The question most frequently asked at this time of year – Is Sports Day still on? One of the highlights of the school year is in jeopardy because of the vagaries of the weather. PE leads spend hours planning and resourcing the sporting activities, ensuring their suitability for all ages; not to mention creating schedules and rotations; briefing staff and praying for fine weather! But a sudden shower or even a deluge can make the surface too slippery and the event is rescheduled with fingers crossed, hoping that the weather is kinder second time round.
The big day arrives, nerves are jangling – it’s a bit cloudy, rain is forecast at 3pm – will Sports Day finish before it starts? The uncertainty triggers hundreds of calls to the School Office, even though all forms of social media have proclaimed ‘It’s on!’ The jungle drums are beating as WhatsApp groups debate the merits of continuing with the event.
Throughout the day anxious faces glance at the grey skies. Amongst them are those who are secretly praying for rain of epic proportions, they hate Sports Day no matter how ‘fun’ it is portrayed – to these children it’s hell on Earth! The thought of shivering in thin PE shorts and shirt, whilst running; jumping; throwing or any interesting combination of the three dreamt up by the PE team with adoring parents watching, is their worst nightmare. They don’t want to be last in the race with a sympathy clap; they don’t want to be the ones falling into the sandpit head first or the ones whose ball nosedives at their feet. They know it’s not ‘their thing’ and being told ‘it’s the taking part that counts’ is no consolation – no one ever says that to those who dislike Maths! Please let it rain!!!
But for those children who love Sports Day, the excitement is almost unbearable. In the preceding weeks they have ‘practised’ and their big moment is here. Will Billy be the fastest? Will I avoid the dip in the grass in the middle lane? Will I get through the heats to the final? Will I – could I – win? Hearts racing, adrenalin pumping – the whistle blows!
What are the hot favourite activities for this year’s Sports Day?
- Egg and spoon race – an oldie but the unpredictability of keeping the egg balanced on the spoon can produce some surprise winners.
- The sack race – or the Bag for Life race or whatever substitute bag is used these days! The sack is never the ‘right size’ and there’s always someone who runs rather than jumps.
- Long jump – the sand pit is raked and ready; sand flies everywhere – is there enough?
- Obstacle race – the opportunity to use those less frequently used pieces of apparatus, that no one quite knows what to do with the rest of the year.
- Skipping race – great it you have the necessary co-ordination; horrific if you don’t,
- Water carry – oh the irony! Days spent praying for no rain but children are still wet through!
- Parents races – which parent has secretly trained all year and is nonchalantly standing at the start line? Who’s that wearing the latest running spikes? Hope that bloke whose just eaten a double cheeseburger and fries doesn’t pass out – or worse!
Before you know it, it’s all over for another year! The rain held off, no one fell over, except that Mr Johnson in the Dad’s race, but he was running in flip flops! Points have been counted, prizes, trophies or medals distributed; equipment stowed away and the PE lead collapses in the Staff Room with a large mug of tea and cake – a success!
Wishing you all a happy and safe Sports Day!
