School sports: where’s the competitive spirit when everyone’s a winner?
- With obesity levels on the rise in schools, the importance of exercise cannot be overstated
- Many schools have swapped competitive sports for inclusive games, but it is possible to strike a balance.
My son is very good at sport but there seems no incentive at his primary school for him to win, a Hong Kong parent writes. Even school “sports day” seems to have been dumbed down to novelty team activities. They also cancelled the fathers’ race this year, saying it had become dangerous.
The focus seems to be protecting children from “losing”. I am sad that my son doesn’t have the opportunities to compete properly and showcase his talent.
With record numbers of obese children entering schools, critics claim that physical education has not had a high enough profile over the past 10 years. Recent figures in Britain tell the story: they show a decrease in the number of primary children like your son taking part in organised sports competitions, including competitive sports days, and a decline in children aged 10 to 15 playing sport altogether.
The government responded with a pledge to increase participation in competitive sport in primary schools and provide extra training for 17,000 secondary school teachers to boost PE in schools.
One of the key aims of this policy is to foster a more positive attitude among students by offering a wider range of physical activities considered more modern and enjoyable, such as Zumba, volleyball and yoga, giving individuals the chance to get fit using whatever works for them.
The growing trend in many schools around the world towards encouraging sport for all is of course beneficial and to be welcomed, but not at the expense of diluting high-level competition for able pupils such as your son.
Some parents feel, as you do, that the traditional sports day, which was seen as a great occasion for the talented pupils to gain accolade for their athletic prowess and stamina, has been usurped in favour of a less serious event with “prizes for all”, focusing on pupils taking part with having fun as the main focus.