Sport
Sport at Caterham
Caterham School enjoys an enviable reputation for producing highly successful individual and team performances in a wide range of sports.
Excellence is pursued whole heartedly (many pupils achieving county, national or international representative honours), but the aim is also to cater for every pupil at their own level of ability and enthusiasm. While pupils are encouraged and pushed to reach their full potential, the main goal of fun and enjoyment is always at the forefront. The PE staff are committed to giving all players a positive experience of sport and introducing pupils to the sportsmanship and camaraderie that are so closely linked to physical activity.
All pupils have a carefully considered games programme and the opportunity to play competitively at School and House level. A full fixture list and regular major games tours are part of this provision.
More than 20 sports are on offer at Caterham, with most pupils involved at all levels three or four times a week. Coaching is provided by expert PE staff and academic teachers, and is supplemented in many areas by visiting professionals and specialists.
Sportsmen and women are becoming more and more athletic with speed, power and strength becoming important pre-requisites for success. With this in mind, Caterham pupils benefit from early morning fitness sessions as well as access to a new free-weights gym. Specialist fitness programmes are given to the pupils and regular fitness testing occurs for the older pupils.
It is recognised that technological advances can be used to aid and improve sporting performance. With this in mind, video analysis is used throughout the PE department with teams and individuals being given visual feedback on a regular basis. The recent purchase of a number of iPads for the department allows coaches to give performers instant advice that is supported by visual evidence, speeding up the process of improving technique.
The main sports for boys are: Rugby, Hockey, Cricket, Tennis and Athletics. The main sports for girls are: Lacrosse, Netball, Tennis, Athletics, and Rounders. Badminton, Basketball, Cross Country, Dance, Fencing, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Squash, Swimming and Table Tennis, are also very popular.
The exceptional sporting facilities which make all of this possible include some of the very best grass pitches in the south of England, a floodlit Astroturf, a 25 metre indoor swimming pool, five netball courts and a very large and fully equipped double sports centre. The school also makes use of its Hill Fields and new pavilion, a short walk away on Caterham-on-the-Hill.
If pupils are selected to represent the School in a fixture, they should make this their first priority. If a pupil is to miss a match, the Director of Sport or Head of Girls Games must be informed as far in advance as possible. In the event of a last minute drop-out from a fixture, pupils or parents should contact the relevant team coach as soon as possible. If he or she cannot be reached, a message can be left with Director of Sport, Rob Clarke who can be contacted on 01883 335103.
Pupils and parents should familiarise themselves with the department's kit policy. Pupils are expected to be smartly turned out when representing the School. The school is always looking for ways of improving communication with parents. This year we are testing the use of www.schoolssports.com for giving information on fixtures and results. Caterham's page on the site can be found here School Sports.
News
School Sports - Fixtures & Teams Information - letter 12 01 25
School Sports letter 22 Sept 2011
Lacrosse & Netball Pre Season Training - 25 August 2011
Opro Mouthguards letter 9 May 2011
Summer Term Sports - letter 11 04 28
Celebration of Sport Dinner 2011 - Sixth Form Invitation
England Netball Co-captain Karen Atkinson Coaching at Caterham School
England Scrum Half Paul Hodgson runs a Training Session for Caterham School 1st XV Rugby
Please note that, in addition to playing sports on the main campus, we also make use of the grounds at Hill Fields, the Old Caterhamians Club, which is located in Park Avenue, Caterham. CR3 6AH. Directions by road from Caterham School: go down Harestone Valley Road back into Caterham, turn left up Church Hill, left into Stanstead Road and right into Park Avenue. Hill Fields playing fields are on the left. PDF
Caterham School layout and direction to sports grounds leaflet