THE ALTON SCHOOL GUIDE TO SPORT - socscms.com … · THE ALTON SCHOOL GUIDE TO SPORT . 1 Index Page Number: 2 Welcome from the Director of Sport 3 The PE Department 4 Life skills

THE ALTON SCHOOL GUIDE TO SPORT

1

Index

Page Number:

2 Welcome from the Director of Sport

3 The PE Department

4 Life skills learnt from sport

5 Lifelong participation in sport

6 Parent guidelines at sporting fixtures

7 Difference between PE & Games

8 Prep School Swimming 2017/18

9 Sport in Reception to Year 13

22 Fixtures and games afternoons

23 Clothing

24 Senior School ‘Strike System’

25 External sports clubs

26 Senior lunchtime team training

27 Alton School tournaments, house events and sports day dates 2017/18

A full timetable of fixtures and matches in booklet form will be sent out each term.

2

Welcome

Sport gives pupils the opportunity to be part of a team, learn about themselves under

pressure and challenge their body physically and mentally. We understand that a

positive sporting experience at school encourages a lifelong love for sport and

exercise.

It is extremely rewarding to see both Prep and Senior School pupils winning not just

local fixtures but regional and national ISA competitions on a regular basis. The

success of our sporting programme relies on the involvement of as many pupils as

possible, not just the school’s best athletes. Achieving high participation in both

team and individual sports is essential for the wellbeing and health of all of our

pupils.

We expect pupils to play and represent the school up until Year 9 in our team sports

if selected. For girls, the major team sports are hockey, netball, athletics, tennis and

rounders. For boys, the major team sports are football, rugby, cricket and athletics.

Years 10, 11 and the Sixth Form have more choice to play in a team, or choose another

activity in which they have more interest.

We also understand that sport is far more than what happens on the sports field or

netball court. Sport instills lifelong values into our pupils such as confidence,

discipline, respect, decision-making skills, a strong work ethic as well as leadership

and management skills. There is growing evidence that physical activity improves

academic performance, with some research showing those who are active achieve

up to 40% higher scores in school tests.

Whether you are an aspiring athlete on a sport scholarship programme or playing

sport recreationally for fun and enjoyment, the Sport Department at Alton School

looks forward to inspiring and motivating our pupils to thrive, flourish and gain

confidence through sport and physical activity.

Mr James

Director of Sport

3

The Department

The PE and Games staff consists of five full time PE teachers as well as many other

teaching staff from both the Prep and Senior School. Please find below the

responsibilities of each member of staff and a contact email address so you can

contact the correct teacher if you have any questions.

Mr James – Director of Sport

Email: [email protected]

Mrs Cowle – Head of Senior School PE & Games

(Responsible for Senior School netball)


Mrs Brown – Head of Prep School PE & Games

(Responsible for all Prep School girls sport)


Miss O’Donnell – PE Teacher

(Responsible for hockey)


Mr Shanley – PE Teacher

(Responsible for all Prep School boys sport)


4

Life skills

A school by definition is an institution for educating children and preparing them

for the future. UNICEF identifies core life skills (social, cognitive and emotional)

they believe are important for success in adult life. Sport has the potential to develop

all of them, highlighting the importance of being in a team and taking part in

physical activity.

✓ Communication and interpersonal skills

✓ Negotiation and refusal skills

✓ Empathy

✓ Co-operation and teamwork

✓ Decision making / problem solving skills

✓ Critical thinking skills

✓ Creative thinking

✓ Coping and self-management skills (self-confidence, self-esteem, goal

setting skills, self-evaluation, self-assessment)

✓ Managing feelings (anger management, anxiety, coping with a loss, trauma

or abuse)

✓ Stress management skills (time management, positive thinking, relaxation

techniques, self-assessment)

✓ Social and emotional competencies (self-awareness, self-management,

social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision making)

5

Lifelong love for sport and physical exercise

We know the reasons pupils drop out of playing sport:

✓ It’s no longer fun

✓ Too much pressure to perform

✓ Too much emphasis on winning at a young age

✓ They are afraid to make mistakes

✓ They have lost ownership of the experience

If pupils are to continue to play sport and be physically active throughout life it

needs to be fun and heavily game-based. Teachers, coaches and parents need to

ensure more time is invested in the development of each pupil rather than being

exclusively concerned with their win-loss ratio.

