Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

Ideas for Sports Days and Athletic Festivals in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

COVID-19 became a global issue.

I believe it directly affected the lives of many people.

And the same goes for children’s school life.

Holding events as usual has been quite difficult—many schools are in that situation.

So in this article, we’ve gathered ideas for sports days and athletic festivals tailored to the COVID era.

This is by no means a negative take! It’s full of the spirit of “Let’s have fun even in these circumstances!” Please read through to the end!

Summary of Sports Day/Field Day Ideas to Face the COVID-19 Pandemic (21–30)

Wide-Area Catch Battle

[Safe even during COVID] e-group tried holding a sports festival with social distancing while implementing COVID measures!!

Wide-Area Catch Battle

The wide-area catch battle, which makes full use of spacious venues, is a new kind of sport that demands dynamic movement while maintaining distance.

Players aim to catch balls thrown from afar within a designated area.

The farther from the throwing point the catch is made, the higher the score, making its design appealing by aligning difficulty with reward.

Each player moves while adhering to boundary lines, ensuring constant spacing throughout the game.

While individual explosiveness and precise decision-making are tested, strategic positioning is also a decisive factor in winning.

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Paper Airplane Contest

The national paper airplane championship was a high-level neck-and-neck battle!!! [Red Bull Paper Wings 2019 Japan Final]

Paper Airplane Contest

Paper airplanes are something almost everyone played with as a child.

There are as many folding methods as there are people—or so it seems—and not only the appearance but also the way they fly and how far they go can be completely different.

Many of us probably even studied how to fold paper airplanes that fly incredibly well when we were kids.

This idea is to enjoy those paper airplanes as an event in a sports day.

You can keep your distance from others, so it’s great for infection control.

And even people who aren’t confident in athletics and don’t usually enjoy sports days might be able to have a blast with this event.

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Dribble Relay

Video 7: Game/Ball Movement Domain – Goal-Type Soccer

Dribble Relay

In soccer, players tend to cluster in one spot and end up crowded, right? That’s why more schools are adopting dribble relays.

The rules are simple.

First, two defenders and two attackers enter the field.

The attackers aim for the goal area while passing the ball, and the defenders try to intercept those passes.

Defenders can only move within a designated area, so there’s no contact with the opposing team.

It’s perfect even when space is limited.

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Ball possession

Physical Development Exercise 12: Ball-Grabbing Game

Ball possession

Ball Grab is a game played in pairs.

First, place a ball between the two players.

Then a facilitator calls out body parts, and both players must touch that spot with both hands.

When the facilitator says “ball,” the players try to grab the ball faster than their opponent.

This way, even large groups can play without physical contact.

It engages not only the body but also the mind, so even those who aren’t confident in their physical strength can enjoy it.

Preparation is simple—just get a ball—so give it a try!

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Ball-collecting game

Video 6: For upper elementary and middle school students — Team event: Ball-collecting game

Ball-collecting game

For those who want to enjoy a highly competitive game while still taking infection-control measures, we recommend the Ball Collection Game.

The rules are a bit complex, but the basic idea is to dribble soccer balls or rugby balls with your feet and carry as many as you can into your team’s area; the team that brings in more wins.

Different types of balls are worth different points, so choosing which balls to go for is important.

There’s also a rule that allows you to steal balls from the opponent’s area, which adds a strong element of strategy.

If you’re interested, be sure to check out the detailed rules.

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