Recommended Events for a Sports Day at Day Service Centers for the Elderly
Sports days are loved by people of all ages.
These popular sports days are also held at day service centers for seniors.
In this article, we’ll introduce recommended events for sports days held at such day service centers.
The events, such as bread-biting races and ball toss games, are classic activities adapted for older adults.
They’re designed to be safe and enjoyable.
There are also unique events like stick soccer, and many can be enjoyed while seated.
We’ve gathered a variety of unique activities tailored for seniors.
Let’s move our bodies and enjoy a healthy, fun time!
- [For Seniors] A Fun Sports Day! Recreational Activities You Can Do Safely
- Recommended Indoor Exercises for Seniors
- [Elderly Care Facilities] Let’s Have Fun Together! Exciting Sports Day Events
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- For Seniors: Fun Entertainment That Excites at Nursing Homes
- Recommended fun performances that will appeal to elderly people
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- For seniors: Simple and exciting! Ideas for staff performances
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Day Service: A Collection of Fun Event Ideas
- [For Seniors] Highlights of Fun Events at Day-Service Centers
[For Seniors] Recommended Events for a Sports Day at Day Service Centers (11–20)
ring toss
Let’s try a ring toss at the sports day—an activity that gets everyone fired up, from little kids to adults! Ring toss can be played standing or sitting, and many places already enjoy it regularly as a recreational game.
Usually it’s played as an individual competition where players vie for points, but since it’s a sports day, why not make it a team event and have teams compete by total score? The cheering will be even more spirited than in the usual individual matches, and things are sure to heat up.
You can also add a twist unique to sports day—like setting up ultra high-scoring targets—to make it a bit different from the norm.
Sheet Valley
@wakuwaku_idea Senior Recreation: [100-Yen Shop Goods – Daiso] Lively and Fun Sheet Volleyball for Everyone#SeniorActivities#100-yen-shopDaisoInteresting
♪ Original song – Idea Wakuwaku Rehabilitation – Idea Wakuwaku Rehabilitation
The activity involves everyone forming a circle and holding a sheet spread out among them, then enjoying a volleyball-like game within that sheet.
A line is drawn down the middle to divide the sheet in half, and the goal is to move the ball toward the opponent’s side.
If only one person moves the sheet, the ball won’t go where you want it to, so proceed while staying mindful of cooperating with those around you.
It’s a game that tests overall concentration—where the ball is and how you move the sheet are both crucial.
Balloon-carrying game with vinyl tape
People probably imagine each person making a balloon float on their own, but adding a cooperative element could make it even more exciting.
In this version, pairs face each other and each holds an end of a strip of vinyl tape, pulling against one another and moving it to keep the balloon aloft.
You could aim to keep the balloon floating for as long as possible, or turn it into a game where you transport the balloon to a goal.
It’s a game that engages both body and mind: coordinating the pair’s movements while skillfully keeping the balloon in the air.
Newspaper Dart
Let me introduce a fun darts game you can play using newspaper.
Prepare several newspapers rolled into long, thin tubes.
Make a target with several holes, and try throwing the newspaper tubes into the holes.
The target can be made of cardboard, and you can make holes in various shapes and sizes—circles, triangles, and more—to make it even more enjoyable.
You can also assign points to the target.
In regular darts, you throw at the point zones on the target on the wall.
In this newspaper darts game, you score points when a rolled newspaper lands in one of the target’s holes.
Since newspaper is light, it should be easy for older adults to handle.
Step-on kite-flying game
It’s a game where you move a kite attached between two strings by stepping in place with both feet.
By alternating your steps and gradually moving farther, you can enjoy the sensation of rising into the sky.
A key point is figuring out the optimal way to move—such as how to step to climb more quickly—through trial and movement.
It also helps build overall leg strength through stepping while enhancing concentration by reading the kite’s movements.
Casual Ball Curling
Curling became well-known through the Winter Olympics, so many of you may already be familiar with it.
It’s a team game where you compete to see which team can get their balls closer to the center ball.
Preparing this recreation is as simple as getting a few balls ready.
That’s all it takes to create a fun activity that helps participants interact more with each other.
Since it can be played while seated, it’s also appealing because it can be enjoyed in a way that suits the physical and mental conditions of older adults.
[For Seniors] Recommended Events for Sports Day at Day Service Centers (21–30)
Pseudo curling
Here’s a sit-down, casual curling-style game you can enjoy.
Participants sit in chairs and hold a stick.
Use the stick to push a wheeled cart so it slides along a curling-style course.
Beforehand, write point values on the floor to set the targets.
Compete to see how many points you can score.
It’s best to write the target numbers large so they’re easy to see.
Since players only need to push the wheeled cart, even those with less strength can join in, making it a game everyone can enjoy.
Please play within comfortable limits so you can enjoy it safely!