It takes a long time to be able to excel at something and regular and progressive

practice is the only way to improve – there are no short cuts!

There is significant research showing that children who specialise in a sport too early

end up dropping out of that sport because it stops being fun, the pressure to win is

too high or they have simply burnt out from training too many hours in that one

sport. As a guideline we recommend a pupil trains no more than their age in hours

of structured sport a week.

Ideal training : competition balance

Active Start – Male and Female 0-6 (Play and participate : physical literacy)

FUNdamentals – Male 6-9, Female 6-8 (FUN with a little competition*)

Learn to Train – Male 9-12, Female 8-11 (70% train : 30% competition*)

Train to Train – Male 12-16, Female 11-15 (60% train : 40% competition*)

Train to Compete – Male 16-23, Female 15-21 (40% train : 60% competition*)

Train to Win – Males 19+/-, Females 18+/- (25% train : 75% competition*)

Active for Life – Habits encouraged all through school life

*Competition is competition specific training and actual competition combined

6

Parent guidelines at sporting fixtures

✓ It does not matter if a pupil is in the ‘A’ team or ‘D’ team, the important thing

is that pupils feel part of a team. All pupils develop at different speeds and

will be put into a team that is appropriate for their level of play. We ask that

you respect the team selection.

✓ All pupils will have the opportunity to play up a team if they have shown

consistent improvement in training and competition.

✓ Encourage your son/daughter to participate in all sport, but avoid putting

pressure on him/her. Pupils are more often than not playing sport because

they find it fun and enjoyable, not because they feel they can win every

match.

✓ Work ethic, respect, sportsmanship & fair play, body language, energy,

discipline, attitude, passion, having a positive mindset and being coachable

are all values which we believe are as important as winning. We encourage

you to help your son/daughter understand these values.

✓ Please do not look disappointed when your son/daughter makes a mistake.

Mistakes are an opportunity to learn. A smile and some encouragement to

continue to play on are important when your son/daughter feels he/she has

made a mistake.

✓ Please respect umpires, officials and referees. Please never question their

decisions.

✓ Pupils learn by example. Lots of praise and encouragement is welcome. Be

friendly and talk to the opposition’s parents. Applaud good play not just on

your son/daughter’s team but on the other team as well.

✓ Remember your son/daughter just wants you to be their mum/dad and

support them and watch the game. Please remember you are not their

coach/teacher.

✓ Positive mindset questions following a fixture…”Did you have fun? Did you

enjoy yourself? I loved that pass you made! Great that you never gave in!”

7

The difference between PE and Games

Physical education (PE) is about giving our pupils the opportunity to have a go at

lots of different sports. It will involve learning about the body, health and fitness.

Games lessons will generally involve team training or fixtures in the main

competitive sport for the term. If it rains and fixtures and training sessions are called

off Senior pupils will participate in some group exercise at Energique.

8

Prep School Swimming 2017/18

Please see below the dates for swimming for the academic year 2017/18.

