CONTENTS

Principal’s Welcome ....................................................................................................................................................... 3

Director of Sports Welcome ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Sports Codes Offered: ................................................................................................................................................... 4

Summer ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Winter ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4

Compulsory Sport .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Cultural Mondays/Wednesdays................................................................................................................................... 4

Sport Tuesdays/Thursdays ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Full School Events .......................................................................................................................................................... 5

Notices .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Sign Up and Fees ........................................................................................................................................................... 5

Special Leave .................................................................................................................................................................. 5

Risk and Management Safety ...................................................................................................................................... 6 School Trips and Fixtures ............................................................................................................................................ 6

Coaching, Managing and Umpiring: .......................................................................................................................... 6 Uniform and Equipment Requirements: .................................................................................................................... 6

Colours, Excellence Awards and School Cups ........................................................................................................ 6 Code of Conduct ............................................................................................................................................................ 7

Guidelines for Parents and Supporters at matches/fixtures and tournaments ............................................... 7 School Map: ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8

PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME

As you will be aware, Rathkeale endeavours to provide a holistic education for our young men.

We remain committed to the intent of the founding principal, John Norman, who said “we are here to educate a boy, not merely to get him through an examination.” In that way he intended all boys outside the classroom the experience something physical, something academic, something cultural and something spiritual. The school remains focussed on the provision of opportunities

in sport and the performing arts.

I hope a sporting experience at Rathkeale can provide for boys, no matter what their interest, what they need and what they want. Apart from health and fitness, the comradery of sport allows boys to further their relationships with others. At higher levels individuals and teams seek to be competitive and the College does well to support boys in their skill development.

To make these provisions, increasingly, we find ourselves

needing the support of the community. We are thankful to parents and friends of the school who offer their coaching and management expertise and we look forward to continuing the strong relationship with individuals and supporting organisations.

As always, we value the fantastic side line support we receive. It is something I enjoy being part of and it really does form an important part of the positive ethos we all enjoy.

Martin O’Grady – Principal

DIRECTOR OF SPORTS WELCOME

The benefits of regular physical activity are many including the reduction in the risk of many diseases and emotional problems. Hence many governments recommend that young people participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily.

Thus, sport at Rathkeale College is a compulsory extra-

curricular activity as we believe that habit established early in life are likely to continue later in life.

The activities that are offered are a blend of traditional team sports, contemporary sports and physical activities that can be pursued for a lifetime.

Our sporting programme is designed to meet the needs and interests of all boys.

We are attempting to cater for both boys who wish to pursue excellence and those that wish to have an enjoyable experience.

Gilman Barnitt

Director of Sport

SPORTS CODES OFFERED:

SUMMER WINTER

- Athletics - Rugby

- Cricket - Football choose one of these 3 options

- Tennis - Hockey

- Fitness(Term 1) (Year 11+) - Basketball

- Cycling - Squash

- Futsal - Skiing (NISS Only) Secondary sports (optional)

- Mountain Biking - Clay Target Shooting

- Touch Rugby - Badminton

- Strength & Conditioning (Yr 11+) - Rifle Shooting

- Golf (Yr 11+)

All summer codes listed are first choice options. You must choose at least one of these options. A second option may be selected, however if there are clashes between your sport’s, you will be expected to choose one.

Each child is expected to choose Rugby, Football or Hockey as a compulsory option in winter.

COMPULSORY SPORT

Boys will confirm their sports choices at the start of Term One however, boys will be expected to show an indication of their intentions in Term Four to help planning for the following year’s sport.

In the past few years some students have committed themselves to a wide range of activities without the necessary planning and preparation required to fitting everything in. It is important that boys are aware of their commitments to their number one sport choice they commit to further activities that could lead to possible clashes. Our suggestion is that a student can manage a Cultural/Sporting activity in each season Summer/Winter and still complete the required homework and family activities.

