Co-Curricular Matters Boys and girls in the Shell year spend at least three afternoons a week playing games and taking part in sporting activities. The major games each term are:
Boys
Girls
Michaelmas Term
Rugby
Hockey (also Lacrosse)
Lent Term
Hockey
Netball (also Lacrosse)
Summer Term
Cricket
Tennis (also Athletics)
The two afternoons in the week when all Shell boys and girls play the major games are Mondays and Fridays. Participation in the major game is compulsory for all pupils in the Shell, but the choice increases as pupils progress up the school; senior pupils are more able to choose one of the alternative games and will have time available for academic work some afternoons. For pupils with disabilities and for whom reasonable adjustments cannot be made, alternative activities will be provided. Matches against other schools take place chiefly on Saturday afternoons, with occasional matches on Wednesdays and Thursdays. In the winter terms, the school fields up to five rugby and five hockey teams (boys) and four hockey (girls), five netball and two lacrosse teams at Shell level. Those who do not represent the school on Saturday afternoons are directed towards a selection of alternative activities. Parents are encouraged to watch matches and to have tea in the Norwood Hall afterwards. Most Saturdays there are multi-sport activities on site. We have occasional trips to Bath, Bristol, Oxford and Blenheim for those not involved in fixtures. Full details of the College’s fixtures are to be found in the Almanac, sent to parents every term and given to each pupil. Weekly fixture information can be accessed from the main College website via the sports website (sport.marlboroughcollege.org) which you can also save to your phone as a Mobile Web App. Clear details of venues, times, directions and cancellations are published before each major block fixture on a Saturday. Team lists are password protected for security, and this password is shared with parents at the beginning of an academic year. Further information about how to use the sports website will be available on the Parent Portal. On Wednesday afternoons in the Michaelmas and Lent terms, some girls and boys in the Shell participate in a games circus when, besides having coaching in the major games, the year group is introduced in turn to the wide variety of other games that Marlborough has to offer. These are coached by senior pupils under staff supervision and will include a selection of: squash, fencing, fives, water polo and basketball. Those girls and boys in the top two teams for the major sports and lacrosse do not participate in the circus but have an extra team practice. 29