Reception – Year 2 Swimming Years 3-6 Swimming

Wednesday 13th September



Wednesday 4th October



Wednesday 1st November

Wednesday 8th November

Wednesday 15th November

Wednesday 29th November – Fun Swim

Wednesday 17th January

Wednesday 24th January

Wednesday 31st January

Wednesday 7th February

Wednesday 21st February

Wednesday 28th February

Wednesday 7th March

Wednesday 14th March

Wednesday 21st March – Fun Swim

Wednesday 18th April

Wednesday 25th April

Wednesday 2nd May

Wednesday 9th May

Wednesday 16th May

Wednesday 23rd May

Wednesday 6th June

Wednesday 13th June

Wednesday 20th June

Wednesday 27th June – Fun Swim

Thursday 14th September

Thursday 21st September

Thursday 28th September

Thursday 5th October

Thursday 12th October – Water Polo

Thursday 19th October

Thursday 2nd November

Thursday 9th November – Swimming Gala

Thursday 16th November

Thursday 23rd November

Thursday 30th November – Fun Swim

Thursday 18th January

Thursday 25th January

Thursday 1st February – Water Polo

Thursday 8th February

Thursday 22nd February

Thursday 1st March – Lifesaving*

Thursday 8th March

Thursday 15th March

Thursday 22nd March – Fun Swim

*For the lifesaving week on the 1st March all pupils in Years 3-6 will need to bring in a set of pyjamas as well as swimming kit.

9

PE with Reception

✓ 2 x PE lessons a week

✓ 1 x 30 minute swimming lesson a week all year round

Reception PE Focus

Autumn 1 Autumn 2 Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 Summer 2

Fundamentals

Football / Hockey

Gymnastics/ Yoga

Fun Run/

Benchball

Athletics Rounders/Cricket

Tennis

Swimming will take place every Wednesday morning 10-10:30am. Please see page 8

for all of the swimming dates for the academic year 2017/18.

10

PE with Year 1



Year 1 PE Focus


FUNdamentals

Football / Hockey

Gymnastics / Yoga

Fun run / Bench ball

Athletics Rounders / Cricket

Tennis

Swimming will take place every Wednesday morning 9:30-10am. Please see page 8


11

PE with Year 2



Year 2 PE Focus


FUNdamentals

Football / Hockey

Gymnastics / Yoga

Fun run / Bench ball

Athletics Cricket / Rounders

Tennis

Swimming will take place every Wednesday morning 9-9:30am. Please see page 8


12

PE and Games with Year 3

✓ 1 x PE lesson a week

✓ 1 x Games lesson a week

✓ 1 x Games afternoon a week

✓ 1 x 30 minute swimming lesson a week for the first two terms

✓ In the summer term pupils will gain an additional hour of PE on a Thursday

morning where they will have had swimming for the first two terms

Year 3 PE Focus


Gymnastics Basketball Health and Fitness

Athletics Rounders Tennis

Year 3 Games Focus (Thursday afternoon from 2:10pm)

Autumn Spring Summer

Girls: Netball

Boys: Football

Girls: Hockey

Boys: Rugby

Girls: Athletics

Tennis & Rounders

Boys: Cricket & Athletics

Swimming will take place every Thursday morning 10-10:30am. Please see page 8


13








Year 4 PE Focus


Gymnastics Handball Health and Fitness


Year 4 Games Focus (Thursday afternoon from 2:10pm)


Girls: Netball

Boys: Football

Girls: Hockey

Boys: Rugby

Girls: Athletics

Tennis & Rounders


Swimming will take place every Thursday morning 10-10:30am. Please see page 8


14








Year 5 PE Focus


Gymnastics Uni-hoc Health and Fitness


Year 5 Games Focus (Wednesday afternoons from 2:10pm)


Girls: Netball

Boys: Football

Girls: Hockey

Boys: Rugby

Girls: Athletics

Tennis & Rounders


Swimming will take place every Thursday morning 10:30-11am. Please see page 8


15








Year 6 PE Focus


Gymnastics Pop Lacrosse

Health and Fitness




Girls: Netball

Boys: Football

Girls: Hockey

Boys: Rugby

Girls: Athletics

Tennis & Rounders


Swimming will take place every Thursday morning 11-11:30am. Please see page 8 for

all of the swimming dates for the academic year 2017/18.

16




✓ 1 x two hour Games afternoon a week

Year 7 PE Focus


Netball Health and Fitness /

Gymnastics / Football

Health and Fitness /

Gymnastics / Football

Athletics Athletics Cricket / Tennis /

Rounders

Year 7 Games Focus (Monday afternoons from 2:10pm)


Hockey Netball Athletics

Tennis & Rounders

Cross country will also take place during the first two terms.

