Alright, so I figured I’d share how I went about putting together a sports day games list. It’s one of those things, you know? Sounds simple, but then you get into it, and suddenly you’re juggling a dozen different ideas and trying to please everyone. It’s a whole process, really.
Getting Started – The Brain Dump
First thing I did, honestly, was just grab a piece of paper. Or, well, opened a new document on my computer. I started listing out every single game I could think of that we’ve ever done, or seen, or even vaguely heard about. It was a mess. You had your classics, your sack races, three-legged races, all that good stuff. Then you had some more… ambitious ideas people had thrown around in the past. I just let it all flow out. No filter at that point. It’s better to have too much than too little to start with, I reckon.
I remember thinking, “Okay, what actually works for our group?” Because, you know, what’s great for a bunch of teenagers is probably not going to fly with the little ones, and vice versa. So that was the next step, trying to sort through that initial brain dump.
Thinking About Who and Where
This is where it gets a bit more structured, or at least, I tried to make it so. I started thinking about a few key things:
- Age Groups: This is a big one. You can’t have the five-year-olds doing a hardcore obstacle course meant for older kids. So, I started mentally bucketing games – “good for little kids,” “good for older kids,” “maybe something for adults/teachers if they’re game.”
- Space: We’re not working with an Olympic stadium here. So, what can we realistically do in the space we have? That immediately knocked a few grand ideas off the list. No 100-meter dash if you only have 50 meters, right?
- Equipment: What do we already have? What can we easily get or make? I’m not about to go out and buy a whole set of archery gear for a one-off event. So, games that needed simple stuff – balls, cones, ropes, sacks – they got a thumbs up.
- Time: Each game takes time. You can’t have 50 games if you only have a couple of hours. So, thinking about how long each game would roughly take to run, including getting people organised, was important.
It’s a bit like fitting puzzle pieces together. You’ve got all these ideas, and you’re trying to see which ones fit the actual picture of the day.
Drafting the Actual List – And The Debates!
Once I had a better handle on the constraints, I started to draft a more solid list. I tried to get a good mix. Some running games, some throwing games, some team games, some silly games. Variety is key, I think. Keeps things interesting.
This is usually where the fun begins, and by fun, I mean the friendly arguments. Everyone has their favorite game, or a new idea they’re really keen on. I remember last time, there was a big push for some super complicated relay race that involved, like, five different tasks. Sounded amazing on paper, but then you think about explaining it, setting it up… Sometimes simpler is better, especially when you’re trying to keep things moving.
I find it helps to have a few core, classic games that everyone knows and loves, and then maybe sprinkle in one or two new or different ones to try out. That way, you get the comfort of the familiar and a bit of excitement from something new.
Finalizing and Getting Ready
After a bit of back and forth, maybe a few tweaks here and there, we usually land on a final list. I then like to write it out clearly, maybe with a brief description of each game, what age group it’s for, and any specific equipment needed. This helps whoever is running the games on the day. Nothing worse than scrambling for instructions or equipment at the last minute.
I remember one year, we completely forgot about the beanbags for the beanbag toss until about five minutes before it was due to start. Chaos. Absolute chaos. We ended up using rolled-up socks. It worked, kind of, but lesson learned: make a checklist of equipment per game!
So yeah, that’s pretty much my process. It’s a bit of brainstorming, a lot of practical thinking, a dash of diplomacy, and hoping for good weather! It’s always a bit of a whirlwind, but seeing everyone having a good time makes it worthwhile. Usually.
