Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

[For Middle Schoolers] A Comprehensive Introduction to Fun Sports Day Events We Recommend!

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

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!

[For Middle Schoolers] A Big Introduction to Fun, Recommended Events for the Sports Festival! (21–30)

Five-person, six-legs giant ball roll

Isn’t the classic sports day event where teams roll a large ball to the finish line called “ōdama korogashi” (giant ball rolling)? If the usual version feels a bit tame, how about adding a twist with “Five-People, Six-Legs Giant Ball Rolling”? Form teams of five, tie their legs together with a rope so they’re moving in a five-people, six-legs formation, and have them roll the giant ball.

Since their legs won’t move as freely, the teamwork of the five players is tested even more! It’s also a great event for strengthening bonds, so consider adding it to your sports day program.

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bucket brigade

Rakan-san, bucket brigade

bucket brigade

A bucket brigade is when several people form a line and pass a bucket filled with water to the next person.

It’s also used in drills aimed at firefighting.

The key is to pass in time with songs or clapping, keeping a steady rhythm.

Split into teams to compete on speed, or decide the winner by how much water remains in the bucket—either way, it will liven up your field day.

Although simple, it’s an event that requires teamwork, making it a great opportunity to strengthen bonds with your classmates.

Give it a try!

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In conclusion

We introduced unique sports day events for junior high school students. With just a small twist on simple rules, they can be transformed into incredibly fun competitions. Some events are decided not only by strength, but also by strategy and teamwork, so be sure to add them to your program and create a wonderful sports day that strengthens your class bonds.