School Sports Day

School Sports Day, an annual event, which, along with the end of year school trip is a break in the school calendar which does ease the 'limping to the finishing line' that pupils and school personnel are experiencing right now. At this time in the school calendar teachers are short tempered; impatient and the children are tired and fractious. Everyone 'chomping at the bit' to arrive at the start of the summer recess.

In recent weeks the lighter mornings have not made it any easier for people set in their long day routines to rise with the alarm. Cars have carved out their own sets of tracks in the tarmac from home-to-school; school-to-home.

In our home-ed years I had completely given up the ghost by June's end of expecting any kind of engagement from my children in formal learning sessions. For us accessing the great outdoors started early: park and picnics, beach combing, outside visits (even in the rain), outdoor sports too. Yes, contrary to belief my children did lots of sport. We managed to access sports very well and my children were witness to the competitiveness of others when growing up.

Competitive behavior, between parents, and between children themselves was rife. It was the same in my own schooldays. Sports day was the only time I remember seeing my Mum on the side lines at junior school. I was a fast runner, but I often wonder if she'd have bothered attending if she wasn't so sure I'd win?

J with his Nursery teacher is first to step up to the challenge

I should not really speak so out of turn because when my son J was a pre-schooler (see above), and being the older child in his group, meant he was always so much taller/stronger than the other nursery children so he would to be running out front on his own, in a race, and then he'd stop and wait for the others to catch up. He didn't really get it!

And later, as a five year old, the only summer J had spent registered in a school, I coaxed out loud for him not to faff with the rules of the obstacle course, encouraging him instead just to cheat and to simply leg it to the line. I felt many eyes boring into my back that day I can tell you. I blush with embarrassment at the thought of it. Ho hum!

Involvement in sport, either as a participant or observer, can bring out the best and the worse in people. Which is why I like the comedy in this jigsaw puzzle by Ravensburger called School Sports Day:

On this school's podium every one's a winner. Headmistress is seen awarding the second and third placings with a gold medal as well as the first. Man explaining to the PE teacher in the forefront that 'We're all winners here, old son. The new headmistress doesn't approve of competitive sports'

 

Brian's mum is fretting about Brian using hard balls as weapons.

A mother, bold as brass, boasts to another parent that her daughter is better at running than hers is.

And spectators in the parents enclosure shout from the side lines, while over on the far side a man is upset at the egg and spoon race winner, saying he views it as unfair that she won because she gets private tuition!

One of the child's sack in the sack race has a designer label

A year 5 pupil bounces too hard on a space hopper

Would you like the chance to win a new copy of School Sports Day 500 pieces?

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED
Winner is Crystal from Wales (who entered via Twitter)



The free draw is open to UK residents only
Entrants must be 18 or over
Only one entry per person per day over the 3-day duration
To enter the free prize draw entrants can enter one of three ways: 1. can leave a general comment at Not Compulsory 2. Tweet/Retweet the competition tweet using the hashtag #schoolsports 3. Like the PAGE at TSS on Facebook Please note this competition will also appear on the host’s social media outlets for the course of the competition running period
The competition will run from 14.00 hrs Wednesday 28 June 2017 and will close at midnight on Friday 30 June 2017
Entries will not be accepted after this closing date
One winner One prize
The prize is a new copy of the Ravensburger Jigsaw Puzzle School Sports Day (500 pieces)
The prize draw will random
Participants must agree to be part of winner mentions here at Not Compulsory and on other platforms
Please note that the competition is not connected to Twitter or Facebook, or endorsed by these platforms. The competition and is operated independently
It is the responsibility of entrants to ensure their entry meets with entry requirements and is submitted online successfully
The winner will be required to provide information such as full name and confirm a UK postal address

It will not be possible to transfer or replace this prize for any othe