When the school year winds down and summer holidays are on the horizon, kids across the country gear up for one of the most anticipated days of the year - school sports day.

It's not just the most anticipated day for school children around the UK but also for the sports obsessed competitive parents.

This summer we held a survey that quizzed 1,000 UK parents of school aged children and learned a few interesting things and spotted a few curious patterns.

Taking it Serious

Using figures from 2023, about 80% of primary schools and 60% of secondary schools in the UK organize annual sports days according to Youth Sport Trust. This suggests a lot of potential for mums and dads nationwide to become totally inappropriate in competition and impress their offspring.

We discovered about 40% of parents train for mums and dads races with running being the most popular exercise to get them prepared (70%).

One in three parents admitted to spending up to £30 on new sports gear to help them make their kids proud and win the big event. Additionally, almost 50% of parents confessed to buying new running trainers to take on the competition.

If training and investing in new running wear for school sports day wasn't enough, 53% admitted to cheating during the parents' race and cutting across lanes so that they could come out on top.

While many parents look forward to cheering for their kids at school sports day, or competing themselves, the survey also revealed that Londoners are most likely to miss out on the day - with 58% having to work instead.

School sports day is not only a highlight for students but also a fiercely competitive event for many parents. With a significant number of parents training and even resorting to underhanded tactics to win, the day brings a unique blend of enthusiasm and rivalry. For those who can participate, it remains a cherished opportunity to engage in the spirited atmosphere and create lasting memories alongside their children.

A bit of fun or a lesson to be learned?

Back in 2019 The BBC ran an article titled School sports day: Is it the winning or the taking part that counts? In which their interactive poll asked which sports day do you prefer? Non-competitive where no-one wins and there are no prizes whereby the importance of having a go and having fun is the teaching or competitive competitions whereby there are clear winners and losers. 66% of those polled opted for a competitive sports day that instills work ethic, pride in performance and understanding that you might not be good at everything that you turn your hand to but hey, you tried. Regardless of your opinion, one thing is for sure, the parent's races are a must see especially if there's a potential for some ultra-competitive mums and dads taking it a little bit too seriously.