All boys are expected to be at all practices and games for their team. If a boy cannot attend, he must bring a note to the Sports Department well in advance to explain his absence, upon which he will be given an ORANGE form to excuse him from sport and allow him onto the school bus. Failure to do so may result in a Sport Detention.

CULTURAL MONDAYS/WEDNESDAYS

Any after school sport on a Monday or Wednesday will be at the discretion of the Sports Department. Any sport training occurring on these days must take into account the priority that cultural activities have.

SPORT TUESDAYS/THURSDAYS

These days are sporting afternoons and students are expected to participate in school arranged activities unless exempted. No boy will be disadvantaged participating in cultural activities.

FULL SCHOOL EVENTS

Throughout the year there are five major compulsory school sports events that all boys will participate in. A brief description of each of these events follows:

1. Rathkeale Athletics Sports: All boys compete in their age groups, which are as of 1st January 2020. Prior to the Athletic Sports all boys will be required to enter a minimum of seven preliminary events (run, jump, throw + 100m, 200m etc.) once all preliminaries have been held, the athletics programme will be set. If boys do not qualify for finals, they will compete in the non-championship/mass participation events on the day of the sports. Please ensure your boy checks to the sports office to see what finals he has made before the event.

2. All Boys will be required to attend whether they are competing, or not. If boys do not qualify for finals, they will compete in the non-championship/mass participation events on the day of the sports. House points will be gained from individual and group performances, as well as personal achievements.

3. Rathkeale Swimming Sports: The Rathkeale swimming sports are held during Term 1. Competition House’s will hold heats which every boy will be expected to compete in. All boys compete in their age groups which are as of 1st January 2020. Once all preliminaries have been held, the swimming sports programme will be set. If boys do not qualify for finals, they will compete in the non-championship races on the day of the sports. Note that swimming caps are available from the uniform hop and are put onto disbursements.

4. Rathkeale Cross-Country: The Rathkeale Cross-Country will be held at the end of Term 1. All Boys will compete in their age groups which are as of 1st January 2020. For each age group there will be a different distance. Boys will be expected to wear their correct house singlet and green shorts.

5. Inter-House Sports Day (Summer/Winter): Inter-House Sports Day combines boys from each competition house and sporting code to play against each other. The summer competition is held in Term I and the winter competition in Term 3.

NOTICES

Every Monday a weekly sports newsletter is produced which summarises all sporting events for the coming week. These weekly sheets are posted on the Sports Office window. They can also be viewed on the Rathkeale College website and school app. Boys must check the sport’s notice board regularly as notices and draws for all codes will be displayed throughout the week. Urgent information such as cancellations due to weather will be placed on the school app and put up as a hard copy on the notice boards.

SIGN UP AND FEES

Fees will be disbursed at least once a term. These will vary from code to code. As per the new sign up rule below your Son will be required to formally advise the sports department in writing if he chooses to pull out of a code. Failing to do so will result in being charged fees accordingly.

SPECIAL LEAVE

Permission to be excused from a sporting commitment must be obtained by completing An ORANGE at least 2 weeks in advance. An ORANGE can be obtained from the Sports Office. These forms must be signed off by the Director of Sport. This is very important so that a replacement player can be arranged if necessary.

RISK AND MANAGEMENT SAFETY

A trip sheet will be completed for any team/group travelling off the Rathkeale Site. These forms are very detailed and structured and will be given to the team managers associated with the team. If the Risk Level is above ‘low’ a RAMS form will be completed to ensure the safety of the pupils.

SCHOOL TRIPS AND FIXTURES

All school trips must be organised and approved by the school. Prior to every trip, letters will be sent to parents outlining the details of the trip and the cost involved. The following fixtures are staples of the school sporting calendar.

Wanganui Collegiate Summer/Winter

Lindisfarne Summer/Winter

HIBS Summer/Winter

Wairarapa College Winter

Intercollegiate/Regional events

North Island/National events

Tournament Week (1st week of September)

COACHING, MANAGING AND UMPIRING:

As we have such a large number of teams to organise throughout the year, we really appreciate help from the school community with regards to coaching, managing and umpiring. If you are interested in one or more of these roles, please contact the Sports Department. Your help is always very much appreciated.

