Cheering on your clumsy kid as a rubber egg wobbles off a spoon for the fifth time. Shouting yourself hoarse as your sprogs toss a beanbag a couple of yards in the wrong direction.

Eating a soggy sandwich while sheltering under a tree from the rain, then elbowing other mums out the way in the parent’s race (No? Just me then).

These annual rituals are the backbone of the Great British School Sports Day, a tradition which has long reigned as one of the high points of the parenting calendar.

Considering that much of the rest of the year is given over to uneaten vegetables and bribery, it’s a great chance to have some proper old-fashioned screen-free fun.

But not any more.

Despite 15 long months of endless cancellations and crushing disappointments, when so-called Freedom Day was delayed by the government until July 19 at the earliest, countless schools across the UK made the hard decision to either ban parents from attending sports day or pulling the plug on it altogether. 

My sons’ school have decided on the former and I don’t mind saying it feels like a massive hammer blow. Not just to me, but the kids too.

My twins Harry and Felix, 12, believe very strongly that fun has been pretty non-existent for well over a year, and who can blame them?

This sports day is the last one for them at their current school, and they understandably wanted their mum and dad on the sidelines.

Speaking to friends, I know that many grandparents were looking forward to a rare day out too, after nearly a year without any sort of contact, let alone with the grandkids.

Harry is very proud to be games monitor this term and is chuffed to bits to be involved in the organisation of the day, while Felix adores athletics and has been on training runs with his dad every weekend. 

As sports day grew close, there was a palpable buzz about the whole school being together at last, picnic lunches, and of course all the prizes – they’re twins, everything is a competition.

Yes, you’ll always get one or two parents who have to be begged by their expectant offspring to do the final leg of the relay, but if you really want proof of how special the day can be, just remember that famous photo of Princess Diana sprinting towards the finishing tape at Prince William’s sports day years ago.

She looked carefree for once, throwing herself into a harmless day out with her children.

While current guidelines state that gatherings must not exceed 30 people unless covered by a legal exemption, our school email uninviting us from the event came the very same day that the culture department (DCMS) announced that the number of fans being permitted to attend Euro 2020 matches at Wembley would be increased to 75% capacity, aka 67,000 people.

After the games, of course, supporters will then all cram together in tubes, buses and no doubt pubs.

Watching thousands of Scottish footballs fans arrive in London for the England v Scotland game last week, I was among many parents venting their frustration. 

Chatting with a neighbour Sam, she said: ‘So this lot are allowed to watch people they have no connection with while I can’t watch my own child compete? It’s crazy, and so hypocritical.’

Frankly I’m not just gutted over this sports day scandal – I am baffled.

Schoolchildren have had a particularly rough time with the lockdown restrictions – lonely months cooped up at home struggling with homeschooling, online lessons and missing out on proms, parties and simply kicking balls about with their mates.

Exams were cancelled and kids were masked for months.

Sports matches and school trips were non-existent in 2020.

Holidays did not happen, and as for trying to communicate with Grandpa via Zoom – well the less said about that the better.

But just as we dared to hope that some fun might be creeping back, this happens – even though we take Covid swabs twice a week and it is no longer necessary for the boys to wear masks in the classroom (to their delight).

Fresh air and exercise is strongly encouraged, we are told, and in the park – where we regularly join other families – there is easily enough room to adhere to the two-metre social distancing rule, and it’s not as if every parent would show up anyway.

To add insult to injury our local park, Clapham Common, is currently home to Friends Fest where thronging fans of the hit TV show queue daily to visit recreated sets.

Meanwhile 32,000 spectators a day will be permitted at The Open golf championship from July 15, and Silverstone will be allowed a capacity crowd of 140,000 for the British Grand Prix on July 18.

Donnington Park hosted 10,000 music lovers for the Download festival last weekend, and is due to welcome 4000 spectators to watch the World Superbike Championship.

Oh, and don’t forget the Wimbledon tennis tournament is getting underway with huge crowds of fans gathering around the courts to enjoy Pimms and strawberries.

Clearly Britain’s sporting calendar is back on track – just not for our kids, who instead look likely to be victims of a second summer lost.

And while I hate to sound like a tantrum-fueled brat… It’s just not fair.

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