Head’s Thoughts
Playing my first game of hockey for twenty-one years for Lewes 5th XI last weekend, made me
reflect on the importance of playing and participating in team sport, whatever the level. A
good core of players turn up at the Southdown Club on Monday evenings for training. There is a
degree of coaching and everyone helps each other in a bid to get better. Targets are set, skills are
developed and new tricks are practised. There is quite a lot of risk-taking. Nonetheless, the
endgame is the same: sport is about having a great deal of fun, working together as individuals
for the betterment of the team and endeavouring to come off the pitch knowing one couldn’t
have put in anything more. I guess it was a small compliment as I left the astro that Saturday to
be greeted by a smiling Lizzie stating, ‘You were a lot better than I expected, Daddy!’
As I type, our U11 and U12 girls are on their way back from the IAPS National Netball
Championships in Basildon, Essex. Both teams have competed at national level for the second
consecutive term, having reached the National Hockey Championships back in November. The
U11s came 5th in their group today to be placed in the top 20 in the country. The U12s won
their group, beat Millfield in the semi and lost 4-5 to Farleigh in the final. Our U12s are National
Netball Runners-up!
Last Wednesday I had the privilege of taking the U10C Netball team. It was a real honour to
work with Ruby, Trisha, Ellen, Francesca, Sylvie, Gracie and Lara. The magnificent seven
couldn’t have done any more and the final score of 3-4 didn’t reflect the improvement. They
never gave up and they never stopped trying. Sport is all about this. Perhaps school and life are
all about this too. So long as we work together, whatever our timeframe, with a common
purpose of focus and improvement, we will make the most of all the opportunities available and
hopefully have a great deal of fun on the way.