Looking across school playing fields where several matches are in progress at the same time can be a heart warming sight, and one that can make all the efforts required to make it happen feel worthwhile. However, closer examination of the scene often leads to the uncomfortable feeling that this isn’t what it is supposed to look like. Too many playing fields have populations of parents and coaches shouting, commenting and barking in a tone that conveys frequent frustration, occasional anger and unfortunate observations aimed at both players and officials. In some schools, there is a cultural expectation that the...

Next week, thousands of children will again compete in the National Schools Sevens, the largest competition of its type in the world. For most it is still known as the Rosslyn Park Sevens, though very few of the participants will visit the RPFC ground: the few children who give it thought presumably believe that the Club's ground is on Wimbledon Common, and its clubhouse a tent.

This competition, first held in 1939, has had many changes and developments over the years. Amendments to the format, new competitions added at regular intervals, girls' contests and a change of...

What do parents want school sport to provide for their children? Opportunities to improve through coaching, play regularly and win? These are obvious success criteria for sport. Every day the newspapers and dedicated sports channels carry endless scores, results, league tables and stories based on the mechanisms of high performance. Where the best players are, how the best teams are performing, and how the best coaches can seek to win more often. Winning is never far from the surface of the very visible public face of high performance, adult sport.

It is not surprising, therefore, that parents...