Children of all ages need physical activity and a sports day is the perfect way to teach your students new games and emphasize the importance of physical health.
When planning a sports day, consider the space you have available. For example, if you have access to an outdoor space, have a “rain date” in case of inclement or too-hot weather, or plan to move it to a larger multipurpose room or gym.
Inform parents of when sports day will be and ask for volunteers. Parents can volunteer anything from snacks and water bottles to coming in and helping you run your sports day.
Encourage your students to wear comfortable clothing, preferably something from their favorite team or sport.
Lastly, consider your student’s skill levels and interests when choosing activities and include various team games.
Game Ideas
1. Relay Race
Kids love relay races, which are a great way to promote teamwork. There are so many different types of relay races you could include more than one in your sports day.
The most straightforward option is to have a baton or object the team members pass to one another after completing their lap. To make the race more challenging, you make it, so they have to hop or bear crawl on their hands or feet.
Another relay race option that kids love is a dress-up race. Using an oversized sports jersey and hat, each member has to put the clothing on before completing their lap, come back, take the items off, and pass it to the next member, who then repeats until everyone has had a turn.
2. Water Balloon Toss
A water balloon toss is guaranteed to please if you have an outdoor space, and it will be a warm day. Pair the children up and have them stand facing each other only a few paces apart. Everyone tosses the water balloon to their partner simultaneously, then takes a step back. With each successful toss and catch, pairs move another step apart. As water balloons pop, pairs are eliminated until you have a winner!
3. Parachute Games
Parachute games are so much fun and provide a cool breeze on a warm day. If you have enough adults, allow the children to go under the parachute while you flap it up and down. Call students out by what color they’re wearing, the first letter of their name, or funny things like, “If you love pizza with pineapple, go under the parachute!”.
4. Football Goals
A soccer goal challenge is easy to complete with a net or two cones and a ball. Not only does soccer work on children’s foot-eye coordination and gross motor skills, but it is a game most are familiar with and already know how to play.
To make it a competition, split the class into two groups, and the team that scores the most goals wins the round.
5. Frisbee Toss
Frisbee tossing is fun and easy to set up. You can create goals, a line the children have to toss the frisbee over, or several marking points worth different points. Like the soccer challenge, you can create teams or make this one a solo competition.
6. Group Yoga
A group yoga session is a great way to end your sports day. There are many free kid-centric yoga videos available online, or you can simply practice a few familiar poses together to stretch out the muscles and relax.
The most important thing about a sports day is that your students have fun and work on developing their gross motor and team-building skills!
