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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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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?

OP posts:

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Cammelia · 20/06/2007 20:32

no one laughs at children at our sports day

Peachy · 20/06/2007 20:33

(as an aised Aloha did you see the repoty on that waful video- laughing at the diabled man? Didnts ee the article myself but DH told me about it. Shocking)

PenelopePitstops · 20/06/2007 20:33

I'm not trying to be nasty, but there are other children without SN who are crap at sports and academically too. There were people including me, like this at school. Some people are better at things than others its a fact of life. Children aren't stupid and they know this. They know jonny cant run but he can draw really well, or emma is a good tennis player but cant read very well.

PenelopePitstops · 20/06/2007 20:34

And I would never ever laugh at anyone on sportsday disabled or not

Desiderata · 20/06/2007 20:41

Look, Peachy, Aloha ... I really don't understand your posts tonight. There is absolutely nothing wrong with PPP's posts. They're well balanced and sensible.

You seem to be suggesting that if someone is pro-competitive sport, then ergo, they are laughing at SN kids??

I don't understand how you can make that bizarre leap - absolutely no-one I know or have ever known, would do such a thing.

I think we're all agreed that it should be optional for those kids who want to compete, and fun for those that don't or can't.

LIZS · 20/06/2007 20:45

But it isn't necessarily the children who are recognisng the differences. It is almost the oversight of SN children , the being labelled as sporting non-achievers rather than recognised for their efforts, by adults that is more painful. There are parents of naturally sports orientated children to whom it probably would n't even occur that there are others who may be anything other than "just" less sporty. As I said before I'm not sure ours has necessarily got the balance between trying to encourage sporting excellence and inclusiveness wrong but from our perspective it didn't work out for ds. He came away demotivated, which can't be right.

Aloha · 20/06/2007 20:47

It's the gloating I can't stand. The delight with which people post about how fantastic it is that their child beats others, and is a winner, and how the losers can just get used to it. If being great at sport teaches you how to gloat and revel in the humiliation of others, then you can stick it.

Desiderata · 20/06/2007 20:51

Has anyone on here behaved like that? Has anyone bragged about their sporty kids? My ds is only 2.7 ... not even in school yet.

I'm not sticking around to listen to this.

Mercy · 20/06/2007 20:51

Yes, children may aware of who is good at reading, drawing etc but it doesn't meant their abilities are or should be rewarded in front of the whole school and parents. Not at primary school level - it's wrong.

Sport should be fun and it keeps you fit and healthy - that is the message young children should be receiving.

Surely if anything the fact that keeping fit is competitive and exclusive is a contributory factor in the UK's health problems.

Gym membership? No thanks.

LIZS · 20/06/2007 20:51

I also think some parents are so focussed on their own child's individual achievements that the efforts of any others fail to register on their radar. Interestingly these seem to be the parnets with the most competitive chidlren ....

PenelopePitstops · 20/06/2007 20:52

ALoha all i can gain from your posts is that you have had some very bad experiences at sports days iin the past. I have never been to a sports day where any parent has goaded to another about how great their child is. Nor have i encountered this in actual sport. My sister and parents take part in sport and international and national level, of which people of all backgrounds etc participate and I have met vrey few people like this.

Peachy · 20/06/2007 20:52

Desiderata find something nasty I have said to PP. Because if I have it was unintended, I don't think I have

Peachy · 20/06/2007 20:55

PP your spotrts days mau have been different to the ones we have- sadly its very competitive at our school, as Is aid ds1 is good but ds3 has no chance and never will to shine at anything. Well he does shine- if he makes it to the finish thats a bigger achievement than anyone relaises I think- but it doesn't get celebrated, all the mums are elsewhere gossiping by then.

PenelopePitstops · 20/06/2007 20:56

Peachy I dont think you have said anything nasty, we just have different opinions.

