If you were to design your family’s perfect grassroots sport event, what would it look like? Tell McDonald’s for a chance to win a £300 voucher! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

McDonald’s have asked us to find out what Mumsnetters’ perfect family sport event would look like.

Here’s what they say, “We love a good kick about, so this year we held over 40 Community Football Days across the UK which were attended by over 14,000 kids, parents and families. With coaching sessions, fun games, and celebrity ambassadors there was something for everyone."

"These events helped to promote grassroots football in local areas and, being open to everyone, the Community Football Days were the perfect opportunity for grassroots clubs to attract both new players and volunteers. But what would make your perfect family sports event?”

So, what kind of event would you organise if you were in charge of a family sport event in your local community? Perhaps you would want to host a school style sports day with everything from egg and spoon races to sack races to hulla hoop competitions? Something for the youngest in the family, face painting, bouncy castles, or introductory coaching sessions? Or maybe you’d design an extravagant obstacle course for everyone to complete? Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it!

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!

Thanks,
MNHQ

Well....as a veteran of many many many years watching football tournaments and matches I will say one thing: Coffee. An event must have good coffee.

Events that are inclusive by design - people who have impairments, whether those are physical, sensory, cognitive etc should have been considered in the design and setup of the event and should be able to participate. And not in a 'ahhh, look at that disabled person, bless them' way either.

Not football or martial arts - something interesting like netball or korfball. ??An element of competition so maybe a record of all scores and a winning person per category - under gives, under tens etx.??Things to let your child join in with - a group of eleven year olds for example. Things for parents with seating for the kids to watch. Something like large scorecards for the kids to hold up if they aren't joining in - like '10' or '3' for dad.??Easy places to go to the loo, get a tea and juice - water stations maybe to cut costs

Running!!! I'm a keen runner but I didn't take it up til later in life meaning my kids can get involved too

We already go to parkrun to run together on Saturdays..... Some park runs organise a junior parkrun, but not all areas have this. It would be great if more did. I'd love to see this as well as more races for kids which aren't the usual 'kids fun run'

Colour run/run to the beat/proper races with medals, goodie bags and tech t shirts.... That's what I'd like to see!

A kids/family tough muddet type event - and i second the good coffee essential!

Games and sport that can be done as families, eg dad and child 3 legged race etc. Finished off with a BBQ and camping.

Wtf is a hulla hoop?!?

My dc would love an obstacle course so I'd design something like a family version of Wipeout. But not too competitive, with the emphasis on fun and set up so the participants won't feel like so much of a spectacle!

I used to love It's a Knockout and We Are The Champions on telly when I was a kid. Unfortunately the brand was ruined by It's a Royal Knockout and the whole Yewtree atmosphere, but I think the concept of fun and silly games for teams is well overdue a revival. There would need to be a whole range of skills you could offer to win points though.

I think the nearest I come to it now is village cricket - cricket is great for the range of skills you can be good at in order to contribute - mowing things, hitting things, throwing things, catching things, adding up numbers, reading the paper, sitting down, grilling bacon, pulling pints and varnishing things all feature.

I would really love a 'try it out' day. I didn't get into sport as a child for various reasons, and found that as an adult it is REALLY hard to get into a team sport for the first time, say netball or football, as (locally at least) it's all existing teams that compete and (understandably) wouldn't want a complete and unfit novice.

I'd do it in a big leisure centre which had outdoor space/pitches etc as well as indoor, and get coaches in the various sports to set up their stuff.

When you arrive you would wander round and at each 'station' there'd be sign up sheets, where individuals or families could put their names down for time slots with other groups to make enough for teams. Then they'd just go and do it and it wouldn't matter if they weren't good at it, because it would just be fun.

To keep people occupied between slots there could be stuff like group warm ups, healthy cooking demonstrations, gym equipment to try out, bouncy castle/obstacle course/trim trail stuff.

Quidditch. Nobody can resist the ludicrous charms of Muggle Quidditch.

I'd love to see community rounders or softball games. We used to go to the park with a picnic and meet up with several other families. Everyone would join in and it was great fun.

Perhaps each session could be a different sport and each session could involve taster sessions of the chosen sport, face painting of the chosen sport and a few themed games linked to the chosen sport.
Coffee is crucial at every event and having a celebrity attending that has been or is brilliant in that sport is inspiring for kids.
With childhood obesity on the rise any community days that appeals to families and encourages them to 'have a go' at a particular sport is a good thing.
Maybe a few fete type attraction as well - a raffle, tombola with themed prizes and some opportunities to win some money cant buy prizes.

Obstacle courses make sport much more fun than traditional sport such as football etc.
The whole family could have a go at a course and race against other families or maybe time it and find the fastest family in Britain to complete the course.

Some kind of hybrid 'it's a knockout!'/'total wipeout' style fun obstacle course that could be divided into stages for different age/ability groups to complete, or done in full for those who wanted to! Few extra fun activity games and challenges dotted around to add interest and cut the time spent hanging around

We went to an Open Day at the local sports centre, I discovered that I LOVE playing Dodgeball. I would go to a day of it, even though I am crap and uncoordinated it was just such good fun.

I'd also love Quidditch. AND (sorry being greedy now) I would love to go in those big bouncy trampoline harness thingys but they are always really expensive.

What you really need is TOILETS, says the woman who has stood crossed legged in the cold at many sports events.

I like an obstacle course. I agree re it not being too competitive, that's not the point! Something to appeal to different age groups. My DD (just 4) is tiny and often can't go on things. A range of activities is important at all levels to get people interested.

Something inclusive where everyone 'wins'. Well organised, a lot of community stuff is often messy and disorganised. Refreshmenets, toilets!

We do regular assault courses in the back garden kid style, so we have:
Leap over the hydrangea
Crawl under the trampoline
Swing on the swing
Climb the willow tree
And jump on the worm casts
It's a giggle and gets the heart going a bit

lots of different disciplines, so everyone can find something they love to try... lots of space both for the sport teams and watching members only; good food, drink and snacks are a must... and don't forget about a loo or two ;-)

Some kind of 'kids on wheels' event - so everything from scooters through training bikes on stabilisers, skateboards and BMXs...my kids love cycling now but getting them there was a trial and a half!

Mine would be multiple relay races with different sports in each one, cycling, rugby, dribbling football, tennis, basketball etc. There would be a refreshment tent with smoothies and entertainment from magicians and a live band.

Too often I find sport is just a gold medal for being a tall person. I am sure more people would take part if their basic body shape didn't mean they lost every time.

So for example you could have a high jump where you were ranked according to % of your height you jumped. So it maybe that a particularly springy 5 year old win. Or a running race where your speed was calculated in kg/seconds, so in theory a short fat person like me could win (dreaming, I know!).