It’s that time of year again — the one that can bring big nerves for young people. If your child gets anxious about sports day, or you’ve felt that pang of worry watching them struggle, just know you’re absolutely not the only one.
In fact, we’ve heard from so many parents over the years who’ve said things like:
- “They cried all morning last year just thinking about it.”
- “Mine said they were poorly to get out of it.”
- “She was so upset when she came last that she didn’t want to try again next year.”
And while sports day is meant to be fun, it’s easy to forget how big and overwhelming it can feel — especially for younger or less confident kids.
It’s Not About Winning — It’s About Feeling Capable
Most children don’t need to come first. They just want to feel like they can take part without freezing up, falling behind, or feeling different.
Practising movement in a fun, supportive way makes a huge difference. When kids build skills like balance, running, jumping, and coordination gradually — and without pressure — they start to feel more confident in themselves.
💡 5 Simple Ways to Help Your Child Feel More Confident About Sports Day
Here are a few things you can try at home to help ease the nerves:
✅ Talk about what to expect
Even a simple chat about what might happen — the races, the cheering, the outdoor fun — can help ease uncertainty.
✅ Praise effort, not results
Let them know you’re proud of them for trying, not just placing.
✅ Practise playfully
Have a little family “sports day” in the garden — egg & spoon, beanbag toss, balancing. Keep it light!
✅ Normalise nerves
Let them know it’s okay to feel wobbly — even grown-ups do!
✅ Celebrate the small wins
Afterwards, focus on what went well — maybe they joined in, smiled, or encouraged a friend.
🐸 A Gentle Way to Build Confidence Before the Big Day
If you feel like your child would benefit from some extra practice — in a supportive setting — we’d love to help.
At Leapfrog Sports, we run fun, structured classes for ages 2–7 that focus on building movement skills and confidence. The children don’t even realise they’re learning things like running in lanes, balancing, jumping, and throwing — it all happens through games and play.
Many of our families have told us that our classes helped their child go from dreading sports day… to actually looking forward to it.
We offer a 4-week trial for just £15 — no pressure, no big commitment, just a great way to build skills and confidence at their own pace.
We run sessions across Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, and South Birmingham — and if it sounds like something that might help your little one, feel free to take a look here:
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