to think that Sport's Day shouldn't be like this?

[SportsDay]

My kid is in Yr1. No Sports Day in Reception due to covid. Got his first one today.

Got an email from the school yesterday to say that the kids did 'heats' last week and only those who passed the heats will take part in today's 'final'.

I've taken annual leave so I can go and now I won't get to see him do a race because he didn't pass the heat.

I don't mind it being competitive, but I think they should have done the heats and finals on the same day so all the mums and dad could see their kid race. Or told us sooner that only some kids would race. My kid really wanted to take part. I don't care if he comes last, I just wanted to see him race and he wanted to have a go.

Is this a normal Sports Day? He's my eldest so we've not had a Sport day before.

YABU - this is a good way to do Sport Day
YANBU - this is a terrible way to do Sports Day

That's really bad for kids so young. My daughter's secondary school asks kids to volunteer for whatever races/events they want to do. I think that's the best way.

Can you cancel your leave and take the day off another day? No way would I use precious annual leave to watch someone else's DC race.

I wouldn't usually say this but if it is too late to cancel leave, pull a sicky for DS and go and do something nice together.

He's 6, it isn't about being competitive, it's about having fun and enjoying sport!

It doesn't sound great, I agree, but however you organise Sports Day someone will complain about it.

This is utter shit.

Sports day should be fun, not all competitive and inclusive of everyone.

Our school has them in their classes going round different activity stations. So they do things like egg and spoon race, sack race, long jump, that thing where you pass the ball over and under in a line. They are in teams within their classes so there is a bit of competitiveness.

At the end of the day they do races that they've competed for in advance and the fastest in each class compete. But that's just a short bit at the end.

Couldn't disagree more, at this age sport should be fun for all kids. It's fine to have competitive events but there should be some things that everyone could take part in. We shouldn't be making 6 year olds think 'sport is not for me.'

I work in a sport, we have very competitive players who play at national level but we also understand the importance of sport and exercise just for fun.

When I was in primary each child got a card on a string to wear around their neck and it had pictures of different sports/games

Things like rounders, egg and spoon, mini races, sack race etc

Everyone was put into teams and worked their way around the stations together and got a sticker for their card each time they did an activity.

It was fun, mildly competitive but not to the point it caused upset, there was no choosing teams and having anyone picked last, it was just a nice day.

This is what sports day is about , not picking the best and leaving the others out.

DD is in reception and every child did every race. It was lovely. There were winners of course, but it was more about everyone joining in.
I would have been really upset to if I want able to see her do anything.

YANBU particularly given the age.

YANBU Both my DC would be upset about this - DS1 who always came (very cheerfully) last, but liked us to see him take part and DC2 who is fiercely competitive and likes to show off🤣 It has always been lovely to see them both.

DS2's sports day was weird this year. We all stood around while the kids took part in some fun activities, improving their accuracy at throwing, dribbling a ball etc. They were moved around in groups to different activities and it was difficult to pick out your child. Most of the parents stood around nattering. This went on for about half an hour. Then 20 mins of running races. The end. No obstacle course or egg and spoon or sack race like all the other years. Strange.

At our huge, sporty school they do heats before but it’s just to sort children into groups and then they run dozens of races - and each 1st, 2nd and 3rd gets a ribbon so even the slower kids (as they’re running against equally slow children!) have a chance of getting a ribbon AND they get house points.
They also do loads of fun races and the parents do the three legged race with the younger children. It’s a fab day (we had it yesterday) - they even do a massive relay with every child taking part.

Ours is doing heat prior to.the day but only to get them in groups.
my kids are rubbish at sport. i do think more.competition might help as theres literally nothing to try for

At my junior school sports day was an evening event where you went round different stations and got a card with points on, at the end of the day the girls and boys winners were announced but that was it. It was lots of fun and there was a bbq!

I think you should have been told sooner. Preferably even at the start of term that this would be how it is organised, as not everyone can book leave at short notice.

I hate the competitiveness. It's utterly stupid. It's a sport day not the olympics. They should be having fun fgs!

Love that you always won the egg and spoon race!

A BBQ would be nice. I think there's just gonna be a lot of upset kids and a lot of cross parents!

That's awful. My yr 1 had a lovely sports day - everyone participated in every race, and the children had been taught to cheer loudly for the ones who came last. So the last child in every race had the whole school chanting their name as they crossed the finish line. It was really nice and inclusive and the kids showed great kindness and sportsmanship. Which is what we should be teaching in my opinion!

I think YABU because you're making this about YOU, when it should be about your child.

It is about the child though, its 'mummy seeing him run and telling him how wonderful he did' even if he came last.
Dont you remember being a child and wanting your m/d to see you perform?

So some of the kids are just goin to spend sports day sat watching others but not doing anything themselves? Seems a bit shit for children that age.

If you want to see your kid shine take them to athletics club. Or have opt-out for running race events which are embarrassing for the slower kids. And I say this as someone who did fairly good at running in primary school.

If other kids have to be humiliated so you child can shine, that's not great. Those who don't want to run shouldn't have to.

That's not normal for Primary School. Everyone takes part in at least something regardless of sporting talent.

I've just watched DD in her sports day. She had a otvof fun despite not being at all sporty and coming last towards the back of the field in her race.

I think Secondary is a bit more selective. My elder DD was coming up with lots of excuses to not take part and then she found out she hadn't qualified anyway.

Yes, they are. He's been told he has to sit and cheer on the kids in his 'house'.

YANBU. That system is very sensible for secondary school, but imo at primary it should be for everyone, with activities ranging from competitive to totally non-competitive to cater to all kids.

I do think schools can't win over sports day though. However they do it, some parents always complain that it's not the right way!