17





Year 8 PE Focus


Netball Health and fitness /

basketball / tag rugby

Health and fitness /

basketball / tag rugby


Rounders

Year 8 Games Focus (Monday afternoons from 2:10pm)



Tennis & Rounders


18





Year 9 PE Focus


Netball Health and fitness /

volleyball / lacrosse

Health and fitness /

volleyball / lacrosse


Rounders

Year 9 Games Focus (Tuesday afternoons from 2:10pm)



Tennis & Rounders


19

Games with Year 10


Year 10 Games Focus (Thursday afternoons from 2:10pm)



Tennis & Rounders

In Year 10 it is no longer expected that the girls play in a team if selected. Girls will

be asked towards the end of Year 9 if they would like to play in a hockey or netball

team when they go into Year 10. If they do, the girls will continue to train in these

sports during their Games lessons and we will organise a fixture list for them. If not,

the girls will have the choice each half term of the sports shown below.

Year 10 Games Options


Hockey

Badminton

Squash

Gym

Hockey

Squash

Spinning

Gym

Netball

Spinning

Circuits

Basketball

Netball

Football

*Athletics

Tennis

Rounders

*Athletics

Tennis

Rounders

Cricket

*During spring 2, summer 1 and 2 the girls will also need to complete all of their

athletics events in preparation for districts, regionals and sports day competitions.

20

Games with Year 11





Tennis & Rounders

In Year 11 girls will be asked towards the end of Year 10 if they would like to play in

a hockey or netball team when they go into Year 11. If they do, the girls can continue

to train in these sports and we will organise a fixture list for them. If not, the girls

will have the choice each half term of the sports shown below.

Year 11 Games Options


Hockey

Badminton

Squash

Gym

Hockey

Squash

Spinning

Gym

Uni Hoc

Spinning

Circuits

Netball

Lacrosse

*Athletics

Tennis

Rounders

*Athletics

Tennis

Rounders

Cricket

*During spring 2, summer 1 and 2 the girls will also need to complete all of their

athletics events in preparation for districts, regionals and sports day competitions.

21

Games with Year 12 and 13

✓ 2 x one hour Games lessons

Year 12 and 13 Games Focus



Tennis & Rounders

In Year 12 and 13 girls will be asked towards the end of Year 11 if they would like to

play in a hockey or netball team when they go into Year 12 and 13. If they do, the

girls can continue to train in these sports and we will organise a fixture list for them.

If not, the girls will have the choice each half term of the sports shown below.

Year 12 and 13 Games Options


Hockey

Badminton

Squash

Gym

Hockey

Squash

Spinning

Gym

Spinning

Circuits

Volleyball

Lacrosse

Uni Hoc

Cricket

Tennis

Rounders

Tennis

Rounders

22

Games afternoons and fixtures

The aim of Games afternoons for Years 7-9 is to either participate in a fixture against

another school, participate in team training or if it is raining or there are no available

courts or pitches (due to other teams playing in fixtures), to participate in group

exercise to improve pupils’ fitness. This is likely to be a spin class, circuit class,

exercising in the school gym or playing some squash.

The aim of Games afternoons for Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 is to participate in some

exercise or a team sport of the pupil’s choice. The choice of exercise and sports are

shown on pages 19, 20 and 21 of this booklet. Again, if it rains, pupils that have

chosen to play in a school team will instead participate in some group exercise. Year

10 upwards have more choice to encourage lifelong participation in a sport they

enjoy into adulthood.

There will be a separate fixtures booklet for the Prep and Senior School which we

will send out to parents at the start of each term.

Fixtures

✓ If your son/daughter is playing in a fixture you will be made aware of the start

time and finish time of the match, and if the match is away you will also be

advised when your son/daughter will arrive back at school.

✓ If you go to watch an away match you may take your son/daughter home

straight from the fixture. You must make the teacher in charge aware before

you take your son/daughter home.

✓ We please ask that you read page 6 of this booklet and abide by our sporting

principles.

