Figure 1.--During the summer term, afternoon games meant cricket. These boys are waiting their turn at batting. |
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Schools vary as the attention given to games. It is still a substantial program element at most schools, but no longer as dominate as it once was. Generally after morning classes, lunch, and a short rest period, prep schools schedule a couple hours of afternoon games. This means outdoor sports, weather permitting. Some schools do games every afternoon. Almost all do games at least three times a week. This varies a bit 1 or 2 days a week with activities (clubs, hobbies, or occupations). Not all schools do activities instead of afternoon games on some days. At some schools activities are done later in the aftrnoon, in the evening or on the weekend. The sports rotate seasonally. Most attention is given to rugby, soccer, and cricket for the boys and netball and hockey for the girls. Athletics is done by both the boys and girls. Generally the schools divide the children by age, gender, and ability. The groups are commonly called "games".
Weather permitting, games are played virtually every da. In Summer the school is divided into eight games for Cricket, Swimming, athletics, and Tennis; there are two all-weather practice nets for coaching. Two grass courts give plenty of scope for tennis. There are full facilities for athletics including a 200 m 4-lane grass track, triple and long jump pit and high jump safety mats. Shooting on the minature range also takes place in the Summer. There is a heated out-door Swimming pool where instruction is given to all boys. In Winter there are four games of Rugby football and two junior games of Association Football. Many matches are played against other schools at 1st, 2nd, Under 11 1/2 and Under 11 age groups, and also Under 10 1nd Under 9 Soccer matches. An interesting innovation has been to play other schools at Cricket at two levels and then pick 6 tennis players and eight swimmers for matches in these events. We also hold athletics matches against other schools on our track and at other away fixtures. Boys who fence enter the Cheshire Under 14 Championships t give them experience at competition. Recently Golf matches have been played against other schools both on our own course and away. On Thursday afternoon, the school does 'Activities' in games time. The activities include: Drama, Choir, Orchestra, Singing, Music Lessons, Chess, Bridge, Reading, Fenceing, Archery, Golf, Volley Ball, Gardening, Modelling, Table Tennis, Extra Art and many others. These vaqried opportunities enfold the majority of boys in an activity for wetry our best to find at least one thing at which they can succeed. There is a fully equipped Gymnasium in which boys do a period or two of P.E. each week under a trained P.E. specialist. It is also marked out for Badminton and can be used on wet daysand in the evening. The Fives Court is covred and well lit, so that boys have plenty of opportunities for exercise even in the worst weather. There is also a floodlot hard play area for 5-a-side football and other games. The Changing room provides all facilities for washing and showers after games.
Beach Hall Prospectus
Sports play an important role in the daily routine at Beachborough. Organised games are played, by all, everyday except Sundays and matches against other schools are arranged for almost all the sports we coach.
In the Cgristmas Term rugby is the major team sport for all (the juniors play mini-rugby).
During the Easter Term a more complex options system operates centered around hockey and football. The seniors concentrate on hockey and the juniors on football. Once a week they change over: thesenior boys play football and juniors hockey. Once a week also all boys (except the very youngest who play football only) follow a minor sports option. The options available include badminton, volleyball, cross country running, golf and seven-a-side rugby. In this way the boys can receive full coaching in a team sport and also learn the rudiments of a minor sport.
In the summer everyone plays cricket. Once a week each game devotes its attention to athletics. Several athletics matches take place during the term and each boy follows th Amateur Athletics Association 5-star award system. When the weather is fine, the swimming pool is in daily use and the boys have the opportunity to win badges offered by the British Swimming Coaches Association
Tennis coaching is available throughout the summer term. School matches are played and the better players are entered for the IAPS tennis tournament.
Throughout the year gymnastics are taught in the school gymnasium as part of the curriculum and for the keener ones there is a Gym Clun which puts on an annual display. All the children work towards winning one of the awards offered by the British Amateur Gymnastics Association. Table tennis is played regularly. Various ibternal competitions are held and matches are organised against other schools. Children are entered for the IAPS table tennis competition.
Other features of the Neachborough sporting year are listed below:
Every Monfay the Gym Club attends a special training session at the new sports hall at Stowe School.
Every Sunday evenings groups go to Stowe to use the swimming-pool.
Riding and Golf lessons are arranged throughout the year.
The senior boys are ecouraged to bring bicycles in the summer.
The gym is ised for skatebording and roller-skating.
Archery is available for a short period in the summer and some children spend a night or two in tents in the school grounds.
Beachborough Prospectus
In winter we play netball with Miss Cullen and we go for walks and play football with Mr McCook and Mr Flower. During the Summer we play rounders and on Wednesday the boys join us. On the netball court we are learning the chest pass and the bounce past. Sometimes we play dodge ball, skittle ball pr practise our shooting.
Michelle Caufield, 8.0, The Bramcote Magazine, Autumn 1984.
I liked it the day Mr Floyd tool all the people who were off games to Rufford in the mini-bus. We walked around the lake and then walked around the Abbey. We'd taken some bread and I really enjoyed feeding the ducks.
John Musler, 11.5, The Bramcote Magazine, Autumn 1978
When I wa playing games on a Thursday, I suddenly saw a small, round, hard cricket ball coming towards me. I stuck out my hand to take the catch and the ball broke my finger, I did not take kindly to this but it's just one of those things.
Hugh White, 12.2, The Bramcote Magazine, Autumn 1978
