Dear Parents

Whilst coaching the U7 boys’ tag rugby this week — their very first rugby practice — I was reminded of the joy, enthusiasm, and innocence that comes with playing sport at that age. We want them to try hard, to play fair, to be competitive — that’s all part of good sportsmanship. However, we also want them to love sport in ten years from now. Burnout, loss of interest, and pressure to perform too early can quickly take the joy out of the game. Sadly, once that joy is gone, it’s very hard to get it back. So, whilst watching and supporting them from the sidelines, enjoy it, take it all in, and cherish these special moments as they go by far too quickly. Twenty years from now, no one will remember who was unbeaten or who was awarded player of the match — but the lessons they are learning about effort, humility, teamwork, and never giving up will stay with them for life.

Boys running with the ball, chasing one another, tags flying in all directions, all eager to learn, and not a single question about the score. Just pure excitement to be part of a group and to run around with their friends. It was a good reminder of what school sport is actually about at this level. Yes, we practise, we compete, and yes — we like to win. But that’s not the main objective, not at primary school level anyway. What really matters during this phase is the experience we are creating for our pupils. One where they
feel they belong, where they build confidence, where they learn to keep going when things are tough, and where, most importantly, they enjoy themselves. With anxiety and pressure growing in young children, school sports should be a place that offers balance. It should be something they look forward to, not something that adds more stress to their already busy lives. That doesn’t mean we don’t expect...

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