sports day: Girls not allowed to run 400m

[GotMyGoat]

Do you want to hear something jaw-droppingly outrageous?

School have sent out a message saying that due to health and safety concerns the sports day 400 m will become the 300 m race. Something about it being a sprint, a bit vague but ok. Fine. If you think it helps. Maybe it's connected to the hot weather?

Then, the email says that due to it being a sprint, and therefore posing a risk girls will not be allowed to run the 400m (now 300m) but boys will still be allowed.

What an awful example to set.

If girls run the 300m, do their heads fall off or something? Does anyone have any ideas why sprinting is more dangerous for girls?

I am so angry hat they think they can assume all boys are stronger/ better sprinters than all girls. I was awesome at the 400m at school and would have easily beaten most of the boys.

I'd like to send an email in reply, its going to be too late for this year but perhaps they can change their sexist attitude for next year? Any pointer of how I can sensitively call my employers sexist pigs? Many thanks!

[momb]

The ages are staggered in line with advice on the adolescent growth spurt, particularly the effects of hormone levels on joint stability and development.
It is not just athletics that take this into account. The Imperial college of Teachers of Dance doesn't allow girls on point during this time either for the same reasons. Like wise the BGA has to put special steps in place for their gymnasts too.

[teetering13]

I meant the person who named the school could remain anonymous ... was that not obvious?

I'm not really bothered if the schools named or not .. I've just googled to find any school that doesn't allow girls to run the 400/300m race but can't find one

I will accept it goes on though .. as of course wtf would anyone start a thread saying it does if it doesn't ... I just find it very hard to believe :/

[LittleBearPad]

If the person who started this thread is a teacher at the school as seems to be the case then naming the school wouldn't be a very good career move. It would t take much effort for the headmaster to work out the likely whistleblower.

[teetering13]

Lets hope at least one parent whose child is at that school will question it then ...

[LRDYaDumayuIThink]

Not obvious so much as naive, teetering, but don't worry, I can understand why you thought it might be possible.

[teetering13]

It would be possible to name and shame anonymously

[samandi]

How utterly ridiculous.

The 400m is not a sprint race, it combines both anaerobic and aerobic fuel reserves.

I fail utterly to see why girls aren't allowed to participate in it, or indeed why it has been changed to 300m for boys. It's - as you say - quite jaw-dropping. Utterly offensive and retarded.

[samandi]

How many of you have actually run 400m as a young teen?

Yes, I have, several times. During the 1995 heatwave too. You're not supposed to go all out, you have to pace yourself. Of course you will wind up on the floor if you treat it the same way as a 100m sprint.

[forevergreek]

Huh, we see to start every sports lesson with a 400 m jog, then finish the lesson with a 400m sprint.

So x3 times a week for about 6 years

[OddSockMonster]

I'm pretty sure I did 400m runs (not sprints) as a teen. Hated it, but maybe that's why I remember.

OP, this sports day may have passed but are you in a position suggest something different for next year?

[rosy71]

The 400m is not a sprint race
Yes it is. It's entirely possible not to run it as such but it is a classified as a sprint.

[mabifeminists]

We find this outrageous and have experienced this at our local high school (we are 13 and not mums!) We have decided to send a letter to our local mp and the government as well. WE hope this does not bore you because i am almost falling asleep writing this toodle-pip y'all

[chantico]

Zombie Thread!

Though I'm surprised it's still happening, as although there was some confusion (when the Association changed the official racing distances for juniors of both sexes, but some schools stuck with the 400), I'd have expected it to have settled down by now.

[missjoy]

Pretty shocked reading this thread. Instead of a sports day at my Dd primary school there is a battle of the sexes competition. Girls and boys compete in anything from football, volleyball, running etc. Whats great is that for the past ten years the girls have not only won but have battered the boys.