Umpires are hard to find, if you can help out with this please contact the Sports Department. All identified students and coaches would need basic experience.

UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS:

All sports uniforms must be purchased at the start of Term 1 from Rathkeale uniform shop. Boys that are members of the 1st XV Rugby, 1st XI Football, 1st XI Hockey and 1st XI Cricket will be issued their own team kit at the start of their respective seasons. For 2020 onwards all the above first team members must own the following Kooga clothing: Tracksuit, Black warm up shorts, Black warm up shirt, Black polo shirt, Green sweatshirt.

All items of the Rathkeale sports uniform are available from the school uniform shop. Boys must ensure they have the correct uniform items for their chosen codes, no other clothing can be worn. Boys are also asked to purchase the newly developed tracksuit. These are worn before games and on all out of school activities. When attending weekend or afterschool sporting games students must travel to and from the venue in their full tracksuit with suitable footwear. If students are umpiring or officiating any sport they must be in full tracksuit.

COLOURS, EXCELLENCE AWARDS AND SCHOOL CUPS

At Rathkeale there is a colours system that recognises excellence in academic, cultural and sporting activities. Sporting colours can be awarded for performance in sport or service to sport (represented by a Principal’s Certificate or Colours tie). The criteria for these awards are below.

A Sports Committee consisting of Sports staff and Senior Management considers these awards before the final assembly of each term. Summer colours and excellence are generally given out at the end of Term 1 and 4 however winter colours and excellence are given out at the end of Term 3 only.

Achievements and success are recognised in the newsletter and in assemblies. If your Son achieves remarkable success out of school, please send the Sports Department an email so his achievement can be recognised.

CODE OF CONDUCT

All boys at Rathkeale are expected to adhere to the code of conduct below:

• Each team member must attend every practice and competition game except in the case of illness or special leave. Boys are not to send messages via other students when they are not available but make every effort to contact the Sports Department themselves.

• All students must apply for a special leave if they are to be absent from their competition game.

• Every team member must be LOYAL to his team commitments and expectations. • Every boy must demonstrate a high level of sportsmanship both on and off the playing

field. Equipment abuse, and the physical intimidation or verbal abuse of the opposition or officials will not be tolerated.

• All team members will wear the correct sports uniform at sports matches. No jewellery, or mufti clothing is to be worn.

• There will be no association with or the taking of drugs, solvents, tobacco or alcohol at playing areas on any sports fixture or tournament. Any boy may be drug tested at a National Secondary Schools Tournament.

• All instructions given by the school, coach or manager must be followed. It is unacceptable to change arrangements without consulting the school.

• The school reserves the right to withdraw a member from a school team if they do not meet the school’s code of behaviour or required level of commitment to their academic expectations, or if they believe they are in the incorrect team for their ability, size or maturity.

Failure to adhere to the code of conduct or serious breaches of discipline shall be dealt with by the Principal and Director of Sport.

GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS AND SUPPORTERS AT MATCHES/FIXTURES AND TOURNAMENTS

• It is requested that parents/supporters are not part of team talks and discussions. • If there is an issue, this must be put through the staff member present, not the coach and / or

manager. • It is requested that parents/supporters do not take a player away from the team environment,

unless team management has granted permission. • All medication must go through team management. • Transport to and from tournaments is planned and set in advance due to risk management

requirements. It will only change in emergency situations and must go through the staff member present on the tournament.

• Prep time is set throughout a tournament to catch up on work missed while being absent from school. This is compulsory for all students.

• The use of cell phones and I-pods are limited at these tournaments and set by team management. It is inappropriate to expect your son to have access to these items at all times.

Your support of these guidelines will help ensure an enjoyable sports programme.

SCHOOL MAP: