Sport

Update from the  Sports Department

Right, where were we?

The last time I wrote  in the newsletter, we’d just come off a fantastic IGSSA and IPSHA swimming program and had our fingers crossed for our Tildesley Tennis squad and Nationals rowers. Unfortunately, COVID-19 forced a swathe of cancellations and required a major re-think about how we could continue to deliver sporting and physical activity opportunities to the students of Loreto Normanhurst as the school moved to remote learning.

I am so proud of the work the Sport Department has put together during this period, with an engaging calendar of challenges, training sessions and activities for both our Primary and Secondary cohorts. We have also rolled out sport-specific training sessions to allow our students to stay connected with their favourite sports during this period, even if it’s not in the traditional way of an IGSSA or IPSHA season. I want to thank the Sport team for their hard work in preparing the videos, workout guides and training programs, and thanks to everyone who has sent in videos, photos or written feedback about how they’ve been getting involved with the program.

This period has required us to transfer talents honed on the sporting field into life; resilience, adaptability, discipline, teamwork and endurance. We have had to make some major changes to our Term 2 program, including the cancellation of all IGSSA and IPSHA sport, and all sports connected to the IGSSA and IPSHA representative pathway. The Hills Netball season has been placed on hold, and we’re currently looking at a range of options to ensure that the raucous noise and colourful joy of our Primary and Secondary Athletics Carnivals are able to go ahead later in the year.
 
So, what’s next?

As with all our decisions in the Sport Department, the safety of your daughters is our number one consideration, and this is no different as we plan towards returning to on-campus sport and activity. With guidance from the Australian Institute of Sport and a range of national sporting bodies, we are developing progressive strategies to reintroduce on-campus sport and activity that is both enjoyable and rewarding, as well as safe. I have had a number of students and parents say how much they’re looking forward to getting back into sport and I can tell you the feeling is mutual! We are also working with our various partner bodies such as IGSSA, IPSHA and the Hills District Netball Association to ensure that our students are ready to go once competition is reintroduced.

We are also continuing to provide daily workout challenges and a weekly training session for basketball, football, hockey, netball and rugby 7s for students to engage with at home.

Students can access all these great resources on the Sport page of the LNH Extra-Curricular Canvas, along with updates on all things Sport.

We’re looking forward to getting all our girls back into their regular sport and activity programs and can’t wait for that first hit, throw, pass or shot on a Saturday morning. Until then, on behalf of the Sport Department: stay safe, stay active and we’ll see you back in action soon!

Who to see about what?

As a handy reference guide, the table below outlines the staff members who are responsible for sports and activities throughout the year. All enquiries about sport at Loreto should be sent to sport@loretonh.nsw.edu.au

Photos

Whilst we aren’t able to engage in our usual sporting program on Saturday mornings and midweek trainings, we would still love to see photos of our students getting physically active and staying engaged in sport. Please send through any photos or videos you have of LN girls staying active at home to sport@loretonh.nsw.edu.au.

If you’re on Twitter, you can follow us at @loretonhsport – tweet us and use the hashtag #LetsGoLoreto and we’ll retweet as many as we can!

If you’re on Facebook, our page is at www.facebook.com/LoretoNHSport

Mr Matt Mulroney

Head of Sport