RGS FIXTURES

Playing sport for the school and wearing the RGS badge is a huge part of the school’s ethos and a privilege which we hope students both honour and respect. We play fixtures during the week and large block fixtures on Saturdays. On rare occasions there may also be competitions on Sundays. The majority of fixtures will take place in mornings but with travel time included these often take a large part of the day. If selected students are required to attend the fixture and it is our aim to make it one of the highlights of their week. We pledge to select all students who wish to play as often as we can and thus have as many teams per year group as staffing and facility availability allow. Should any student be unavailable for a fixture they must give as much notice as possible, and preferably more than a weeks advanced warning. This request for absence should be directed to the team coach so that he or she can keep a track of who is available to play. Whilst we understand there can be exceptional circumstances, we recognise four key reasons for requesting an absence from a fixture:

• Regional or National Representation (or equivalent)

• Illness or injury

• Serious family matter (for example, a wedding or a funeral)

• Required attendance at another school event or detention

Further Information

Match Day

All information regarding match days can be found on the sports website Students are expected to attend match day teas both home and away unless they have informed their coach this is not possible well in advance. Students should also consider the meet time to be the latest time of arrival. Generally, students should arrive for home games in playing kit with school tracksuit and hooded sweatshirt over the top. They should also attend match tea in their tracksuit and avoid attending in muddy/wet kit. Often when travelling away we will travel in school uniform, but again it is important to check the fixture details well in advance. We warmly welcome visitors to school fixtures; in fact, we believe it enhances the experience of the students. Please support the students, helping us to set a great example for them to follow.

Behaviour Expectations

We encourage the highest standards of behaviour from staff, students and supporters, based upon our desire to develop great people through sport. We would like all involved in RGS sport to have only positive interactions with match officials, opposition staff and opposition players and that our conduct in and around the sports field reflect the values we hold dear as both a school and sports department.

HEALTH & SAFETY

First aid trained staff are present at fixtures and on games sessions. Additionally, a medical team or physiotherapists will be present at weekend fixtures. We have a reciprocal relationship with most of the schools we play, where the home team provides trained medical cover for all pupils. We use ‘Return 2 Play’ to support our medical provision focusing on concussion management: www. return2play.org.uk/.

Mouthguards are essential for hockey and contact rugby. Shin pads should also be used for all hockey and football training as well as fixtures.

Key Dates

Sporting Achievements

We encourage the highest standards of behaviour from staff, students and We would love to hear about, and celebrate, any sporting achievements your child has had recently. If you do have a story you wish to share, please let your child’s form tutor know and they will pass the information on to the PE department.

Thank you again for your support of sport and physical activity at RGS and for your encouragement to all students to be fully involved in the development of their own health and fitness. We believe it is a truly unique part of school life where the emphasis is so clearly on developing positive life-long habits. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues for their time and effort in supporting all of the co-curricular opportunities available at RGS.

I look forward to seeing you on the touchlines soon.

George Browning Director of Sport