5 Tips for a Successful Sports Day
The Summer term is moving along at pace and thoughts will soon turn to the end of year celebrations. A big part of this is Sports Day – the annual event that includes children, parents and staff. It is always a fantastic day, showcasing the school community and allowing children to shine through promoting their sporting and teamwork skills. However, Sports Day needs a lot of preparation and organisation to ensure the smooth-running of the day. Top of the list is equipment and resources – you can’t run a race without measuring the distance, timing it and giving out a sticker at the end! Sports Day often provides lasting memories and helps to bring together the community – the only thing that you cannot control is the weather!
Here are 5 resources that every school should have to ensure a successful Sports Day.
Shelter From the Elements!
Sports Day is often held to ransom by the weather – boiling hot or pouring with rain! The timing of the event, usually in July, means temperatures can be quite high. Therefore, sufficient shelter is needed to protect everyone involved from the unpredictable British weather. Gazebos work well in this situation; they are easy to put up and take down and can be moved around quickly, depending on the situation. If the sun is high in the sky, a gazebo can shelter children who are waiting around for their race to start. If the rain is pouring down, a gazebo helps to shelter equipment and keep paperwork dry. It can also act as a first aid tent if needed.
Cones, Cones, Cones!
Cones can help with a variety of tasks, a truly multi-purpose item to have as part of your equipment! Cones are mainly used for marking out lanes during races, as well as the start and finish positions. They are incredibly durable, meaning they can be kicked around, stamped on and still stay in one piece. Cones are also useful to mark out boundaries, particularly to stop parents and small children wandering onto the track. They can also be stored compactly and don’t take up much room in the PE cupboard!
First Aid Kit
This may seem obvious, but it is easily forgotten in the rush to get everything ready. Sports Day is an event where accidents will happen, due to a large number of people in the same place at one time! Over-excited children can trip up on the finishing line, whilst others find the heat too much. A good first aid kit will need to include ice packs for any sports-related injuries, as well as bandages and plasters for any cuts and bruises. Having an event in the great outdoors also means allergies may arise, such as hay fever or insect bites/stings. It is important to have some allergy medication on standby, just in case. Finally, storage is needed to carry children’s inhalers and epi-pens, so they are within easy reach if children require them. A well-stocked first aid kit helps to give peace of mind to staff and ensures the smooth running of a Sports Day.
Stickers Everywhere!
Sports Day is a great opportunity to showcase the value of teamwork and a celebration of everyone, no matter what their ability. Children often come to the forefront who may find it tricky in the classroom – this is a great opportunity to praise the values of never giving up and trying our best. Every child should have a reward for completing their race and this is where the trusty sticker comes in. Participants often wear them like a badge of honour, showcasing their achievement and how well they have done. Stickers can be bought in bulk and can be customised to your needs. Some schools choose to have stickers with numbers on, which helps with record keeping. Others theme them by classes or groups if a child is running for a particular cause. However you choose to use them, stickers will bring a smile to the face of every child – an easy win!
Clipboards and Pens
The final equipment needed for a successful Sports Day is the trusty clipboard and pen. A clipboard helps to hold down all the paperwork to record the results and keep everything in one place. There is often a multitude of events going on at the same time and they all need to be written down – equipping staff with clipboards and pens keeps them on the move and ready to intervene whenever necessary.
With all of the above equipment and resources, you will be all set for an amazing Sports Day!
Contact Us
If you’d like to know more about how Paper Plus can provide your school with the supplies and stationery it requires, please get in touch. Call us on 01444 238 050 or pop us an email at sales@paperplusuk.com
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