Page 1 of 4

Boys and Sport

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 2:02 pm
by 2outof3
I have seen a fair number of postings on the site asking for information on how much emphasis is placed on sport in a number of schools and recommendations for schools where the non-sporty will flourish. Pretty much all of these requests pertain to boys.

Now, this has got me thinking. Should I be worried that I have a below averagely sporty boy? He's tried a fair few sports and although has enjoyed some of them, if I'm totally honest, he's not really terribly good :(

We're now thinking about where he will be best suited at senior level and I'm wondering whether his lack of sporting ability really has to have a bearing on his choice of senior school? Will he be some sort of pariah at a school that is successful in sport or are non-sporty boys more likely to be bullied or something hideous like that?

We've tried to encourage other interests (reasonably musical) so this isn't really a posting about what else we can encourage him to take part in. I'm really just interested in whether sport is a major factor in a boy's schooling - more so than girls ( :?) and whether it impacts on a school's ethos in a particularly major way.

Would really appreciate any views (state and private) :D

Re: Boys and Sport

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 2:19 pm
by scarlett
My DS is about to embark on secondary school life at a school which seems to place a fair emphasis on a variety of sports...he's definitely not the sporty type...rugby he cried because the boys kept knocking him over :shock: . football he's dismissed without trying...but he is quite good at tennis and cricket so it seems to just be contact sports.I'm not worried because out of a big class there must be a fair proportion who are the same and I'm hoping they will all sit around the chess tables at lunchtime looking smugly at the boys outside kicking a ball in the rain ! :)

Re: Boys and Sport

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 2:31 pm
by doodles
Both DS's are sport mad and we have been trying to encourage interests that don't involved throwing, running, kicking something etc etc. However, at school they both have friends who are both sporty and non-sporty they seem to just all bundle along together and would never judge a friend on whether they were into sport or not.

Ds has just transferred from GS from indie prep and I would definately say that there is more emphasis on sport at indie prep than GS. At prep DS did sport of some sort every day but one, now he has one PE lesson a week and one games afternoon, although there are clubs and extra training. Perhaps that is just secondary school per se but I am not so sure and I think that there would probably be more timetabled sport in the private sector. On the other hand at secondary level there does seem to be far more things to do and get involved in; music, drama, art etc etc. but my DS seems to gravitate towards the sport clubs!! and will be that boy kicking the ball in the rain :lol:

Re: Boys and Sport

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 2:37 pm
by 2outof3
Thanks for responses Scarlett and Doodles. How important was sport in your choice of schools then? Presumably if a child is sporty you want the highest quality and most choice of sport? However, if child isn't sporty do you just ignore the sport provision and concentrate on things he does enjoy or would a very sporty school have put you off if your child wasn't sporty (at anything - so far at least!) :shock:

Re: Boys and Sport

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 2:56 pm
by scarlett
DS1 is going to GS and there were lots of reasons why this particular school was chosen, but sport provision wasn't even considered really as it's low on DS list...I was pleased to see they have a cricket pavillion hopefully it's not just for tea parties ! This school also has a CCF department which DS1 isn't interested in either...DH says he's a complete flower and takes after me...I didn't graduate off the Donald Duck 3 wheeler trike.......but DS1 doesn't mind.Ds2 on the other hand has just won a handful of trophies at his rugby award ceremony and DD also has a shelf with various dance trophies displayed. They have to be true to themselves , and I just know DS1 will probably win a whole clutch of boffin science awards instead !

Re: Boys and Sport

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 3:07 pm
by Pushy Dad
My daughter has two left feet so we are looking into improving her skills this summer, before she starts Year 7. Most primary schools focus on nurturing so there isn't much focus on competitive sports (at least not at our primary) so her clumsiness has never been an issue. However, secondary school is a different matter.

The plan is to spend more time playing ball games with her and maybe putting her name down for a few organised sports activities in the summer.

We aren't particularly ambitious. I mean, forget about being chosen for the school team, we would be happy if DD wasn't the DC that no one wants in their team. As long as your DC isn't that one kid then his lack of sporting ability shouldn't be noticed.

Will it be worst at an indie? Well, DD's twin brother is going to Habs and we recently learnt that Year 7 boys will try rugby in the first term and if you don't get selected for the school / house team then you have to drop it and move onto another sport. Habs obviously take their rugby quite seriously. A state school, on the other hand has to be inclusive and such a selective approach to sports would probably not be tolerated.

Re: Boys and Sport

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 3:14 pm
by doodles
Rugby is the be all and end all and the reason for living according to DS1 so we definately wouldn't have chosen a school that didn't play it. However, we are very used to spending the weekends in a muddy field or sports hall so we are used to getting his rugby "fix" out of school. If the school hadn't played rugby we might have thought twice but I would say that the school as a whole was important not just the PE department.

I also think that sport is important for itself - team games etc etc and get very irritated when it's not possible to participate in a sport without wanting to become world class at it. My DS's want to play tennis, so they know how to play not to qualify for Wimbledon and they want to learn to swim for safety not to cross the channel but try finding a class for that level of participation!!

Re: Boys and Sport

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 3:16 pm
by sherry_d
2outof3 wrote:would a very sporty school have put you off if your child wasn't sporty (at anything - so far at least!) :shock:
I dont think there are that many schools that are on the main just sporty schools. Even Millfield is known for good learning support so there will definately be children who arent sporty even though sport still plays a major part. I think instead of looking at what the schools like to call themselves there is nothing that beats going round and having a look. Does your son hate sport or does he not mind it?. If he is just ok getting on with it then I am sure he will be fine even in these schools with a big emphasis on sports. I know of schools where they kids have to do at least 3 hours a week in PE/ sport and if your son is happy ploughing along he will probably be fine.

Re: Boys and Sport

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 3:18 pm
by scarlett
Actually, I remember ( for girls at least ) being chosen for teams was more to do with popularity then whether you could actually do anything impressive with a ball.I remember hanging on for dear life to a few of my friends and when one girls name was chosen we would just all automatically move en masse onto that team.We had to stay together !


Doodles......I'm going to be late for school pick up...but I just have to say this...I'm having a vision of you swimming the channel smothered in goose fat and having to wear your tutu on your head ( to keep it dry !)

Re: Boys and Sport

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 3:21 pm
by doodles
Am developing a waterproof one as we speak :lol: :lol: