Competitions and Fixtures

There are regular opportunities to represent DHS in fixtures and competitions against other schools in a range of sports.   We play fixtures and competitions usually at the end of the school day or on a Saturday morning.  Annually, we enter National Schools competitions in netball, hockey, cricket, swimming, tennis, athletics and cross country.  Within the North East, we enter Tyne and Wear Competitions alongside local Durham leagues and tournaments.

Our Philosophy:

  1. To be the best we can and fulfil the potential of all girls involved.
  2. Ensure there are a range of competitive opportunities to enable all girls who attend clubs to represent school.
  3. To be committed to competition and always display good sportsmanship and teamwork.

We do not want to foster an elitist attitude only working with a small number of girls who are deemed to ‘be the best’ as this discourages many girls from attending clubs and participating.  Sport is for everyone.

Competition:

A squad will be selected for each fixture.  Playing competition with a squad means that players should expect to be rotated on and off.  There are many benefits of doing this, such as changing the tactics we are using, giving players a rest and ensuring players with injuries do not overplay.

County Leagues and Tournaments:

The most able and available squad will be selected to represent DHS for these fixtures.

Friendly Fixtures:

A squad will be selected from the girls attending extra curricular clubs.  We try and organise a fixtures programme in which we compete at a range of levels enabling all abilities to compete for DHS.

House Competition:

Open to all who wish to play even if they do not attend extra curricular clubs. 

Squad Selection:

Selection for sports squads will be based upon the following criteria (not in any particular order)

  1. Attendance at sports clubs, practices and other fixtures.
  2. Ability
  3. Fitness
  4. Attitude and commitment to their sport
  5. Organisation – ticking team sheets promptly, right kit, letting staff know when you cannot play in good time before the fixture.

Captain of a Squad:

A captain may be selected in a variety of ways.  Usually girls who are selected to captain a team have excellent leadership skills, are willing to undertake all the work that is expected of a captain such as ‘chasing girls to sign team sheets’, organising cancellation information, helping with refreshments etc.  The work a captain has to do ‘behind the scenes’ is reasonably demanding.

A captain may be selected for a term, season or individual match.  Occasionally girls may be asked to vote for a captain or they may be elected by the member of staff organising the squad.