[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 (21–30)
Put the ball IN the bucket on your back!
Let me introduce a great obstacle relay activity: “Bounce the ball into the bucket on your back!” This is played in pairs—one person wears a bucket on their back, and the other bounces a ball so it’s caught in the bucket.
Because the bucket is behind the player, it’s hard to pick up, so good coordination between the two is essential.
It’s thrilling to watch, and its novelty is sure to draw attention.
Work together to match your timing while also adjusting how hard you bounce the ball.
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.
Courier relay
This event is a variation of the relay, one of the most thrilling competitions at school sports days.
Teams of four run together, each holding a corner of a wooden platform, and instead of passing a baton, they carry and hand off the items placed on the platform.
Because they must prevent the items from falling, it’s not just about speed—strategy and creative running techniques come into play.
Increasing the number of items with each lap raises the difficulty toward the end.
By striving for both stability and speed, teams can strengthen their bonds while competing.
write-off
Here’s an idea for “Bōbiki” (multi-rod tug), a thrilling event that uses multiple rods.
At the starting signal, teams of four rush in from both sides of each rod and pull against each other, similar to tug-of-war.
Unlike traditional tug-of-war where everyone pulls a single rope, Bōbiki features multiple rods lined up, so several matches take place simultaneously.
Each rod is its own match, which highlights individual performances and produces quick results.
Spectators won’t be able to look away as one bout follows another.
If you want to energize your sports day, this is a must-try event.
Samurai sword-fighting (chambara) battle
The “Chanbara Battle,” which tests concentration and teamwork, is sure to be a hit at a junior high school sports festival.
Split into teams, wield foam swords, and knock off the life balls attached to your opponents’ arms.
The team that knocks off the most life balls wins! Decide whether to set a time limit for the game or play until all of one team’s balls are knocked off, depending on the festival schedule.
Since it’s chanbara, it could also be fun to don samurai warlord-style costumes for the battle!
flysheet relay
The “fly sheet relay” is where four people carry a square sheet with a ball on top, working together to transport it.
It sounds easy, but it’s actually quite tricky: if the four corners aren’t kept at the same height while running, the ball will fall off.
When children are participating, try using a larger sheet, and when it’s only adults, use a smaller one to adjust the difficulty for the participants.
If you want to make the event even more exciting, set up obstacles along the course—it really ramps up the fun and is highly recommended!
Ping-pong ball relay
How about trying a ping-pong ball relay that’s simple yet thrilling? Split into teams, place a ping-pong ball on a ladle, and at the signal “Start!!” the first runner sets off, loops around the turnaround point, returns to the starting line, and passes the ladle to the next person.
It sounds easy, but ping-pong balls are light and slippery, so if you go too fast, they’ll slide off in no time.
It’s a competition that gets exciting because you have to hurry while carefully keeping the ball from falling—striking that perfect balance is the real challenge.
