Non-competitive Sports Days

Does any body actually know what the point of these are? I know it’s a bit out of season for this, but I thought I would say something at the beginning of the year because hopefully it will encourage people to express their opinions on this subject. 

Everybody knows the failure of the England football team and their shocking attempt to qualify for the 2008 European Championships. The English rugby team did well while punching above their weight getting to the World Cup final this was just papering over the cracks. English rugby has been on the decline since 2003. British athletics is in a terrible state too, I dread the London Olympics, there is a real possibility that the ‘host’ nation will not be able to compete for medals. These are the ‘bread and butter’ sports of our country and they are slowly going down the pan, what a shame.

What has this got to do with non-competitive sports in schools then? I think Schools represent the grass roots of sport in this country it’s vital that children are introduced to sport and shown the positives and benefits of competitive sport otherwise; Where are the future Martin Johnson’s, Bobby Moore’s and Denise Lewis’s going to come from?

Non-competitive sports days are not the sole reason for the general decline of British sport, but they represent a change in attitude within the country. It seems schools and parents feel the need to shelter children from the ‘horror’ of losing. Do they think kids cannot handle it? Will it scar them for life? Talk about favouring the unfit computer game playing child. What about the others who want to play sport? Competitive sport is a fantastic way for children to understand what its like to win and loose, something they will experience all through life, so I ask myself - what’s wrong with that?. Don’t forget we have no problem putting children into  Maths and Science classes because of academic ability, why is this any different?

I saw a non-competitive sports day at a school in Derby last year and heard a teacher telling a 9 year old ‘we don’t do that here!’ She had been running across the playing field with a ‘racing attitude’. It was very obvious  this girl had a natural talent and I am sure everybody could see that. Was she encouraged? Not a chance, I felt she was being patronised and put down by her school and told to resume passing bean bags around, and pouring water into empty buckets, what a waste of time. These are the sports men and women of the future, when are people going to realise this? Just look at other countries, the USA, Australia and Germany for example. Would they tolerate this attitude towards sport? No they would not!

Of course it is important to say that not everyone makes it as a professional sports person, but it is not just about that. Sport is a wonderful way to encourage a healthy lifestyle from a young age, helping to challenge child obesity in a positive way. It is said to help pupil’s attitude and behaviour in classes, it helps build confidence and give children an opportunity learn real teamwork.

So when you are watching the next Olympics or football World Cup and wonder ‘Why can’t we compete with the other countries?’ Look on your own doorstep and you might find some answers, after all, you reap what you sow.

Feel free to email me at toby.landers@hotmail.co.uk or write in to The Cottage Magazine. It would be great to hear your own comments/experiences. I have spoken to the editor and comments will be published.