Peachy · 20/06/2007 20:57

Thats fine then- I am happy to differ, makes the world go round and all that

I am aware I oush the SN thing a lot- but tbh, if I don't, who will?

PenelopePitstops · 20/06/2007 20:59

Peachy I also understand your frustration and sports day was never a really big deal at our school. Parents were invited etc but there was never a negative attitude towards those who didnt win. Children with special needs were always encouraged and races were only small and allowed people to wait for others to finish.

I understand not all sports days are like this, and judging does go on.

oliveoil · 20/06/2007 21:01

dd1 did a sports day last year at her playgroup and as she has zero coordination (or skill!) it was quite heartbreaking watching her, but that is just me being soft

however she seemed to enjoy it

they had wellie throwing (!) and she picked one up and her keyworker took it off her and gave her a smaller one so she could throw it further which I thought was quite sweet

not had experience of school yet

Curmudgeonlett · 20/06/2007 21:02

I'm sorry .. I'm really sorry .. I . can't . seem . to . stop . myself . posting . this

competItive

it must be the competitive pedant in me

once again sorry

(but whilst I'm here may I also say appalled)

frances5 · 20/06/2007 21:29

Aloha,

I understand exactly where you are coming from. My son had to have physio when he was little to help him walk! He has been discharged from physio for two years but I still get a kick out of of seeing him run.

School sport should be about building healthy bodies and keeping fit rather than competitions. If you want competitive sport then there are plenty of sports clubs in most areas. Your sporty kid would have a cultue shock when they meet someone who is better them. Sports clubs have proper training for talented kids that schools just cannot provide.

In most school subjects children are encouraged to improve on THEIR own performance rather than just come top. Thankfully this applies to PE as much as reading.

If we are going to go back to traditional sports days then prehaps we should go back to thick kids being made to wear a dunce hat if they can read out loud in front of the class.

Original poster

castrolgtx · 20/06/2007 22:08

Have to say I am quicked amazed how this has ended up. My Ds has often been in tears as he doesn't get many commendations for reading etc, and I thought it was a shame that sports day wasn't an oppurtunity for him to be good at something.
I'm sure the teachers would be sensitive to each childs ability. At our school you could pick what events you entered and those who were less sporty could do none, or play a game etc. I can't believe suggesting a bit of sporting competition equates to laughing at others/disabled people.

OP posts:

Original poster

castrolgtx · 20/06/2007 22:10

See, I can't spell, but it's ok for someone to keep bloody pointing it out!!
Is that the same at pointing out someone is crap bad at running??

OP posts:

frances5 · 20/06/2007 22:22

castrolgtx,

A lot of schools give commendations for things like reading to children who exceed the targets set for them by their teachers rather those who come top. My son's school and the school I work in both reward hard work and progress rather than coming top.

In theory its is possible for any child to get a certificate if they work hard enough. All you can ask of a child is their best.

Original poster

castrolgtx · 20/06/2007 22:30

I'm not saying force every child to run etc, but some sort of middle ground, where the sporty ones get to be sporty.
i was never great at sport, but loved sports day, i never remember anyone being laughed at or bullied

OP posts:

Peachy · 20/06/2007 23:03

At our school kids who work hard at reaidng or whatever get stars and their photos on display

but sports day is a public humiliation. I mean, you can practive reading or maths- if you cant run from a - b, or even (and in particular) sit in front of a group of aprents without finding it immensely stresful then its torture

I don't have much issue in senior school tbh, or where its non compulsory- ds1 would choose to take part- but those who cant shouldn't have to.

FWIW I wasn't aware of anyone laughing at ds3, but getting bored and walking off is hurtful enough imo. And because he doesnt understand, he got quite hurt that 50 parents clapped one little girl, and nobody (well us) him. He's not yet 4, he shouldn't have to ut up with that.

cornsilk · 20/06/2007 23:05

One thing that I really don't like about sports day is the way the chn chant the name of the kid with the most kudos.

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