6 Ways to a Super School Sports Day
Despite the brilliant Joe Wicks, Sport England figures show that most young people failed to meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily exercise in the 2019/20 academic year. The loss of team sport not only reduced fitness opportunities but also cut the social benefits that come with team spirit and camaraderie.
That’s why your 2021 School Sports Day should be the best!
Put Sports Day in the diary well in advance. This helps parents and family members plan for attendance (subject to social distancing). Will you choose morning (cooler weather) or afternoon (warmer and drier ground)? Where will everyone sit? Pupils will be outside for several hours, so ensure that some shade is available.
A good Plan B is a must: unpredictable summer weather brings blistering heat waves as well as thunderstorms. No one wants to cancel Sports Day, but safety is paramount: sunstroke, dehydration, lightning and wet surfaces (including light rain on dry ground) are all dangerous.
Atmosphere: Sports Day is a celebration and deserves a vibrant atmosphere. Marked areas, precise organisation and clear race starting (and finishing!) plan all help. Hang colourful bunting, nominate an enthusiastic announcer and provide refreshments. Make Sports Day special.
Who last had the sacks? Where are all the hoops? Check your equipment well in advance. If you need 6 of everything in 4 different colours, be certain it’s not under a bush at the bottom of the field.
Is your sports equipment missing, broken or outdated? It’s time to invest. The school’s primary PE and sport premium should help with that. No one expects pupils to write with broken pens on crumpled paper … and a bright, new sports apparatus guarantees a wave of enthusiasm. It demonstrates that your school takes sport seriously, and the whole school community will feel proud.
3. Nurture sports enthusiasm
Giving all pupils the chance to try Sports Day events in their PE sessions will boost their skills. You might be surprised at who puts themselves forwards to represent their team! It will develop empathy because everyone will know how it feels to drop the hoop or get stitch halfway around the running track. They will also understand the rules!
It’s a perfect opportunity to link sport with health and nutrition. What do athletes eat, and what do they avoid? Pupils pick up on their teacher’s attitude to competitive sport, so it’s a good time to demonstrate determination, encouragement and consolation. A pat on the back and a sympathetic “bad luck” or “you did your best” goes a long way to build future confidence.
Pre-empt a hundred questions by being crystal clear about what should (and shouldn’t) be worn. Will your teams need to find coloured T-shirts? Wear a cap, or supply water? Being smart and identified by the team is crucial; will pupils need coloured bibs or team bands? Are face paints allowed?
Footwear issues can be difficult, and not all pupils can easily access supportive trainers. Give parents plenty of warning and encourage organisation.
Make sure Sports Day winners receive an award. Decide in advance what the awards will be – and order in time. These need to look good and be valued. Medals and ribbons, house trophies, a cup for the best girl and boy in each year, or the most sporting pupil? Perhaps even prizes of sports equipment?
In ancient Greece, Olympic winners received wreaths of olive leaves. The Roman’s highest honour accolades were wreaths of oak leaves or grass. Introducing a similar ‘natural’ but highly valued and regarded reward to your school shows that pride, honour and success is something you can feel, not necessarily something you have to display with silver and gold.
Do Sports Day awards matter? Yes, they do. Motivation and determination are important life skills! When we are rewarded we feel good. The dopamine in our brains communicates with our neurons, allowing us to evaluate reward potential and motivating us to obtain them. This rewarding feeling isn’t only for individual success, it transfers to those supporting and belonging to a team. Not everyone can cross the line first, but when team spirit is promoted, all participants bask in the glow of success.
6. Sports Day Events
What Sports Day events are best for your school? Traditional, fun, or a mixture of both? Whatever your mix, be sure to include speed, stamina, balance, throwing and jumping skills.
- Traditional Sports
Sprinting over a short distance is exhilarating to watch; stamina over a long distance is admired. Don’t forget the old favourites: egg and Spoon; sack race; three-legged race; slow bicycle; obstacle and relay are British traditions your visitors will love to see.
- Fun and Quirky
Caterpillar run mats require physical and team skills to win a race. Curved walking boards are great for obstacle races. How far can you hit a tennis ball, or throw a beanbag or weighted pouch scarf? (Or even an old welly boot!). Who’s last to fall off their stilts… How many balls in a basket…?
With a wide selection of good sports equipment, you can get creative! Without taking anything away from the best performances, you could also recognise the best-supported team, the best team song or even the funniest mascot. What about an annual ‘crazy race’? Pupils design and invent an annual themed race – with the favourite held on Sports Day. Balance a potato on your head in fancy dress and walking backwards? Why not?
For our full PE and Sports day range please check out our brochure here