Co-curricular - Junior Sport: Stage 3

Last Friday, the Junior School Swimming Squad competed in its first representative carnival for the year. The BPSSA Carnival is a short course competition (25m pool) held at Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview with six schools competing. It was a great day, with the boys working hard in the pool and competing fiercely in their age groups. Many of the boys will qualify for the IPSHA Carnival to be held on Tuesday 5 March. We congratulate all the boys for their swimming performances on Friday and wish them the best of luck for the IPSHA Carnival.

While it has been great to see success in the pool for our swimmers, it is noticeable that there has been a shift in attitudes towards swimming in general. Previously, swimming has been a necessity with children of all ages being competent and able to swim multiple strokes for 50m or more. Now we are seeing this kind of ability less and less and swimming becoming a lesser priority. Many boys will have completed swimming lessons to a gold level, normally the level before moving to squads. In my mind this makes for only an able swimmer. One that has experience and base ability in all strokes but is yet to reach proficiency.

At the College, it is of high importance that boys become capable swimmers, mainly so they can get the most out of their House carnivals as they move through the years and contribute to their house’s success. However, there is still a strong social aspect to swimming, with boys having pool parties for birthdays and as they get older, meeting at the beach or pool to hang out. 

While we do have swimming as part of the PE program at the College, they can’t replace the learning of small class, level focused lesson, such as the ones at the local pool. No doubt COVID has had a lingering effect on many swimmers, interrupting lessons. However, it may be something worth reconsidering and reconnecting with.

As we move past the halfway point for the Summer season of Term 1, I would like to remind boys and families about arrangements for travelling home on public transport after training has concluded. Any boys catching public transport, walking home is included, needs to be dressed in either their black Supporter’s polo (College tracksuit if cold) or in their full College uniform. These are the only acceptable forms of attire to travel home in. Boys should not be in their colour house PE uniform or other attire when travelling on public transport. Boys being collected by car after training may go home dressed in their training clothes.

John Locke

Head of Co-curricular Stage 3