Students initially received safety training and progressed on to working in ‘Virus' rowing boats. They all made dramatic progress throughout the course practicing around the water in front of the Mount Batten Centre.

Students were also able to experience rowing in a Gig which they took out into Plymouth Sound. This was a completely different experience requiring team work in comparison to the individual work they had been practicing in the Virus boats.

In addition to the work on the water students have also been tested on their skills in the water during their ‘Swim Test'. Not only did they have to complete a timed swim, they were also tested on their ability to capsize a boat safely.

At the end of the course a regatta was held where students competed in fun games and activities which tested the skills they had learnt. The students are also encouraged to join a local rowing club to continue to improve their skills.

There were some fantastic individual performances, please click here to see the full list of results. The winners of the Girl's Team Competition  and the Boy's Team Competition were Lipson Vale.

Congratulations to all of those who took part and a big thank you to all the staff and supporters. 

There were some fantastic individual performances, please click here to see the full list of results.  The winners of the Girl's Team Competition was Old Priory and the Boy's Team Competition was Boringdon.

Congratulations to all of those who took part and a big thank you to all the staff and supporters.

Please visit the downloads section for the Plymouth Cross-Country Entry Form.

• Plympton Family Cross-Country Festival - Wednesday 6th October 2010 at Hele's School 3.45-4.30pm  (please click  for invitation letter and entry form)

• Lipson Family Cross-Country Festival - Wednesday 13th October 2010 at Lipson C.C 3.45-4.30pm (please click for invitation letter and entry form)

Each school are invited to bring as many or as few runners as they like as there will be both team and individual elements to the competition. The four best runners from each team will count towards the team score.

Trophies will be awarded for the best Boy's and the best Girl's school team attending. Medals will also be awarded for first, second and third places in the individual competition for both boys and girls, and certificates will be given to all those who attend. This event is in preparation for the Plymouth Schools Cross Country, which will be held at Staddiscombe on Thursday 4th November 2010.

Runners will be expected to be appropriately dressed with adequate footwear and warm/waterproof clothes and a drink of water. There will be marshals around the course to help the pupils.

I do hope you will take full advantage of this opportunity and look forward to seeing you there. Please could you complete and return the attached entry form. For any additional information or any questions you may have, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Anna Clooke
School Sports Co-ordinator
07731471023

The sessions will be held at Lipson Community College in the Gymnasium on Thursday Evenings from 4.15-5.15pm and will cost £3 per session. The sessions will run from Thursday 23rd September 2010 until Thursday 9th December 2010, excluding Thursday 28th October (half-term). The cost for the course of 11 weeks will be £33.

Children will need:
A long sleeved top
Long trousers (without buckles or zips)
Socks
A drink of water
Long hair tied back/NB - No jewellery

There are 16 places available on the course. If you would like your child to benefit from this opportunity, please ring me on the number below to book a place as soon as possible as places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please complete the attached consent form and bring it along to the first session with a cheque for £33 made payable to Plymstock School.

If you have any questions about the activity please do not hesitate to contact me on the number below or Kelly Vallis directly on her mobile - 07967398923.

Mrs Anna Clooke
School Sports Co-ordinator, Mobile-07731471023

Plympton ‘Family' Primary School, Yr5/4 Girls Active Football Festival. It will be held at Hele's School on Thursday 30th September 2010 from 10.30-2.30pm.

This event is being run in Partnership with the Devon FA and AFC Plympton. Coaches will be provided by the Devon FA and members of these clubs will be present to provide an ‘exit route' from this festival into a local team should the girls wish to do so.

You are invited to bring up to 20 girls per school from Years 5 and 4. The girls do not need to have any prior experience of football. The day will comprise of some coaching sessions in the morning and then some games in the afternoon sessions. This will be a fun festival and the girls will not be competing in school teams. Girls do not have to have their own shin pads but are encouraged to bring them if they do.

I do hope you will take full advantage of this opportunity and look forward to seeing you there. Please could you complete and return the attached entry form. For any additional information or any questions you may have, please do not hesitate to contact me directly or Mark Young at the Devon FA-07973312146.

 Anna Clooke
School Sports Co-ordinator-
07731471023

Each school will need to provide someone to umpire. There is plenty of experience amongst staff so if anyone is not confident then please ask the member of staff from the opposition to help. If you are really struggling to provide someone, please let me know as soon as possible. An explanation of the rules can be found at: www.englandnetball.co.uk /The_Game/High_5/High_5_Rules.php or click here for brief rules and rotations. 

I will set up the courts after-school so they will be ready for your arrival but you will need to bring a High Five Netball (Size 4) ball with you please.

In order to protect the sports hall floor; students must wear non-marking soles please and staff/parents must avoid wearing stiletto heels please!!

If you know now that you are unable to make a fixture for any reason please let me know as soon as possible and I will try and re-arrange it. If at a later date you are unable to fulfil a fixture please contact both the opposition and myself as soon as you are able.

After the game please could a member of staff ring through/text or e-mail me the result. Fixtures and results will be available on the Partnership Website - www.plymstockssp.com.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Anna Clooke - School Sports Co-ordinator
Mobile - 07731471023
aclooke@lipson.plymouth.sch.uk

Students initially received safety training and progressed on to working in ‘Virus' rowing boats. They all made dramatic progress over the first three weeks practicing around the water in front of the Mount Batten Centre.

In this weeks session, students were able to experience rowing in a Gig which they took out into Plymouth Sound. This was a completely different experience requiring team work in comparison to the individual work they had been practicing in the Virus boats.

In addition to the work on the water students have also been tested on their skills in the water during their ‘Swim Test'. Not only did they have to complete a timed swim, they were also tested on their ability to capsize a boat safely.

At the end of the course a regatta will be held where students will be able to compete in fun games and activities which test the skills they have learnt. The students are also encouraged to join a local rowing club to continue to improve their skills.

On Friday 25th June 2010, four students from the Hele's School Leadership Academy attended a London 2012 Leadership event at Launceston College. The day gave the students a chance to learn about the Olympic Values by taking part in a variety of workshops with the aim to develop an ‘Action Plan' to implement this across the school before the 2012 London Olympics. The students also had the opportunity to meet Olympic Rower, Pete Gardner who spoke to them about what it is to be an Olympian and his experiences as an elite athlete.

This event is only part of the work that is being undertaken by the Leadership Academy who aim to have a whole school impact by developing the amount of sporting opportunities that are available to students and by promoting leadership and volunteering.

If any students would like to be involved with the Leadership Academy, please contact Mrs Clooke in the PE Department.

Activities such as Street Surfing for KS2 and Tag-Rugby for KS1 with Anna Clooke and Theresa Honeywill, Orienteering and Bell Boating with James Howell as well as Dance Mats and Tennis MAD days were some of the activities.

If you would like to make use of any of these opportunities please contact Anna Clooke, School Sport Co-ordinator - 07731471023.

For further details on the Bikeability Scheme please read the article on the main website and contact for Anna Clooke, School Sport Co-ordinator - 07731471023 to book your next course.

This event is to be a fun, inclusive event which will help students prepare for the West Devon Primary Schools' Tag Rugby Festival as well as to provide an opportunity for all students, regardless of ability.

Please click here for further details and click here for an entry form.

David has been a considerable help to both Lipson Community College and Lipson Lions over the past 5 years as a hockey umpire. He is now working towards his Level 1 qualification and is seen as 'an incredible talent' by his umpiring mentors from England Hockey. In addition to the school and club work that David does, he was also asked to umpire the County Finals this year for Devon U16's. Wendy Woodstock helped me write the application and we also asked Rob Logan, his Umpire Mentor and Chairman of Lipson Lions Hockey Club, to also submit an application.

