Sports day season is upon us. With BB in reception this is the first year we’ve had the pleasure, and I have to say it’s been a revelation.
If my social media feed is anything to go by there seem to have been an alarming number of non-competitive sports days taking place, where there are no winners and no losers – everyone is equal.
I mean what on earth is the point of non-competitive sports day? Why hold an event comprising of races if no-one’s going to win? What a waste of time!
Thankfully BB’s school isn’t one that has embraced the non-competitive sports day idea (that revelation would have been enough to make me choose a different school). The winners were given first, second and third stickers, the losers got nothing and the teachers goaded the kids on with surprising vehemence. Which I think is exactly as it should be.
A healthy dose of competition teaches kids dedication, to focus on the end goal, to practise and to do their best, even though they might not win. It also teaches them how to deal with disappointment and manage their feelings when they don’t excel.
How are the non-competitive sports day victims going to fare when it comes to exams and job interviews and life? I shudder to think. And what of the kids who aren’t good at reading, writing or other disciplines? Proper old-fashioned sports days give them the chance to shine.
BB won stickers for her running and throwing races, but she also came away with nothing from others, and I’m glad.
There’s always going to be someone better at something in life than you are, unless you’re Mo Farah or Usain Bolt, but even they must run with the fear that they could be beaten. The sooner kids accept that the better.
What do you think? Are non-competitive sports days a waste of time, or actually a good idea?
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I couldn’t agree more! Competition is just a part of life and I think it’s a healthy one. Personally I used to love sports days because I was pretty fast as a kid, but equally I was crap at acting/dancing etc – the sooner we learn that we are good at some things and bad at others, the better. It’s in our nature to be competitive and trying to take that away from a child is just madness #bestandworst x
I definitely think they are a waste of time. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition, surely it makes if more exciting for the kids as well?xx #bestandworst
urgh, such a waste of time! when the teen first started primary school, they were competitive, but by the time she left in yr 6 they weren’t… AND they also scrapped the parents race! so disappointed! we’re a competitive family by nature, so even though they don’t do it at the school, Im there on the sidelines shouting at the preteen to “run faster”, pulling her to the side to “discuss her biggest competitor” and how she can beat them. Although we didn’t look like the best parents when the preteen did the “shot put” rather badly, and the husband remarked “what was that? your no child of mine…” the looks from the other parents was hilarious, and it would have been funnier had the preteen not taken it so to heart and looked like she was about to cry! lol parenting fail I fear! but yes, competition is healthy (if you don’t do it like us) and really important I think… Parents can’t watch in secondary school, but the teen was very honest in her 5th place for cross country… I told her not to tell dad lol 😉 love this post! #effitfriday
I completely agree. I think taking all the competition out of everything and giving all children a prize is part of what creates the “I am entitled to that although I have done nothing to earn it” mentality.
The kids who get a prize just for turning up are going to have to learn a very hard lesson when they get out into the real world! #effitfriday
Debbie
I totally agree with you. Non-competitive sports day is a ridiculous idea. Life is competitive, the sooner kids learn how to compete and to cope with winning, losing and taking part the better. Pen x #KCACOLS
I agree with you, learning that you can’t win at everything is a valuable life lesson along with you don’t always get your own way. I was the least sporty person ever when I was at school and even I loved sports day and trying to win something – it was motivation to try hard and do better! #KCACOLS
It’s funny, when I was at school I hated Sports Day, now I’m a secondary school teacher I love it! Nothing like a bit of healthy competition! #KCACOLS
I so agree with you.Sport is about competition…
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It was always a traditional sports day at our local village school with 1st 2nd and 3rd places in heats. A little competition is great for kids, it also give those who might not be so academic a chance to succeed in a different area. #KCACOLS
I completely agree with you! I love a little competition and think it’s healthy and part of the fun! No one should aim for the participation award!
This is the first I have heard about non-competitive sports days. I totally agree, I’m not really seeing the point or the benefit from taking the competition out of sports days. I think it could be a bit disheartening for some children. Usually hard work and effort has its outcomes, lets hope it doesn’t Put them off when they are greeted with nothing!
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Sooo agree!! I’m a bit competitive and I’m sure my girly will either be good or crap at sports and either way she needs to learn her about her talents or lack off. It’s silly to avoid it for fear of upsetting them, when yes life will have disappointments and competition. Great post and thanks for sharing with #bestandworst x
I couldn’t agree more with you hon. This is something that really and truly winds my husband up to no end! And I can see why too. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday.xx
I completely agree. We have non competitive sports days at our school (my daughter is moving up to high school in September so no more of it for us) and I have to say it has kind of made a generation of kids who cry and whimper if they don’t win or get what they want. I can definitely see a few egos getting bruised at the first high school sports day lol.
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I couldn’t agree more this is so true. I too shudder to think of what it is teaching our children. #KCACOLS
I too agree. It also lends itself thinking that there is no need to try because they will win anyway doesn’t it. #KCACOLS
Hear, hear! I was drawn to the post initially by the title, because this really irritates me. I teach Taekwon-do, where children take part in competitions, as well as working towards personal goals. It is so important for them to learn to be pleased for others and to gain the motivation to try even harder, as well as enjoying the glory when they win. Alison x #KCACOLS
The two words just do’nt go together for me. Sports day is competitive and teaches about trying hard to win and we shouldn’t be ashamed of that. We can also have other great activities which are played for enjoyments sake and not necessarily to win, not that I can actually think of anything which doesn’t involve a huge air punch in our house.
mainy – myrealfairy
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Oh, the non-competitive thing is ridiculous. We are supposed to be equipping our children for the real world. Mind you, sports days aren’t the only places that we are afraid of having losers…I did a post on kids parties and wanted to go back to the good old days when there was only one winner in pass the parcel, rather than a sweet in every layer and every child gets to remove a layer…
Oh poop I forgot again! #KCACOLS
This post just reminds me of the episode of How I met your mother when Lily and Marshall are coaching a basketball team and arguing about whether they should keep score or not, so funny! I’m not sure if they handed out prizes for the winners at my son’s sports day, but he definitely knew who won each race and it was a great chance to talk about how we’re all good at different things, and wasn’t it great that so and so ran so fast etc etc. x #KCACOLS
100% agree. I’m sorry but at what point in life do you win at everything? If anything learning how to loose is character building. I do think there are exceptions such as when we went to my little cousins Muay Tai match where all the different schools came together to fight against each other so they could practice, in this situation every child got a medal which was more about confidence building. Sports day on the other hand should be left well enough alone x #KCACOLS
100% agree. I hated sports day when I was younger, but I got my chance to shine through academia and performing arts – I just saw sports day as something to get through, it gave others the chance to shine too. #KCACOLS
I’m somewhere in the middle, I’m all about the taking part is what counts, but you have to have a goal to push yourself and challenge yourself. Competition is healthy. I do think that everyone should get something little for taking part though! #effitfriday
I can’t believe this is actually a thing! Why even bother?! Everybody is good at something, we should be helping our children find their ‘something’ and work at it rather than just giving everyone and award for everything! How will we ever find our top scientists, sportspersons and actors otherwise?! #KCACOLS
Yes! I do not see the point in non-competitive sports days or a “participation” trophy or medal it’s, frankly, a load of crap. I’m off to my daughters first sports day today and I don’t know how they do things yet.At the end of the day FAIL can translate to first attempt in learning, so every child needs to learn to fail, lose and make mistakes. We as parents need to help them to become persistent, keep trying and eventually they will win. The reality of it is, you don’t always win at life, sometimes you try really hard and you’re still disappointment. #kcacols.