Pupils challenged in Virtual Sports Day

The Guernsey Sports Commission’s Virtual Sports Day has seen more than 800 primary aged children taking part across a range of schools.

Children have been challenged across 4 different disciplines; Jumping, Throwing, Sprinting and Endurance, with their best efforts being recorded, ranked against others of the same age, and then given point scores.

Schools have been working on the third discipline – sprinting, with the final ranking depending on how they perform in the last endurance event.

‘The aim was to give schools a PE-based activity to focus on as we come towards the end of term,’ said David Harfield, PE and Sport Development Officer for the Guernsey Sports Commission.

‘There’s been really good engagement. The children are challenging themselves, having a try, then doing a few coaching techniques and seeing how they improve. At least two thirds of pupils improved on their first efforts.’

Pupils from Notre Dame du Rosaire Primary School have really enjoyed the challenge.

‘It’s really great fun,’ said Year 6 pupil Tiana, who is showing great promise as a sprinter, even beating Dave over the designated 40m distance.

‘When I saw Dave race for the first time against Eddie I thought he was fast so I was surprised I beat him,’ said Tiana.

While the emphasis has certainly been on fun, the initiative also links in with the teaching of Fundamental Movement Skills which form the basis of the Primary PE Curriculum.

‘Notre Dame du Rosaire are delighted to be taking part in the Virtual Sports Day. It’s been a great way to get the children back into exercise after lockdown, focusing on key PE skills whilst also having fun competing against other children,’ said Mary Robertshaw, Headteacher.

‘The children have been extremely enthusiastic about each activity and are keen to beat their previous best score and see how they do against their classmates and children across the island. The online videos and support from the Sports Commission has meant it’s been a well-organised and really useful challenge and couldn’t have come at a better time after 11 weeks where the children have not all had access to sports facilities.’

The final endurance events are being completed this week with the winners announced before the end of term.

See our online Virtual Sports Day videos