David was shortlisted from a very large group as a finalist and was invited to the Awards Evening which took place on the evening of Thursday 1st April at Paignton Zoo. Caroline Atkins (England Cricketer) presented the Awards. Unfortunately David did not win but was 'Highly Commended'.

Students participated in the following events with each event giving points towards the team total:

• Netball
• Table Tennis
• Cycling
• Girl's and Boy's Football
• Badminton
• Athletics

The final result all came down to the Athletics event which was held in the afternoon.  We went in to this in second place behind Tamarside and ahead of Sir John Hunt and Plymouth High School for Girls.  Due to an excellent display from the whole team we were able to move above Tamarside by winning both the flat and technical events.

Well done to all of the students!

On Tuesday 16th March, as part of the Year 7 day, I organised for groups to take part in Street Surfing and Indoor Rowing.  On Thursday 25th March I organised a First Aid Course for the Sixth Form students, including those who are completing the Community Sports Leaders Award. 

On Friday 26th March I organised a day of sports activities for Year 9 students including:

• Indoor Rowing with Kevin Sellar
• Trampolining with Kelly Vallis and Anna Clooke
• Street Surfing with Sarah Honeywill
• Dance Mats
• Cycling
• In addition to this students took part in boxing and yoga

The students thoroughly enjoyed trying a variety of 'different' activities and this will hopefully spark interest in joining these clubs.

If anyone would like help in organising some of these activities at their school, please let me know. 

If there are any staff who would like Cricket INSET, please contact me or:

Andy Fairbairn, Devon Cricket Development Office, Tel: Office 01392 262509
Mobile 07815 744909, andy.fairbairn@devoncricket.co.uk.

Lipson Community College had their morning of coaching on Monday 8th March 2010, Hele's School received coaching in the morning of Monday 22nd March with Old Priory having their coaching in the afternoon.

Students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of being coached by exceptional players and getting a chance to talk to them about being a professional sportsman.  Students taking part were also given tickets to watch the next home game at the Brickfields ground.

Thank you to Chris Perkins, Struan Mitchell, Dan White and Teresa Roberts for organising these events.

Wednesday 3rd March -Plympton KS1 Multi-Skills Festival at Ridgeway        Organised by Theresa Honeywill and held at Ridgeway this was an excellent event with Boringdon, Woodford Infants and St.Mary's Infants attending from the Hele's Family.

Friday 12th  March - Lipson KS1 Multi-Skills Festival at Lipson Community College                                                                                                              Organised by Anna Clooke and run by Community Sports Leaders at Lipson Community College.  This was extremely well attended with High View, Holy Cross, Laira Green, Lipson Vale, Prince Rock and Salisbury Road attending from the Lipson Family.

Wednesday 17th March - Plympton KS2 Multi-Skills Festival at Hele's School         Organised by Anna Clooke and run by Year 9 Leaders at Hele's School.   This was a fun and well attended event with Boringdon, Chaddlewood, Glen Park, Old Priory, Plympton St.Maurice, Woodford Juniors, and Yealmpstone Farm Schools attending - the whole Plympton Family!

Friday 19th March - Lipson KS2 Multi-Skills Festival at Lipson Community College  Organised by Anna Clooke and run by Community Sports Leaders at Lipson Community College with Holy Cross, Laira Green, Lipson Vale, Prince Rock and Salisbury Road attending from the Lipson Family.

Thank you to all the schools that supported these Festivals and to all of the leaders who helped to make them so successful.

This was a festival for children in Year 5 and 6 and was a qualifier for the Plymouth City Finals. This festival was supported by the 2012 Legacy funded RELAYS project run by UCP Marjon and senior students from Lipson Community College.

The winners of the Girls' Competition were Old Priory with Salisbury Road as runners up:

The winners of the Boys' Competition were Salisbury Road with Old Priory as runners up:

 For a complete list of the results, please click here.

