Should parents be banned from school sports day?
I ask after a primary school in Wales banned mums and dads from attending its sports day due to ‘over competitive’ and bad behaviour from the grown-ups.
According to the head teacher at Pentrebane School in Cardiff parents are increasingly using obscene language and threatening behaviour in front of the kids at sports day, leaving staff in the firing line and spoiling the whole event.
So, this year she decided to ban them completely, leaving the children β and staff – to enjoy their day in peace.
Now, I’ve made no secret of the fact sports day isn’t one of my favourite events on the school calendar – in fact I find it mind-numbingly boring – but to ban parents completely? Surely that’s going a bit far?
What about the ones who donβt get hot under the collar when their little darling doesnβt come first – or second or third? What about the ones who donβt get so carried away they feel the need to swear at each other? What about the ones who actually enjoy it?
I asked some fellow parenting bloggers what they think – including one mum whose son is due to go to the school in question β and their responses are…interesting!
Should parents be banned from school sports day?
“This is the school my son will be going to!” says Welsh Mum of One Christy. “I was really shocked to see the news article, and also felt very disappointed, as I feel this should be a day that I could meet other parents and support my son and the school. It makes me really apprehensive to think of what other adults must have done to cause it – I can’t believe that parents would take it that seriously or be aggressive or abusive over what should be a fun day. I also don’t understand why parents like me are going to be excluded for the actions of a few – why not just ban people who cause problems?”
βAt our school the parents are quite competitive and two local dads can be seen ‘training’ prior to the event!β says Sophie who blogs at Sophobsessed. βIt’s all good fun though and light-hearted, although in the class two years above my son’s there was an incident where an angry parent became irate because the spoon her daughter had for the egg and spoon race was allegedly defective.β
“I would be so annoyed if I couldnβt go to see my son because other people were hot heads!” says Yammy Mommy Gail. “I think better management is needed.”
“I think it’s unfair to ban parents,” says Lisa who blogs at The Family Ticket. “Have a word with the unruly ones if it continues, and ban them from next year’s one. I think sports day has lost a lot, if not all, of the competitive aspects which is a shame. Children should be rewarded for winning a race. Exactly how children are rewarded for good reading or art etc. Not all children are good at sports and not all children are good academically. Maybe their parents were trying to give their children a confidence boost.
“Our school sports day is a bit odd,” says Messy Blog UK’s Leslie. “Thereβs no βwelcome mums and dadsβ and when the races are done, thereβs no βwell done everyone for taking part, thank you families for comingβ. Itβs not like any other sports day Iβve been to but itβs great because it cuts down on the competitiveness. Itβs a good atmosphere.”
“My younger son was born without the competitive gene,” says Mighty Mama Bear Jennifer. “During his first sports day he stopped halfway through the race to wave at us and blow kisses! It’s one of my favourite memories.”
“Sports day is one of the best memories of primary school and I would be sad if we couldnβt see our children,” says Lucy who blogs at Oreos & Gin. “For us, it teaches my son that you donβt always win. Heβs naturally very fast and I think itβs important for him to learn that youβve got to work hard and even if you do, you still might not win. Itβs been great to see him grow each year.”
βItβs one of my favourite school events and Iβd be gutted if school stopped letting parents attend due to a few spoiling it,β says Tina who blogs at Mum Founded. βMy sonβs school were very clear that mobile phones were not allowed and anyone using them would be asked to leave. Best idea ever in my book.β
“Our school sports day is nearly all team games so it reduces that competitive edge from parents,” says Counting to Ten’s Kate. “They used to have a race for parents too, but they didnβt have that last year as one of the dads broke his collarbone the year before. Clearly the dads were taking the race a bit too seriously!”
βThere’s always a lot of excitement for the dads race at the end of my son’s school sports day,β says Claire who blogs at Red Kite Days. βSome speedy Dads tank down the race track but there are quite a few wobbly beer bellies too!β
And Amy who blogs at Mum Full of Dreams says what most of us are probably thinking: “No they shouldn’t ban parents from sports day. They should just stop behaving like tits!”
What do you think? Have you witnessed over competitiveness from parents at sports day? Do you think the head teacher in Cardiff was right to ban mums and dads? I’d love to hear what you think!
Sounds so over the top, but one can only imagine what those idiotic parents must have been like to make a school even consider such drastic action. Our school spirts days wrere always enjoyable events. #ABloggingGoodTime
I totally agree with Amy! It’s terrible that a small amount of people ruin it for others. I enjoy sports day although in my kids new school it was a bit boring for the children as they ha dot sit around in the heat and only got to take part in 3 races each over an 1 1/2 hours, so I do think it’s a day dependent on good organisation. I think as a parent it’s better to just keep quiet and cheer them all on! #ablogginggoodtime
I’ve seen this in youth sports, our soccer league instituted a “silent sideline” rule last year, but to think that people act that terribly at a fun school event is ridiculous #KCACOLS
My sons school doesn’t have parents in for sports day and I can see that it means far less pressure and makes it easier for all the children to participate. However its also great as parents to attend school events. I think its one of those things where there is no one size fits all. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time
Kids and parents/caregivers alike all have to find ways to behave and be good sports at these kind of events. Oy vey! #KCACOLS xoxo
I quite enjoy Sports Day but I can see why some schools would rather do it without parents. As a teacher, and a parent, I’ve seen other parents racing over to the finish line to argue that their child should have won, or been on the podium. I’m not sure that’s teaching their child to be very sporting! #KCACOLS
Personally I think thatβs a little too far. As parents we should be ok with whether our children win or lose and if you are that passionate to show how over competitive you are at sports day, you may need to look at yourself a bit. Itβs about the children at the end of the day they want their parents there to cheer them on not for you to be over competitive. To ban them is just ridiculous.
It is a little too far, I think it is a crucial lesson to learn that you can’t win everything and that is ok the world doesn’t end X
#kcacols