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Original poster

Non Competative Sports Days. I hate them

450 replies

castrolgtx · 20/06/2007 16:26

Everyday the same children come out of school with certificates for good writing/reading/maths etc, but sports day can't be competative in case children are upset when they loose.
At the mum of two sports mad sons it drives me mad as it's their one chance to shine.
Anyone else agree?

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puddle · 21/06/2007 20:52

Ok what about the work in classrooms and up in the school displayed on the walls? That's pretty public. ALl the parents and kids see it. Easy to see who is doing well academically and who is struggling.

Would you be against that too?

ArseAboutFace · 21/06/2007 20:52

My child has SN Des, but I think he would still be crap at sports even if he wasn't autistic - after-all, I'm not autistic but I'm crap at sports.

It's not about that at all. For me, the only issue is the 'loser'. I cannot think of one other aspect of school that highlights someone as the 'loser' in public.

Desiderata · 21/06/2007 20:53

I'm so glad you've re-assessed

Aloha · 21/06/2007 20:53

God, Desiderata, Don't you read any of my posts? I'm thrilled if your kid voluntarily enters a running race, with other kids who have also voluntarily entered, and makes himself happy by beating all the others. Marvellous.
But what I don't get is why you also need my dyspraxic kid in the field?

quadrophenia · 21/06/2007 20:53

nice

LIZS · 21/06/2007 20:54

I applauded all the races whether ds was involved or not , whether I knew the children who led or not. It isn't really about that . Some kids like ds would have been happier not running flat races at all. They either could or could not jump the bar , get a beanbag in the hoop etc. Some did, some didn't, it mattered less as every success contributed equally to the team score. However he ran the races reluctantly, knew he'd be at the back and felt deflated when he was despite trying hard. That was not good for his self esteem and that is what gets completely overlooked by many teachers, parents and excited children who are accustomed to being the front runners.

DrNortherner · 21/06/2007 20:54

Different strokes for different folks aloha. Some folk like beating others, like running teh fastest, like jumping the highest and like scoring the most goals.

They are not wrong and should not be demonised.

Aloha · 21/06/2007 20:55

Puddle, your kids go to a strange school if the work on the wall is ordered in terms of rank, with the worst - 'the loser' -officially marked out for everyone to see.

ArseAboutFace · 21/06/2007 20:55

Puddle, it does upset me that DS's work is never displayed. It is entirely different to being highlighted as the 'one that came last'. Nobody notices that DS's pics are not on display, they do notice who comes last in every race at sports day.

Desiderata · 21/06/2007 20:56

I think you need to re-evaluate that, arse.

Because I think it's got everything to do with it.

Not all kids have SN. All kids need nurturing. If my kid happened to be good at sports, I would be pissed off if he was unable to compete.

To make someone else look small? Get real ... all of you who've made that comment. It's crass. Sport teaches many, great things to children. People win, people lose. That's life.
Kids get over it. Why haven't you?

Aloha · 21/06/2007 20:56

Northerner, 'some folks like it'. Exactly. So why are so many people here so insistent that everyone should be forced to take part?

Aloha · 21/06/2007 20:57

Desiderata, I think you need to get over this ridiculous competitive thing. FFS these are children.

foxinsocks · 21/06/2007 20:58

that can apply to sports people though too aloha - not all of them are mad, competitive types who want to beat everyone. Lots of people run to beat their own times, not necessarily to beat the field. I accept that the highest echelon of sport is all about winning and losing but it's not the case for everyone.

And in foxworld, the sports days would be non competitive until they were juniors and got to do other activities. And then the sports lot could get on with it and all enjoy it.

Desiderata · 21/06/2007 20:58

And I think I can trump you there, Aloha.

You haven't read any of mine.

You told me I played sport. I don't.

You think my kid's old enough to be in school. He isn't.

Told you all of that before.

FioFio · 21/06/2007 20:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Desiderata · 21/06/2007 20:59

And if you read my posts, Aloha, you would also know that I'm not competitive.

Unfortunately.

foxinsocks · 21/06/2007 20:59

not all kids do though des. Some of them, it puts them off sport completely!

puddle · 21/06/2007 21:00

All I am saying is that sports day is not the only area in which children's achievements are on public display. And the idea that reading is not competitive is not true either - I remember a thread on here re: how many people would look in their child's friend's book bag to compare reading ablities. Most people would!

I don't agree with all-competitive sports days as it happens. My ds's school have a mix of running races and other sorts of activities which give other children a chance to shine. I know the senco is involved in the planning and that's how it should be.

ArseAboutFace · 21/06/2007 21:00

What would you like me to re-evaluate Des? That I'm not autistic myself, or that DS wouldn't be better at sport if he were NT?

You've lost me.

Aloha · 21/06/2007 21:00

You talked about other people 'cheering your child on' Desiderata. I am speaking about a future hypothetical situation in the same way. Why do you want to force my child to fail in public? What's it to you?

Aloha · 21/06/2007 21:02

Sports day was never fun for me, nor for a hell of a lot of people.
As to looking in other people's book bags, speak for yourself!
I want my ds to love learning for its own sake, to find his own potential, to love books and enjoy them. I don't need to see other children fail for that to happen.

foxinsocks · 21/06/2007 21:02

Dh, an ultra competitive type, thinks compulsory competitive sports days at infant age are wrong.

It does put children off activity/sport for life. It nearly did with dh and I know plenty of other adults who feel the same!

Desiderata · 21/06/2007 21:03

I just don't get you, Aloha.

Why does my agreeing with competitive sport for those who wish to be competitive, mean that I want your kid to fail?

That I would find some satisfaction from it?

I'm a mother. What kind of freak do you think I am?

Go and have a cup of tea, or something, ffs.

hercules1 · 21/06/2007 21:03

I hated sports days with a passion. I felt it was ritual humiliation adn I was okay at sports.

Aloha · 21/06/2007 21:04

I refused to even run for a bus for years and years because of sport at school. I know I'm not alone. The whole attitude of 'the whole point of physical activity is to win' actually puts endless numbers of people off sport. It is one of the reasons why it has been found that holding the Olympics in your country actually leads to a significant fall in people taking part in sport.