On Friday 26th May students from Old Priory Junior School learnt their new Wake and Shake routine.  Anna Clooke (School Sports Co-ordinator) spent the morning working with each class for a 20 minute session teaching pupils a routine for 'Don't Stop Me Now'.  This routine is from 'Wake and Shake 2'.  The pupils will now be Waking and Shaking every morning before school.

The Wake Up Shake Up programme provides you with a very easy way to introduce daily activity into your school without impacting on your (the teachers') time, as it is all done for you!  For more information please visit: http://www.wakeupshakeup.com/Whatisit.html.

If you would this delivered at your school to give it a 'kick start' please contact Anna Clooke - 07731471023.

This is a festival for children in Years 3 and 4. The emphasis will be on participation and fun, but a scoring system will be in place (for those competitive ones amongst us!!) Each team will consist of 12 children - 3 boys and 3 girls from each Year group (Yr3 and Yr4).
Events will include-
Speed bounce
Balance bar
Roll a goal
Long jump
Shuttle run
Target throw
Slalom run

The details of the festival are as follows:
Times: Registration-1pm*
Approximate Finish-3pm*
Venue: Hele's School (Dome)
Teams: Schools may enter a team of 12 students made up with 3 girls and 3 boys from each age group-Year 3 and Year 4.

If you would like to enter this festival, please complete the entry form and return it to me by Wednesday 10th March 2010. Alternatively, please e-mail me at clooke@heles.plymouth.sch.uk or phone/text the number below.

*Please note that this time of this Festival has changed from the original 9.30-11.30am.
Yours sincerely,
Anna Clooke
School Sports Co-ordinator-07731471023

This is a festival for children in Years 3 and 4. The emphasis will be on participation and fun, but a scoring system will be in place (for those competitive ones amongst us!!) Each team would consist of 12 children - 3 boys and 3 girls from each Year group (Yr3 and Yr4).
Events will include-
Speed bounce
Balance bar
Roll a goal
Long jump
Shuttle run
Target throw
Slalom run

The details of the festival are as follows:
Times: Registration-1pm
Approximate Finish-3pm

Venue: Lipson Community College (Sports Hall)

Teams: Schools may enter a team of 12 students made up with 3 girls and 3 boys from each age group-Year 3 and Year 4.

If you would like to enter this festival, please complete the entry form and return it to me by Monday 15th March 2010. Alternatively, please e-mail me at aclooke@lipson.plymouth.sch.uk or phone/text the number below.

Yours sincerely,
Anna Clooke
School Sports Co-ordinator-07731471023

Events will include-
Speed bounce
Balance bar
Roll a goal
Long jump
Shuttle run
Target throw
Slalom run

The details of the festival are as follows:
Times: Registration-1pm, Approximate Finish-3pm

Venue: Lipson Community College (Sports Hall)

Teams: Schools may enter a team of 12 students made up with 2 girls and 2 boys from each age group-Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2.

If you would like to enter this festival, please complete the entry form and return it to me by Monday 8th March 2010. Alternatively, please e-mail me at aclooke@lipson.plymouth.sch.uk or phone/text the number below.

Anna Clooke
School Sports Co-ordinator-07731471023

This is a festival for children in Year 5 and 6 and is a qualifier for the Plymouth City Finals. This festival will be supported by the 2012 Legacy funded RELAYS project run by UCP Marjon and senior students from Lipson Community College. The possible exit routes and club links citywide will be given to the students at the festival.

The details of the tournament are as follows:

Times: Registration-12pm
           Approximate Finish-3pm

Venue: Lipson Community College Astroturf

Teams: Schools may enter 1 boys team and 1 girls team. Each team can
             have 10 players in the squad with 6 on the pitch at any one time.

Safety: All players must wear shin pads and we strongly advise the use of
            gum shields.

If you would like to enter this festival, please complete the entry form and return it to me by Monday 22nd February 2010. Alternatively, please e-mail me at aclooke@lipson.plymouth.sch.uk or phone/text the number below.

