Copthorne Sports

If your child is selected to represent the school in a sports fixture, the following items of
information should be of help to you.

Team Selection
Team selection takes place on Monday for a Wednesday fixture and on Thursday for a
Saturday fixture. The team sheets are displayed outside the junior changing rooms, on the sports notice board in the main corridor, on the parents’ notice board outside the New Block and if all else fails, the office have a copy.

The dates and venues for school fixtures are printed in the School Calendar which is
issued at the start of term. More updated information is displayed on the sports notice board and is also contained in the weekly newsletter. Last minute changes to teams are not uncommon due to illness or injury. If your child is selected at short notice, then we will endeavour to notify you by telephone.

Kit Required – Girls
Netball: Girls will need to wear their own black skort, red school polo shirt, long black/red socks, tracksuit and trainers. Jewellery including earrings must not be worn and finger nails should be kept short.
Hockey: Girls will need to wear their own black skort, red school polo shirt, long black/red socks and a tracksuit. Trainers for Astroturf and indoor hockey and boots for grass hockey are also required. Hockey sticks are available from the school although some children prefer to purchase their own. We are happy to advise prior to purchase if necessary. All girls must wear a gum shield for both training sessions and matches. Custom made gum shields such as those supplied by O-pro are the only type that are recommended. Gum shields are available from your child’s orthodontist if they have a brace fitted.
Rounders: Girls will need to wear their own black skort, red school polo shirt, short white socks, tracksuit and trainers.
Tennis: Girls will need to wear their own white school polo shirt, black skort, white socks and trainers. The school have some rackets but most children prefer to purchase their own.
Swimming: Girls will need to wear their own black Speedo style costume and a school
swimming cap. Swimming goggles and a clean tracksuit will also be required.

Girls should travel to all fixtures in smart games kit including tracksuits. Occasionally, particularly when the weather is inclement, girls will change after the match and return to school in uniform. On these occasions, kit should be packed into a school kit bag available from the school shop. Please do not pack kit into carrier bags or huge wheeled bags that the younger girls cannot manage to handle.

Kit Required – Boys
Soccer: The school provide soccer kits for all teams, but boys will need their own socks, shin pads and tracksuit. Boots should be clean for matches.
Rugby: Boys will need to wear their own red/black rugby shirt, shorts and socks all of which should be clean. Boots should again be clean and must have rugby safety studs fitted. Moulded rubber studs or rubber blades are also acceptable. All boys must wear a gum shield for both training sessions and matches.
Custom made gum shields such as those supplied by O-pro are the only type that are recommended. Gum shields are available from your child’s orthodontist if they have a brace fitted.
Hockey: The boys in Years 7 & 8 will play Hockey in the Spring Term. The school provide shirts, but boys will need their own black shorts, socks, shin pads, gum shield and tracksuit. Hockey sticks are available from the school although some children prefer to purchase their own. We are happy to advise prior to purchase if necessary.
Cricket: Boys from Year 5 upwards should wear cricket whites, a school polo shirt or school cricket shirt and a school cricket jumper. The boys in Years 3 & 4 may wear cricket whites or white PE shorts. Predominantly white training shoes/cricket shoes should be worn with
short white socks.
Tennis: Boys will need to wear their own white school polo shirt, black or white PE shorts, white socks and trainers. The school have some rackets but most children prefer to purchase their own.
Swimming: Boys will need to wear their own black Speedo style trunks and a school
swimming cap. Swimming goggles and a clean tracksuit will also be required.

Boys should travel to all fixtures in smart school uniform including school blazers, with the
exception of cricket where they travel changed although still with their blazer. After the
match, again with the exception of cricket, boys will shower and change back into their
uniform for tea. Occasionally, the boys in Years 3 & 4 will travel to fixtures already changed, wearing tracksuits, and either return wearing tracksuits, or change after the match for tea. Kit
should be packed into a school kit bag available from the school shop. Please do not pack kit into carrier bags or huge wheeled bags that the younger boys are unable to handle.

Illness and Injury
If your child is selected to represent the school but is unable to take part due to illness or
injury, please ensure that the Team coaches know as early as possible so that they can
find a replacement.

Directions
Directions to all away fixtures are available on the school website (under Sports) or can be collected from the School Office.  Parents are welcome to all fixtures, and to match tea afterwards.

Transport
Children are usually transported to sports fixtures by either minibus or coach. On rare occasions, we may ask for parents help with the transport. Children are not allowed to travel in other parents’ cars without permission. Parents may take their own children home from away matches after tea. Please ‘sign out’ with the Team Coach before you leave. Children playing in home matches and children returning to school from away matches need to ‘sign out’ in the usual way. Signing out is in the New Block from 3.45 pm until 5.20 pm, and then in the Dining Room.

Dogs
Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times. Please do not allow you dog to foul the school playing fields. Please check with the host school if you wish to take your dog to an away fixture.

Collection Times
After home matches and tea, children are usually free to leave from approximately 4.00 pm. It is probably best if children wait for parents, rather than the other way around. Children not going home at 4.00 pm will be sent to Prep in the New Block. The majority of our away fixtures are within a 45 minute range of the school. This does mean a later collection time following away matches although in most cases children will be back by 5.15 pm at the latest. Cricket matches for both the U11’s and senior teams often finish at 6.00 pm so away teams may not return until 7.00 pm. Anticipated collection times are published on the team sheets.

Sportsline
Any changes to the routine are usually recorded on the Sportsline 01342 859969. Please call this number after 11.00 am. on match days for up to date information about the fixtures.