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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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Enid · 21/06/2007 19:20

the whole class know who got waht in the spelling tests, yes (no it isnt paraded but they all tell each other)

and they are streamed in tables - so dd1 and the SN kids sit together and the brighter kids have their own table - everyone knows why this is - luckily it doesnt bother dd1 too much but I'll be blowed if some misery guts stops her coming first at something for one measly day.

fillyjonk · 21/06/2007 19:21

ah i see that aloha has done my work for me already

i will say that i love doing sporty stuff and i think its cos i spent a lot of time just playing daft games with sticks and balls when i was growing up. there really weren't winners, the aim was to eke the game out for as long as possible.

Aloha · 21/06/2007 19:22

And actually, the idea that sports day is the one chance for non-academic kids to shine is also bollocks. What if the academic kids are also the sporty ones? There is no law that you can't be both.
I don't see why the public humiliation of others is a part of making anyone feel good about themselves. If you need that to to feel good, then there is something wrong.

Aloha · 21/06/2007 19:23

What IS the point of competitive sport? Ok, you might like beating other people, and that's between you and your shrink, but it has nothing to do with the health and fitness of the population or what schools are for.

Enid · 21/06/2007 19:25

glad you think my own experience and that of dd1's is bollocks

anyway we've done this before have we not?

Aloha · 21/06/2007 19:26

Well, in your case the two may coincide, but that's not because they are linked.
Is sports day only good if the less academic kids win? What if they lose?

I still think sport is incredibly childish.

Enid · 21/06/2007 19:27

oh calm down aloha

its downright nasty to suggest that people and kids who enjoy sports day have some need to watch others humiliate themselves. What a ridiculous, cruel thing to say.

Aloha · 21/06/2007 19:28

Well, that is what winning in this context means, isn't it, you have beaten other people, they have lost and you are glad? That is what competitive sport is FOR. And of course, if the other kids have special needs then they are easier to beat, and that has to be good, if beating other people is all that counts.

DrNortherner · 21/06/2007 19:29

"Sportspeople are all such utter freaks anyway"

What a absolute crock of shit aloha. I'm suprised at you.

Aloha · 21/06/2007 19:30

After all, if you are just interested in your child showing their talents, why would it bother you that there were no winners and losers? Does a jump not count if someone else doesn't fail to jump as high?

Enid · 21/06/2007 19:30

I'll forgive you aloha because I know you've got a stressful day tomorrow but I think you should leave this now.

foxinsocks · 21/06/2007 19:32

we enjoy sport here (although I am particularly crap at it) and both ds and dh play sport a fair bit - I don't like the competitive side of it at infant age, but don't have a problem once the children can opt in or out of it.

I'm pleased for enid's dd1 - I do think being able to shine at sport is much the same as being able to shine at drama or writing or maths olympiads etc.

Aloha · 21/06/2007 19:33

'Winning' at sport can only happen at the expense of others. Others must fail so the winner feels good. I think that is a totally unhealthy attitude and not one that should be fostered in schools or among children. And I think people who think children should be forced to compete so their child can 'win' and beat them, need to think about that.
Voluntary sports - fine, do what you want.
Compulsory competitive sports - nasty.

Aloha · 21/06/2007 19:34

Enjoying what you do for the sake of it is a much better route to happiness than forcing people into an activity you enjoy just for the pleasure of beating them at it.

Desiderata · 21/06/2007 19:35

Oh, God. Are you still at it?

Aloha · 21/06/2007 19:35

Is that a general comment?

fillyjonk · 21/06/2007 19:37

disagree that sport is a crock. Its not. Its fabulous. Its fun and it makes you happy.

Thats why its so bloody important that kids don't get turned off it by ridiculous, needless competitveness at a young age. It should be about fun.

kids do actually know who is best at sport anyway. The thing is to give them the idea that its still a fun thing to do, still worth trying even if you have 2 left feet, just because it is fun and that fun is not linked to being the best.

Enid · 21/06/2007 19:37

and the girl in dd2s class with SN (autism) got the biggest cheer of the day as she crossed the line with her carer (last I may add)

no sneering as far as I could tell

Aloha · 21/06/2007 19:39

Well, I totally disagree that it is fun, obviously. But if you do think it is fun, then that's up to you. I think some people enjoy trainspotting or bunjee jumping and good luck to them.
I absolutely agree that the best way to ensure people never take part in any physical activity for their entire adult lives is compulsory competitive sports days.

Aloha · 21/06/2007 19:40

Well Enid, Supposed she was forced to take part, to come last in front of everyone. Still nice?

Aloha · 21/06/2007 19:42

If you WANT to do sport, I think you are mad, of course, but it's absolutely up to you. Why do you need to force other people to do it against their will in order to enjoy it?

Enid · 21/06/2007 19:44

aloha

turn off the pc and go and have a nice glass of wine with dh

foxinsocks · 21/06/2007 19:45

I suspect you don't - suspect that those who really enjoy sport would rather play against those who are up for it, rather than those who are forced into it.

And I do think not every child is scarred by losing - some of them enjoy competing whether they win or not.

But there are some for whom that sort of sport (racing and the like) is not fun at all.

Desiderata · 21/06/2007 19:47

No, it was aimed at you, Aloha.

I still don't understand why you can't accept the middle ground on this. I understand (or at least I'd like to think I do) why you don't like sport, but other parents/kids do.

For what it's worth, I've no time for competitive parents who stand on the sidelines and cheer their kids on at the expense of others, but that's a personality issue.

Someone also said (and it might have been you) that when their child has struggled in last, all the other parents had lost interest and didn't bother watching. Again, very rude, very uncaring, very unsporting. I would stay until the last kid came through (probably waving madly, with tears in my eyes).

You're against the very concept of sport, and no one's going to change your mind. But why have such a huge downer on something that other people find great fun?

FrannyandZooey · 21/06/2007 19:47

Aloha, is there no physical activity that you do, that you enjoy? Is your life entirely sedentary?

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