Yours sincerely,

Anna Clooke
School Sports Co-ordinator-07731471023v c,m

ECB Designated Cricket for Teachers (CFT) course

Monday 15th March 2010 at Ridgeway School (Sports Hall) 1-4pm

COST - 1 place Free to 'Chance to Shine' Schools - Additional places and other schools £20 each.

To book please ring/text on 07731471023 or e-mail Anna Clooke at clooke@heles.plymouth.sch.uk

OVERVIEW

Key Purposes

• To help Primary School teachers understand the coaching process (how 2) and how they can integrate the National Curriculum PE Aspects of Knowledge through the striking and fielding game of cricket.
• To introduce Primary School teachers to the power and versatility of the new Howzat! resource.
• To give Primary School teachers the confidence to deliver some cricket in schools themselves and assist coaches in the delivery of cricket in schools
• To provide them with enough knowledge and practice to move onto a Level 1 assessment
• To encourage a common coaching and education language between teachers and coaches
• To promote the benefits of a TGFU approach

The 4 hours consists of:

• Classroom introduction to each other and to the coaching process and Aspects of Knowledge
• Sports Hall - Tutor as Coach to model TGFU approach using Continuous Cricket and draw out coaching process
• 2 micro coaching rotations (2 pairs of coaches) using Level 1 games.  Review to focus on coaching process
• Classroom exploration of the Aspects of Knowledge
• Sports Hall - Tutor as Coach delivers Lord's Game (pull shot) modelling integration of all Aspects of Knowledge
• 2 micro coaching rotations (2 pairs of coaches) using Level 1 games. Review to focus on Aspects of Knowledge
• Classroom activity to explore Howzat! resource and close

High Five Netball League 2010

• Second half of Spring Term 2010
• Thursday Evenings
• Venue - Hele's School (Dome)
• Two matches per evening (3.45-4.15 or 4.15-4.45pm)
• One team per school
• Year 5/6 (at own teachers discretion)
• Mixed boys and girls (no.'s of each at own teachers discretion)

Please click here to download the Invitation Letter and here to download the entry form.

If you would like your school to participate in this league, please complete and return the form to me at Hele's School, e-mail me, text or phone. In order for me to draw up the fixtures table and get them to you in the first week of term, please could you return this form by Monday 8th February 2010.

Anna Clooke - 07731471023

Click here to download JSL Football Festival Letter and here to download an entry form.

Salisbury Road have won the league for the last two years but were pipped to the post by Prince Rock in a very close final game played on Tuesday 15th December 2009.  The score between the schools was 4-3 to Prince Rock.  This meant that Prince Rock had won all five of their games and won the league by gaining the maximum 25 points.  Please click here to view the final league table and here to view all of the results.

Thank you to all of the staff involved in running the clubs at the school, bringing the children to the event, umpiring and all of the time spent organising your team.  Also thank you to the parents for supporting the teams by providing transport to games and encouragement at the matches.

Certificates will be awarded to all students that took part in the league and will be on the way to your school in the next couple of days.  Prince Rock will be awarded medals, I believe they already have the trophy!!

Prince Rock will now be invited to represent the Lipson Family in the Devon County Finals, good luck!

Plympton and Lipson Year 3 and 4 Girls Only Festivals were organised by Anna Clooke (SSCo) in partnership with Mark Young, the Women's and Girls Development Officer for the Devon FA.  The days included a morning of FUNdamental skills sessions, delivered by coaches from the Devon FA. The afternoon then saw a tournament between all those involved.

The Plympton Festival was held on Tuesday 8th December at a very wet GOALS Centre, 75 brave young ladies from Old Priory Juniors, Woodford Juniors, Boringdon, Yealmpstone Farm and Plympton St Maurice took part in a fun day.  Barry Metters from AFC Plympton was able to give the girls information of the opportunities available in the area to continue to play football.  Students are now encouraged to take up the Girls Only coaching sessions held at Ridgeway School from 5-6pm run by AFC Plympton starting on Mondays.