23

Clothing

Full list of girl’s kit Full list of boy’s kit

✓ White and navy polo ✓ Skort ✓ Long navy and white socks ✓ Tracksuit bottoms ✓ Navy hoodie or sweatshirt ✓ White socks ✓ Shin pads ✓ Gum shield ✓ Trainers ✓ Boots ✓ Sport kit bag

Optional:

✓ White base layer ✓ Navy leggings base layer ✓ Netball dress

Additional Prep Items:

✓ Swimming costume ✓ Swim hat ✓ Swimming kit bag ✓ Goggles

✓ White and navy polo ✓ Navy and white rugby jersey ✓ Navy shorts ✓ Long navy and white socks ✓ Tracksuit bottoms ✓ Navy sweatshirt ✓ White socks ✓ Shin pads ✓ Gum shield ✓ Trainers ✓ Boots ✓ Sport kit bag

Optional:

✓ White base layer ✓ Navy leggings base layer

Additional Prep Items:

✓ Swimming costume ✓ Swim hat ✓ Swimming kit bag ✓ Goggles

Blue and white socks are to be worn for the autumn and spring terms in all PE and

Games lessons, except for netball fixtures where girls can wear white socks with a

netball dress.

In the summer term both girls and boys across the school are to wear white socks.

Thermal tops and bottoms as well as tracksuit bottoms and the navy hoodie or

sweatshirt can be worn when it is cold.

24

Strike System

In the Senior School, we operate a 3-strike system. If a pupil forgets an item of kit,

does not tidy their kit away or does not behave in a sensible manner during lessons

they will receive a strike in the PE register. When a pupil receives three strikes this

will lead to a debit.

25

External sport clubs

Below is a list of sport clubs for pupils who wish to join a local team. The level of

coaching in the school is very high and we do well in competition, however, pupils

who aim for a place in one of the higher teams at school generally play at club level

outside school.

Football

✓ Alton Football Club

✓ Manor Colts Football Club

Rugby

✓ Alton Rugby Club

Cricket

✓ Alton Cricket Club

Netball

✓ Bugs Bordon Netball Club

✓ Rushmoor Netball Club

✓ Spitfires Netball Club

✓ Winchester Netball Club

Hockey

✓ Alton Hockey Club

If there are any clubs that pupils in our school play in, which are not on this list,

please email Mr James as he would be happy to add the club to the list above.

26

Lunchtime team training – Senior pupils

In the Senior School, we run lunchtime training practices from 1:10-1:40pm. All

lunchtime practices are open to all pupils who have been selected to play in a

team.

Senior School lunchtime training sessions

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Autumn Term Year 7 & 8

Netball

Year 9 & 10 Netball

Year 11, 12 & 13 Netball

Spring Term Year 7 & 8

Hockey

Year 9, 10 & 11 Hockey

Summer Term TBC TBC TBC

27

Tournaments and house events 2017/18

Below is a list of tournaments to be held at Alton School, this list may be amended

during the year. As well as these tournaments, we attend a huge number of

tournaments both in the Prep and Senior School in a large number of sports. We

also attend ISA regional and national events in swimming, cross country, athletics,

netball, football and hockey.

U10 Netball Tournament: Wednesday 11th October 2017

U11 Netball Tournament: Wednesday 18th October 2017

U9 High Five Netball Tournament: Thursday 2nd November 2017

U8 Netball Tournament: Thursday 9th November 2017

U9 7 a side Football Tournament: Thursday 5th October 2017

Prep School House Events

Netball: Monday 16th November 2017

Swimming Gala: Thursday 9th November 2017

Football: Monday 15th January 2018

Cross Country: Monday 5th March 2018

Rounders: Monday 30th April 2018

Senior School House Events

House Hockey: Friday 24th November

House Netball: Friday 16th March

House Rounders: Monday 2nd July

Sports Day 2017/18: Monday 25th or Tuesday 26th June

Documents

THE ALTON SCHOOL GUIDE TO SPORT - socscms.com … · THE ALTON SCHOOL GUIDE TO SPORT . 1 Index Page Number: 2 Welcome from the Director of Sport 3 The PE Department 4 Life skills