High School Sports Festival

Now we all remember those summer days at school when usually the hotest one would be the day of our sports day. We be expected to run with a egg on a spoon or a bean bag on our head and then run to our mum or dad (usually our mum) and then be taken off to oneside to be smoothered in sun lotion. When we grew older the fun (for most of us) subsided as we were expected to run further, throw balls and sticks, and swim several lengths of the pool. At my sport days back in school they did try to do some fun events but for most of us we just wanted a day off from school and so rarely signed up for any events which resulted in us sunbathing, chatting and chilling whilst some class captain went running around trying to find last minute volunteers to take part.

I use to do the football, which resulted in several matches and our team coming second or third (which still got us points towards the house cup) but it also meant that i had done my bit toward sports day. So, when my last sports day was over and done with back in 2002 I thought that would never have to run or play sports again and so i could focus on studying and becoming a coach potato.

 

How wrong I was!!!

 

Being an ALT is not all about teaching, as i mentioned in a previous blog post it can result in a lot of time doing nothing or marking papers etc...but it can also mean taking part in various school activities.

Sports Day in Japan is a 2 day event usually taking part in June whilst its only just getting hot - its most humid and is also the rainy season but having it earlier conflicts with exams and having it later is when it really heats up. Sports Day is also part of the Sports Festival which is a series of tornaments and competitions held in schools, against schools in the area, against school in the prefecture (like a country back in england) and some times national events. They cover all your major sports, especially baseball which is the nation sport here.

 

I actually teach at 3 high schools but due to my teaching days i could only attend 2 of the schools. My first one was an all boys school and so they had changed from the traditional sports festival events of chase the tyre, tough of war, jump rope, 11 legged race etc etc and decided to focus on ball games - softball, table tennis, badminton, dodge ball and soccer.

I was informed that I was to participate in at least 3 events throughout the 2 days and that because i am british it would be nice for me to do soccer.

 

So on my first day i turned up in a tracksuit that cost ￥1500 (including shorts) and also a cheap pair of trainers...bare in mind that the last time i wore trainers was 5 years ago and the last time i wore a tracksuit was almost 15years ago...

So there i am walking to school, with my umbrella cos it was raining, and noticed that no-one else was in sports gear. I walk into the staff room and again see no sports gear...all the teachers look at me and i hear "sports...cancelled...rain...teach lesson please" - so the first day resulted in playing word games before going home which is when the sun decides to come out.

 

The second day was the total oposite and was 32C...no clouds, no rain, hardly any breeze. All events were crammed into one day. But before the events started we all gathered outside for opening ceremony...i was expecting some dance show like i had seen on youtube videos but instead it was a few anouncements and then warm up to some music.

After which it was time to let the games begin. I was part of the soccer and softball team and found myself running from one pitch to the other with maybe a 10min breather to get water or go to the loo. We had to forfeit dodgeball because we didnt have enough players and those who didnt want to play soccer or softball did the badminton and table tennis. Unfortunately for me i didnt even have the time to go see the students play badminton or table tennis.

I was able to get some pictures in the morning so i will upload them.

The teachers team came third in Soccer and 2nd in Softball...in total i played 5games of each...i also managed to eat a sandwich inbetween 3 games...lol

Our last game finished at 340pm and my train was at 405pm and is usually a 15min walk...other students were still completing games but if i missed this train then my next one was not until 2hours later...so i grabbed my things, made my appologises and ran, then walked, then ran, then walk, then ran and eventually got to the station with 2mins to spare

***Please note that i had done a full day of sports and i am not healthy, hence the stopping and starting...also trains in japan are almost always on time***

 

That evening when i go it i went for a lay down and dozed off...i woke up about 8pm, had something to eat and then went to sleep...for the next week my legs were so sore and aching that i struggled to get up and down stairs...the next problems was i had another sports festival to attend.

It was the following week and my legs were still in recovery stage after severe muscle exhurtion but i still turned up in my tracksuit. Luckily for me the teachers team only played the winners and so most of the time we were there for support...although quite a few of the teachers spent their time in the staff room...by the afternoon i had watched many games and talked to many students and was finally asked to join in a game...i was unsure cos of my legs but all i heard was "Gambate" - try your best. I had missed out on the mens volleyball cos i was eating and so i was asked to be part of the ladies volleyball (you may laugh) - the reason for this was so i could be included but also cos im short and they new i was injured...well in the first move my legs almost gave way...i continued but i was in so much pain. For the rest of the day all i heard was "you look tired"...when in fact i was in so much pain...

I`ve now been told that my muscles were not use to the exercise and i tried too much in one go...i have a 1-2weeks recovery time and even after then i am to ease into sports again...which i think i might - i was quite shocked at how unfit my body is and its worrying when im only 24...

For the remainder of the day i watched and cheered...they had a jump rope competition and also a relay race of 3legged race, then find the person followed by find the sweet and run to the finish line.

On the second day outside events were rained off in the afternoon and so that left just basketball in the gym...when the girls played though it was almost a cross between basketball and netball.

 

All in all i did enjoy the sports days...and i think i would have enjoyed the second one more if i wasnt so unhealthy and in pain...most of the kids participated but if they didnt want to they werent forced...it was all about fun - some kids were a little competitive and got rough on the pitch or court but nothing severe...there were many bumps, knocks and bruises...also scrapes and grazes...especially when at my first sports day the softball pitch was fine gravel and sand and the soccer pitch was compacted soil and sand...

Also because of the rain part of the pitch was like a mud bath and lets just say a few of us when flying into it...including me.

 

So hopefully this will give you an insight to sports days in Japan

 

Any questions please ask.

Also please comment about your memories of sports day

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