Non Competative Sports Days. I hate them

[castrolgtx]

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?

But that, fox, has been agreed upon much earlier in this thread.

Those of us who are pro-competitive sport have (almost to a woman) agreed at some point that those who don't want to, or can't, shouldn't have to).

Even in the 70s that was the case.

If you don't want your child to compete, for whatever reason, nothing on earth can force them to.

They just have fun doing something else.

Dr Northener - it is humiliating if you know you're going to be the loser. Did you ever get picked last for teams in games lessons?

Reading isn't for every child, singing in teh bloody school play isn't for every child, but it's part of school life and the curicculum.

Kids should learn something maynot be their cup of tea, but they try their best and they are prasied for that. Win or lose.

Should we ban snakes and ladders becuase of its competetive edge?

yes but you (and DrN) said who is humiliating them - and that competitiveness exists in the classroom - but the difference is that in the classroom, they do not have an audience.

pedant alert

Competitive.

(Sorry)

Ah well, shoite - it's called character building in my experience.

Arse I was actually picked last for somethings yes. I excelled in athletics but hated contact sports like hockey and netball, I was too small and skinny. But it didn't occur to me that I should not do it.

I don't remember anyone being teased for not being a good reader. I do remember a lot of kids being called boffins for excelling in acedemic subjects though. To be crap at sport was/is embarrassing - especially infront of the whole school and their families.

Does your school force children to take part in public snakes and ladders competitions? How odd.
If your child is good at running and jumping, why does it matter so much that it is non-competitive? can't you enjoy their talent without seeing other children beaten? I don't sit here thinking about which children can't read as well as my ds, and wanting to see them publicly shown up just so my ds can look better.

Bu you anti folk have not answered my question. Is it just sports day youare opposed to or competetive sports in school in general? Beacus if so, then where does tht leave football/rgby/cicket/tennis/netball......

My typing is appalling tonight. Mr Pinot and Mr Grigio are here

So answer my question, arse.

The country must abolish sport on the grounds that it upsets some children .... or is it, really, their mums who are upset?

well maybe it should have done

I am pro competitive sport. We all love sport here.

But I quite like the non competitive sports days or the sports days with lots of different activities.

But you were good at some sport/athletics DrN. I remember from painful experience the humiliation of always being picked last. I welcome non-competitive sports days as they may encourage my DS to get involved in sport rather than to see it as something that is just a humiliation to him.

Have I suggested that sport should be abolished Des?

I would just rather that school sports days were a celebration of sport and activity for every child.

If you want competitive sport, they do Borough Sports Days for those who try out for the athletics teams and the like.

Desiderata, look I've said it a hundred times, you like sport, you play sport. Only don't expect other people to be forced to join in just to make you and yours look good.
If the only way a child can feel good about themselves it to beat other people, I think that's sad.
I think competitiveness is a loathesome, unhealthy trait.
The idea that the only physical activity worth doing involves 'winning' and 'beating' other people is utterly bizarre. What about dancing? walking? yoga? I bet millions more people do those than netball . What does that say about school sport?

I will NEVER force my children to take part in competitive sport.

aloha I must make one issue with you aboutthis, IME at our school the kids who come last are certainly NOT huniliated they are cheered every step of the way by everybody. Perhaps you have seen this as humiliation, but I have never seen this at our school. Every child competes in a straight running race, and after the heats the winner compete in the finals, then there is - for the juniors - one long distance race (400m for yr 3/4 and 600m for yrs 5/6) the kids who are best at running do this one. There is a relay race with one boy/girl from each year in 'houses' and one obstacle race where each team of 4 are tied together!!

This way you get competition, but they can only go so fast as teh slowest person which makes it fun as they help each other.

IME the ones who make the most effort are the ones who are cheered, so yes the kids who find perhaps running difficult are so supported by the entire school and parents just to finish I cannot see this as humiliation IYKWIM

But competition exists in many facets of life aloha. In politics, business, economics, art, literature (the booker prize?)

I don't really know what you're talking about Des. This thread is about non-competitive sports days at school level. I've already said that I'm a football supporter, so of course I support competitsm. My issue is that it shouldn't be forced on people who are crap at it.

perhaps my kidsjust go to a nice supportive school, but ALL of the kids love it, the ones who come last seem to have a tradition of bowing to the crowd!!

please Aloha wait until your kids are at school and see if they enjoy it, some kids know that trying their best is important, that's competition enough.

Do you not think that giving a child a chance to compete gives them a sense of pride and can teach humility. Being 'a good sport' is one thing that many adults lack these days. We don't pat others on the back often enough and say I'm glad you got the promotion, you deserved it" we have a tendency to moan and complain instead. In sports children should learn to be good winners and good losers. We can not protect our kids from losing.

People don't paint a better picture or write a novel because they are competing with other people!