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Sports Day: It really is the taking part that counts

Author Anouska Knight says it is the taking part that counts when it comes to school sports day

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Ready, steady go!

The sun’s shining, the kids’ homework loads are lightening and we’re just winding down another academic year against a backdrop of Summer Fairs and sun-cream slathered non-uniform days.

Our three-year-old will soon be finishing his pre-school year ready to become a fully-fledged reception pupil and with two older boys already at high school, I’ve been here before.

Starting all over again with my lovely straggler feels like a victory lap through primary school life, another chance to enjoy the softness of childhood one last time.

The it’s-the-taking-part-that-counts spirit. The just-always-do-your-best atmosphere. The gentle competition of… Sports Day.

Sports days are super but they’re not without the odd obstacle to dodge, besides the beanbags and hula hoops.

When I was a side-line mum the first time around, someone gave me the weighty responsibility of dishing out the fourth (yes, fourth) place tickets one year, something I’ll never do again. I was distracted and to this day not completely sure I didn’t crush a child’s dream that summer.

This year, the shoe was on the other foot. Someone suggested a mothers’ race and forgot to remind me I’ve a good 10 years and a few pounds on some of those girls. On first lurch I felt a muscle pull but it was too late, blood and thunder kicked in and down the track I went.

They awarded me third place, I didn’t contest it although when a second child asked wide-eyed and incredulous if I’d won, I did feel there might’ve perhaps been just the teeniest investigation. If only someone had photo evidence…

Actually, no. No thank you. Photo-finishes? Absolutely not. And not just because us mums don’t want our muffin tops filmed making a break from our trouser waistbands.

No, it’s because I think there’s a bit of something special about sports days, those magical mornings where kids who perhaps aren’t the strongest readers or the best mathematicians get their chance to fly.

I just wonder if some element of that magic, the nail-biting anything-can-happen element, is about to be challenged with yet more smartphone waving.

I nearly choked on my tea when I heard about parents disputing decisions at the finish lines their children have just hopped, skipped or egg & spooned over.

Producing incontrovertible evidence on their all-seeing iPhones. I’m all for competition, I’m even more for winning, but there’s more on offer out there than just the glory.

My son’s only little, he had his sun hat on his face when his teammate tried to pass him the baton. He doesn’t get it yet but he will and of course when he does we’d want him to get the win he deserves.

Sometimes, we’re short-changed. There are life lessons in that. It’s not always about getting what we’re entitled to.

It’s about bouncing back after being robbed of that fourth place ticket because some inept parent helper wasn’t watching properly. It’s about feeling nervous in your plimsolls but giving it a go anyway. It’s about cheering on the slow kid who always comes in last, two long minutes after the gazelles have all finished.

It’s the taking part that counts. So let’s put phones away and clap instead.

*Anouska Knight is a bestselling author of four novels published in 20 countries.