But many of us remember them for fostering cooperation, sportsmanship and pride in our friends.
Here we take a look back at some of the sports days at Norfolk and Waveney schools through the years.
READ MORE: A nostalgic look back at how we spent our free time in Norwich in the 1990s
Children from schools around Norwich take part in a NELM sports day, 2005 (Image: Newsquest)
Diss High School sports day, July 1989 (Image: Newsquest)
Sports day at Alderman Peel school in Wells, 2006 (Image: Newsquest)
Beccles School sports day, 1993 (Image: Newsquest)
Students taking part in the Olympeel Games at Alderman Peel High School, 2000 (Image: Newsquest)
Diss school sports day, 1989 (Image: Newsquest)
Tug of war at Alderman Peel High School, 2000 (Image: Newsquest)
Diss High School sports day, 1988 (Image: Newsquest)
Sports day in Methwold, 2005 (Image: Newsquest)
South Norfolk sports day, 1989 (Image: Newsquest)
The standing long jump at Methwold High School, 2005 (Image: Newsquest)
Diss sports day, 1989 (Image: Newsquest)
The hurdles at the NELM sports day, 2005 (Image: Sonya Brown)
High jump at Diss High School in 1989 (Image: Newsquest)
Thetford Grammer School sports day, 1993 (Image: Newsquest)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here