The Lipson Festival took place on Friday 11th December at a cold but dry Lipson Community College.  60 Girls from Prince Rock, Lipson Vale and Laira Green atttended the event.  They event was supported by 3 Sports Leaders from Lipson C.C.  Thank you to Michelle, Jess and Yasmine for all of your help. Students are now encouraged to take up the Girls Only coaching sessions held at Lipson Community College on the Astro from 4.30-5.30pm run by Chaddlewood Miners FC starting on Monday 11th January 2010.

Please see the link below for more details of clubs:
http://www.devonfa.com/News/2009/12/GirlsFootballInPlymouth.htm

or please visit the Devon FA Website: http://www.devonfa.com/Development/Girls+and+Womens/Primary+School+Girls+Football/

The focus of the day was 4 of the 5 G,A and T capabilities and participating in activities that they would not normally do in PE at school. All the participants got the opportunity to go to the sports science lab which tested their flexibility, strength/ power and body composition.
Other opportunity included using the speed lazers, speed parachutes, dartfish for analysis, speed, agility and quickness.

From the workshop all students will recieve a profile so schools can focus any further support in areas that require further work and development.

All workshops were delivered and assessed by 2nd Year trainee students from Plymouth Marjon. The standard of delivery was outstanding and certainly gave all young people an excellent educational experience.

The children at Prince Rock will be instructed on how to ride their bikes to the Government-approved National Standard for Cycle Training, which sets out the training and skills essential for making cycling trips in today's road conditions.

Bikeability is not just about teaching children to ride a bike and equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to ride a bike safely throughout the rest of their life. It's also about introducing them to cycling as an everyday activity - an alternative mode of transport, an enjoyable pastime, which brings a healthier lifestyle and ultimately lots of fun. Bikeability will give children a life skill that once they've learnt, they will never forget.

To get involved in the Bikeability scheme contact your School Sports Co-ordinator.

A record 16 schools attended the first round of the Secondary Orienteering Event at the River Dart Country Park on Thursday 19th November 2009. The event attracted a record of over 130 pupils from years 7 through to 11.

The morning saw all pupils trained in the skills of map work, navigation, and control punching leading to the afternoons closely fought competition.

The times from the event will be added to the final competition in Cann Woods in March and the points awarded will be carried forward to the main Multi sport Panathlon Days at the end of March.

The team from Hele's won their group and came 3rd in the overall competition.  Full results can be found by clicking here.

A team from Lipson Community College took part in the U13 event.  The team consisted of 6 girls and 6 boys from Years 7 and 8.  Each athlete took part in all the field events - the shot putt, speed bounce and standing long jump.  In addition to this they also did a running event which was either a 2x2 lap, 2x4 lap or 8 lap parlauf relay.  The event finished with a team relay which consisted of a combination of speed bounce, hurdles and steppers.  The Lipson team finished in joint third place overall  and as a result they have qualified to represent the Plymstock Partnership in the Devon County Finals due to be held at Paignton Leisure Centre on Monday 8th February 2010.

In the U11's event the Lipson Family were represented by Lipson Vale Primary School and the Hele's Family were represented by Old Priory Junior School.  Both of these schools had previously won a qualifiying event for each family of Primary Schools.  Lipson Vale finished fourth and Old Priory fifth out of the nine finalists.

Well done to all the students who took part in this event.  If they would like join a club please visit - www.plymstockroadrunners.co.uk.

The coaching sessions focused on handling skills, decision making, game play and forward play including line-outs and scrummaging (our groups particular favourite!).  To finish off the event the girls played a tag-rugby knock out competition.

