Senior Sport

For most WHPS boys senior sport is not a pleasant way of passing an afternoon at School. Sport is a passion!

After a morning at a desk, the liberation and freedom of an afternoon on the sports field is a sheer joy.

A feast of sport is offered. Cricket, soccer, hockey, tennis, swimming and athletics, with rugby, cross-country running and squash as optional extras. What more could a young man want?

With the exception of the rugby, cross-country and squash all other sports are compulsory. By the time a WHPSian moves on to High School he has experienced all these sports at WHPS, has learnt the rules and developed a good understanding of the skills required. He has learned where his strengths and his passion lie amongst the different disciplines and can make informed choices at High School about where to channel his energy.

The Grade 4 to 7 boys have sport from Monday to Thursday between 14:00 and 15:30. However, they attend a club once a week. Their timetables are confirmed at the beginning of each term to ensure the boys know which days are allocated to sport and which day they have to attend their selected club.

All boys are actively involved attending practices, participating in galas and representing the School in matches in the Pretoria and Johannesburg leagues in both midweek and weekend games.

This commitment to their School, their team and their own development is a vital life skill and a vital part of their life at the School. Leadership, team building and camaraderie are developed. Those boys who may not be able to actively participate are involved in scoring and supporting their peers, wherever their skills are best suited.

Physical Education is also offered during the morning to the Senior boys to enhance and maintain their physical strength and suppleness. They are taught how to warm up and warm down and how to stretch properly as part of their school sports training. This minimizes the risk of injury and prepares them for the physicality of senior sport.

Senior sport teams regularly go on tour throughout South Africa and compete effectively and successfully against schools nationwide. These tours enhance pride in themselves, their sport and their School and the boys are the best ambassadors WHPS could have.

A good education is not just exemplified by success in academics. A truly holistic education must encompass culture and sport as well as allowing every boy to find his strengths and build on them, as well as acknowledging his weakness and strengthening them.

Not all boys may be budding Brian Habana's, but there is a sportsman in each boy - if he is allowed to find him!

"Nothing reveals so much about us as how we play the games we play."

Q, Star Trek