Sports day!!!

[autumngirl714]

At my child’s school, Sports Day is split into two parts. Part 1 is great—an obstacle course where everyone takes part in their team colours, and each team earns points. But Part 2 is where I feel a bit torn. It’s competitive racing and field events, but only the best from each team colour get picked—fastest runners, longest jumpers, etc. The rest of the kids just sit and watch.

Every year, the same sporty kids get chosen, and my daughter —who tries really hard but isn’t the fastest—never gets picked. She's started to really dread Sports Day now and feels like no matter how much effort she puts in, it’s not enough. It’s heartbreaking to watch.

I do understand the argument that this gives athletic kids a chance to shine, and I don’t want to take that away—but I can’t help but feel it’s unfair and disheartening for the rest. Wouldn’t it be better to include more children in Part 2, or offer additional fun races so that everyone gets a turn?

Just been to sports day today where the same girl got picked to do every single competitive race meaning nobody else got chance. She gets picked every single year which is great for her, but not fair on others.

What do you think? Aibu?

And many kids get taken to football/ cricket matches when they don't choose to. I attended many football matches with my dad as he wanted to go and I was young to stay at home. Where my granny lived many of the parents went to local cricket matches and kids were dragged along.

Don't remember any of us suffering. I've zero interest in cricket so just used to chat to the other kids

There's some cheering but no other sports, no ''houses'', no singing, no picnic lunch and no mega phone.

I don’t like sport either. But the idea 90 mins watching it is impossible is mad.

That’s a different argument. But still - just sit there?
It won’t hurt him to miss it, obviously, and if that’s what you both prefer…I’m just saying it isn’t ’just sitting’ and 90 mins isn’t that long.

I think it's long when the point of sports day is, if they are able, to take part in sport. Especially if the ''inclusive'' bit isn't anywhere near as long as 90 minutes so unless you are sporty, you are spending most of sports day not actually doing sport.

Though as I said, at least they do have an inclusive part I suppose. At my sons it is just different versions of running.

I don’t think I agree that the point of sports day is for everyone to take part…I think it’s more about letting those good at sport shine. PE lessons and sports clubs are for everyone taking part.
A sports day that’s just running seems odd in all ways though. Field events?

I suppose it depends on how the school does it, it seems to vary. At my sons school, everyone takes part, not just the good ones.

Yep, they do a short race, a longer race, a relay race, an obstacle course race etc.

But I thought your problem was that he would not be included?

They could limit the number of events any child does, to say two or three. That would give more kids chance to compete, while not requiring every child to do it,

He can't run so can't be included. All children that are physically capable of running take part.

So it’s as inclusive as it can be? Odd there’s no none-running stuff then. So many options. Like I said, pull him if it suits you both but being there wouldn’t hurt him either.

If there were some activities that didn't involve running that he could take part in, he'd want to go.

School offered him to be a judge but he didn't want to.

We're going for a day out instead.

YABU. You’re basically saying none of the better kids can have a competition because your daughter will be upset when she loses. Poor snowflake going really struggle in the real world.

Your daughter has had the “everyone gets a medal” bit in the morning.

At the primary where I worked we got a new teacher and sports days changed from the traditional event to an all inclusive thing where everyone took part and nobody won anything.
And everyone hated it. Whilst many children , like me back in the day, dislike sports day, it’s still an important lesson that not everyone in this world is equally good at everything and, done correctly, can teach the lesson that we don’t all win in life at the same things but everyone has their talents. They just may not be on the sports field

That's literally my point. Sorry, I'm obviously not explaining myself very well!

As a parent of an athletic child I think it sounds very fair. Those who are good at sport spend hours every week training and they only get one day a year for their friends and teachers to really cheer and root for them.

And for the point that kids don't get humiliated for not being academic, they absolutely do. My child is dyslexic so every week when they do a spelling test and she gets the lowest mark by far it is humiliating when that it read out to the whole class.

DS2 school doesn’t have any non-running activities either.

Is that not normal?

Don't call my daughter a snowflake, she's a primary school child.

Thanks.

When did the world become a place where everyone feels they should get a turn and everyone wins? The first half of the sports day allows everyone to 'have a go', the second part teaches everyone some very valuable life lessons... some people are good at things, others are not. Some people win, others lose. Not everyone is a winner and the sooner they learn the better!

Don’t worry, she can’t hear me.

And in any case the other kids in her school are primary school children and they seem to be able to cope.

But fortunately your reply has told us exactly what the problem is. It’s not her. It’s you. Any good parent (as the other parents in the same situation at the school have done) would manage the situation without selfishly trying to ruin the day for other kids.

I thought it was pretty standard too.

@GiveDogBone what exactly have I done to try and spoil sports day for other children... other than start a discussion on a parenting forum asking for opinions?

Literally nothing. So get your facts right.

The best thing our school did was not allow parents to attend! It's amazing to see the children enjoying the event and supporting their "team", with no drama and no negativity to those less sporty. They enter into the spirit of what should be a fun day out of the classroom! They all enjoy it and have no pressure from the watchful, and too often judgemental eyes of parents.

Sorry this is bollocks. My son is an elite athlete (athletics). Nothing to do with sports day! He was obviously good at running and enjoyed it. We took him to an athletics club and he went from there. He wasn't scouted at sports day. Not sure that happens in the same way it does for football.

My non athletic kid also did sports day and also enjoyed athletics so we also took her. She went no where competitively with it as she has no skill but loves it as a hobby.

My last child hated running and came in last at sports day and instead took up climbing. he has no interest and doesn't care he was shite!

I wish my school did this! My child has complex needs and really struggles in the classroom but excels in sport but our Sports Day was a bit chaotic with little competitive options. Her one day of the year to shine and it didn’t happen.
If your child can read and write well and does well in class, please remember for others, they feel crap every day in class whereas your child only has that feeling for a few hours every year. I do sympathise but trying to put a little context here.