 I

The girls have now been encouraged to follow this activity up by joining the Plymouth Albion Girls Club.  Training is on Tuesdays and Fridays from 6.00-7.30pm at Brickfields Recreation Ground, Madden Road, Plymouth.  For more details please contact:

Sarah - U18's Team Manager - sarah@albiongirls.co.uk - 07914578766

Tammy - U15's Team Manager - tammy@albiongirls.co.uk - 07887584663 

There will be two events:

• Plympton ‘Family' Primary Schools, Yr3/4 Girls Football Festival. It will be held at the GOALS Centre on Tuesday 8th December 2009 at 9.30-3pm.  Click here for Plympton entry form.

• Lipson ‘Family' Primary Schools, Yr3/4 Girls Football Festival. It will be held at the Lipson Community College on Friday 11th December 2009 at 9.30-3pm.  Click here for Lipson entry form.

You are invited to bring up to 20 girls per school from Years 3 and 4. The girls do not need to have any prior experience of football. The day will comprise of some coaching sessions in the morning and then some games in the afternoon sessions. This will be a fun festival and the Girls will not be competing in school teams. Girls do not have to have their own shin pads but are encouraged to bring them if they do.

I do hope you will take full advantage of this opportunity and look forward to seeing you there. Please could you complete and return the attached entry form. For any additional information or any questions you may have, please do not hesitate to contact me directly or Mark Young at the Devon FA-07973312146.

On Tuesday 13th October, the Lipson Family Cross Country Event was held for it's family of Primary Schools.  Lipson Vale, High View, Prince Rock, Laira Green, Holy Cross and Salisbury Road all attended.  Teams from Lipson Vale won both the boy's and girl's team events.  In the individual boy's competition a runner from Laira Green won with Lipson Vale's runner in second and a runner from Holy Cross in third place.

In the girls competition, the winning runner was from Lipson Vale with runners from High View finishing in second and third place.  In total, 65 runners took part in the event held at Lipson Community College.

The morning was spent developing ways to engage children in Positive Playtime activities, raising the role of the MTA and playing lots of games! 

If you would like to book training for your MTA's, please contact your SSCo.

Students initially received safety training and progressed on to working in ‘Virus' rowing boats on a safety rope. Once the students had shown a level of competence they were then allowed off of the rope! They all made dramatic progress over the first three weeks practicing around the water in front of the Mount Batten Centre.

In the fourth and fifth sessions, students were able to experience rowing in a Gig which they took out into Plymouth Sound. This was a completely different experience requiring team work in comparison to the individual work they had been practicing in the Virus boats.

In addition to the work on the water students were also tested on their skills in the water during their ‘Swim Test'. Not only did they have to complete a timed swim, they were also tested on their ability to capsize a boat safely.

At the end of the course a regatta was held where students were able to compete in fun games and activities which tested the skills they had learnt. The students were also encouraged to join a local rowing club to continue to improve their skills.

Unfortunately I will not be able to umpire on a Thursday as I am already taking some students rowing. Therefore each school will need to provide someone to umpire. There is plenty of experience amongst staff so if anyone is not confident then please ask the member of staff from the opposition to help. If you are really struggling to provide someone, please let me know as soon as possible. An explanation of the rules can be found at: www.englandnetball.co.uk/The_Game/High_5/High_5_Rules.php.

I am working with Liz Taplin at Plymouth University and the England Netball Development Officer to provide umpire training for BEd Students. Once they are trained they will be able to assist with the umpiring of games and the running of the league. I will also look into putting on some High 5 Coaching and Umpiring Courses for Primary School Staff.

I will set up the courts after-school so they will be ready for your arrival but you will need to bring a High Five Netball (Size 4) ball with you please.

There is a new floor in the Sports Hall which should see an end to all the slipping and sliding that we have seen in previous years!! Students must wear non-marking soles please and staff/parents must avoid wearing stiletto heels please!!

If you know now that you are unable to make a fixture for any reason please let me know as soon as possible and I will try and re-arrange it. If at a later date you are unable to fulfil a fixture please contact both the opposition and myself as soon as you are able.

Thanks, Anna Clooke - School Sports Co-ordinator (07731471023)

click here to view Netball League Fixtures.