[For Middle Schoolers] A Comprehensive Introduction to Fun Sports Day Events We Recommend!
You want the once-a-year sports festival to be a wonderful event where you can have fun while working together with your classmates and teammates, right?
In this article, we introduce interesting events recommended for junior high school sports festivals.
We’ve gathered some slightly unusual events that will let not only students who are good at sports but also those who aren’t laugh and have a great time.
In addition to events that add a twist to the classics, there are also thrilling events where the outcome doesn’t depend on athletic ability.
Be sure to include them in your program and make your sports festival fun and exciting!
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[For Middle Schoolers] A Big Introduction to Fun, Recommended Events for the Sports Festival! (21–30)
Shedding a snake’s skin
As a slightly unusual event, let me introduce “Snake Shedding.” First, several people line up one behind another and grab the belt attached to the person in front of them.
They start running, and at the midpoint, beginning from the person in the back, they each fall onto their backs in sequence.
Because this looks like a snake shedding its skin, it’s called “Snake Shedding.” After that, everyone gets back up and sprints to the finish, competing for the fastest time.
It may look complicated at first glance, but what you do is actually quite simple.
Give it a try!
backward relay
One of the most popular events at sports days is the relay, right? How about trying a backward relay, where you run facing backward? It’s a simple idea—just run backward—but you’ll probably find it surprisingly challenging.
Since we don’t usually move backward in everyday life, it creates a strange sensation.
Give it a try and feel it for yourself.
Another tricky part is that you can’t see the person you’re handing the baton to.
It demands more calling out to each other and stronger teamwork than usual.
Kusudama breaking
Kusudama-breaking, where you hit a decorative ball to split it open, is an easy-to-understand and exciting event.
The glittering streamers that burst out make it clear when a team wins, which is a nice touch.
When preparing the kusudama, it’s essential to adjust how much impact is needed for it to open.
Getting it to break with just the right amount of force can be tricky, but to avoid a situation where “no team could break it” on the big day, it’s a good idea to run a few rehearsals beforehand.
centipede race
As a relay variation, we recommend the “centipede race.” In this event, multiple runners line up one behind another and run while connected.
There are two ways to connect: either holding onto the person in front or tying participants’ legs together with a rope.
It’s similar to a three-legged race, and you can run it on a regular track.
The person at the front calls out a rhythm so everyone can synchronize their steps.
You can also run in teams of about five and then relay to the next team.
Keeping the group size moderate helps reduce the chance of falling.
Stage of Splendor
It’s a popular sports day event where teams compete to see how many people can fit onto a featured “stage.” Think of it as a cooperative, brainy competition where strategy and teamwork decide the outcome.
Prepare limited spaces—like a stage platform or hula hoops—that cap how many people can stand inside.
Then, in time with a set chant, have participants step on one by one.
If someone is late to the cue, falls out of the boundary, or fails to get on properly, they’re out at that moment.
The final score is the number of people successfully standing on the stage.
Strategy matters—like placing a sturdier person as a “pillar” in the center and saving lighter, nimbler members for the latter half.
It’s a great way to strengthen bonds through teamwork.
the eye of a typhoon
“Eye of the Typhoon” is an event where teams of four or five run a course to the finish line while all holding a long pole.
Several traffic cones are placed along the course, and the rule is to make one full turn around each cone.
When turning, the people near the center must step in place, while those on the outside have to take a wide path, so teamwork is essential.
Also, because pulling on the pole creates centripetal force toward the outside, it’s crucial to craft strategies such as placing faster runners on the outside.
Swedish relay
In a Swedish relay, the later a runner’s turn, the longer the distance they run.
This event became popular in Sweden in the 1910s and was named after its country of origin.
Victory hinges on which teammates you choose and the order in which they run.
You might, for example, put a strong starter or sprinter first, and place a middle-distance specialist last—there are many possible strategies.
It’s a unique event that helps strengthen bonds with classmates.
Be sure to try it and experience the distinctive fun that sets it apart from a regular relay.
