shit and are backed up by chippy parents. I doubt it happens to that extent in any other subject.

@Qwerty789

But organised sport didn't do anything for my weight, which is what the poster I replied to was implying it should have done, if it's so essential in the fight against obesity

Maybe you weren't trying very hard?

What's the saying? Don't blame the gym for what happens in the kitchen?

My daughter rides horses- it kept her sane throughout lockdown and is the thing that gets her off her ipad/phone and into the fresh air. A bit silly to say sports is a bad thing

This isn't a normal experience.

@XelaM

My daughter rides horses- it kept her sane throughout lockdown and is the thing that gets her off her ipad/phone and into the fresh air. A bit silly to say sports is a bad thing

No-one is saying that.

No-one is saying that

The title of the thread literally says AIBU to loathe organised sports and what it does to children?

I think sports in school kills a lot of young kids love of it. I've seen countless kids love and enjoy sport in primary but as they get older if they aren't good enough and never get picked for the team it kills their love of it. I know sport is competitive but when you're 8,9,10 and never get to play in a team match and watch the same group of kids always playing it's miserable and not great for confidence. Kills their love of it. There are also lots of kids that enjoy sport but hate the environment! It can be all lads lads lads and pranks and bants 🙄 not everyone can fit or want to fit in with that so again puts them off sports.

Most teens excelling at competitive sport in their late teens weren't the ones excelling at 8 or 9. They were the ones putting in the hard yards and building resilience and who just really enjoyed it. Being in the A team at 8 shouldn't be a prerequisite for being active and enjoying sport.