[For Elementary Schools] Unique Events That Make Sports Day More Fun
Elementary school sports days usually feature classic events like relays and tamaire (ball toss), but having a few quirky events would make things even more exciting! Here, we introduce unique activities that are perfect for elementary school sports days.
We’ve gathered a variety of events that will make you laugh, seem easy but are surprisingly tricky.
They’re designed so that kids who are great at sports and those who are a bit less confident can all enjoy them together.
Team up with friends, try small challenges, and have a great time together at your sports day!
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[For Elementary Schools] Unique Events That Make Sports Day More Fun (1–10)
Jama-Jama Ball Toss
Jamajama Tamaire is a fun twist on the classic Sports Day “tamaire” (beanbag toss).
By adding more obstacles, it becomes a game that not only kids but also adults can enjoy! A character called Jamajama-kun appears in front of the basket and blocks the beanbags with cardboard, boards, and other items to stop them from going in.
Players have to fend off Jamajama-kun’s interference and get their beanbags into the basket! It’s also great as a parent-child event, so if you’re looking for a unique Sports Day activity, give this a try for inspiration.
Borrower Competition
The borrowing race, where participants search the venue for specified items and head for the finish line, is a staple of sports festivals.
In this version, the prompts are limited to people: participants must find a designated person in the venue and aim for the finish line together with them.
Making the prompt into a wearable panel is recommended, as it’s easy for spectators to see and allows the person who matches the prompt to approach the participant.
You can adjust the difficulty by how you set the prompts, but choosing clear, straightforward ones helps the event run smoothly.
It could also be fun to include prompts that make the audience laugh from the stands.
Five-person, six-legs giant ball roll
Rolling a big ball to the finish line in teams is a classic sports day event known as the “giant ball roll.” If the usual version feels too plain, how about adding a twist with a “Five-Person Six-Leg Giant Ball Roll”? Form teams of five, tie their legs together with ropes, and have them roll the giant ball while moving in a five-person, six-legged formation.
Since they can’t move their legs freely, the team’s coordination is tested even more! It’s also a great event for building camaraderie, so consider adding it to your sports day program.
[For Elementary Schools] Unique Events to Make Sports Day More Fun (11–20)
Cardboard Caterpillar Race
A competition that even lower elementary school kids can enjoy is the “Cardboard Caterpillar Race.” As long as you have cardboard, it’s easy to make, and both the children competing and the spectators are sure to have fun.
To make the caterpillar, connect pieces of cardboard into a single sheet, then tape the ends together to form a loop.
It’s simple, so you can make it together with your child! The plain side of the cardboard looks great with any drawings you like, too.
By changing the size of the cardboard, you can adapt it for two players or for a parent-and-child version.
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.
Checckori Tamaire (Checckori Ball Toss)
Tamaire is the classic sports day event where you throw balls into a basket at the center.
The evolved version that incorporates dance is called “Chekkori Tamaire.” You dance to a familiar, upbeat song that goes, “Che, che, kori, chekkorissa”! After that, everyone does tamaire all at once, then dances again—making it a unique event.
It’s fun for the children playing and sure to get the audience excited and involved as well.
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.
