Llandudno School Sports
At Llandudno we offer a variety of core sports and some secondary sports. Our pupils are expected to take at least one core Summer and one core Winter sport so that we can compete competitively in our core sports and to develop healthy and well-exercised bodies. We offer soccer and netball in Winter and swimming and water polo as our Summer core sports. Other sports on offer are junior ball skills, squash, tennis and cross country. We are fortunate enough to use the neighbouring Llandudno Sports Club facilities for squash, tennis and netball. As part of our school goal to give our children access to the best coaching possible, we have professional sports coaching in almost all sports. Sport is played from Grades R-7 at least twice a week and the older age groups take part in weekend tournaments and sports tours. From Grades 2-7, weekly league fixtures are played against other schools of similar ability. Our ethos is to encourage and build skills and confidence in sport and therefore we rotate players and allow all pupils to play in matches during the season.
It is expected that pupils will master the skills of swimming in the lower grades in order to be able to swim in school galas from Grade 2 and play competitive waterpolo from Grades 4-7. We make use of our school’s Astroturf and swimming pool, as well as the Sports Club’s facilities next door for squash, tennis and netball. We also use CBHS pool for waterpolo training.
Gymnastics, Computers, Swimming Training, Drama, Zumba and Sports Hub (Foundation Phase) take place within the school day. Physical Education lessons take place once a week.
Summer Sport | Winter Sport |
Swimming all ages | Netball and Ball Skills all ages |
Water Polo for senior pupils | Soccer all ages |
Tennis all ages | Squash for senior pupils |
Cricket all ages | Cross Country for all ages |
Swimming
At Llandudno Primary, we pride ourselves on being a swimming school which is why we have made swimming our compulsory, core Summer sport. Many of our learners surf privately or are Llandudno Life Saving Club ‘Nippers’ or play water polo.It is expected that all pupils will master the skills of swimming in the lower grades in order to be able to swim in school galas from Grade 2 onwards and play competitive water polo from Grades 4-7.
In Summer, classes swim during their PE lessons and train after school within their age groups, where they learn stroke correction and become “swim fit” with our experienced external coaches. Our squad swimmers train before school and after school during our summer months in order to build strength and stamina as we take part in both friendly and competitive galas against other schools. We hold our annual traditional Junior and Senior phase inter-house galas in March each year which are always a highlight for our school!
Water Polo
Waterpolo is a fast-paced and exciting water sport that combines speed and strength, as well as teamwork and a high level of fitness. At LPS, it is enjoyed by Grades 4 – 7 pupils and is especially suitable to strong swimmers or Nippers with experience in the water. It is a summer sport offered in the 1st and 4th terms each year. We have two U13 teams – a girls and a boys team – who compete in an interschools league against other schools around The Cape Peninsula and in the Southern Suburbs. Depending on our team’s skill level and experience, we take our teams to participate in different festivals throughout the year including the Knysna Oakhill Waterfront Chukka festival in February.
Netball
Netball is amongst the other winter sports included in our LPS sports programme. While encouraged and coached to reach their full potential, pupils are offered netball to enjoy physical activity while developing a love for exercise and being part of a team sport. Our committed netball coaches believe that all children should be given the equal opportunity to develop their confidence and skills while learning important life lessons along the way. Netball practices with our experienced coaches incorporate a wide range of activities and drills, allowing learners to enhance their attack, learn how to defend and develop their overall netball skills and abilities.
Here at LPS we offer ball skills from Grade 1 and Grade 2 and from Grade 3 they begin formal netball practices. We have U9, U10, U11, U12 and U13 teams who participate in weekly matches. To kickstart the Grade 7 year in 2023, selected U13’s were given the opportunity to join an U13 Girls netball tour to Knyna. We thoroughly enjoyed the tournament and hope to attend this event annually. The entire Grade 7 team also got their own custom netball dresses to be worn for the year, designed by their coach Miss Macfarlane. We host Derby Days and attend various festivals and tournaments throughout the year to really allow our players to immerse themselves in as much netball play throughout the season as possible.
Cross-Country
Cross Country at Llandudno Primary is a winter sport offered by the school and as Llandudno is nestled right next to some of the best mountain trails and single track that Table Mountain has to offer, we spend many a winter evening on the trails in preparation for the zonal cross-country races.
The sport is open to any pupil from Grades 1 to Grade 7 and the running meetings are held from 17:00 – 18:00 on Wednesday evenings and take place at either the Suikerbossie forest behind Ruyteplaats Estate or at Rocket Road above Sandy Bay. As we are spoilt for choice with the routes at our disposal we spend many a sunset taking in waterfalls, sea and mountain views and racing along forest tracks with 30 pupils and many parents in tow. This not only ensures that our kids are fit for the races of the season but are also agile and technical runners to take on the races hosted by the schools across the Wynberg Zone. We also participate in the Merrel Autumn and Spring Night Series events that are held at sunset, and in the dark in the Constantia Vineyards. This is a great opportunity for our young runners to participate and race against friends and competitors in both a fun and more organised race environment.
The Zonal meetings and races take place on Friday afternoons at the hosting schools within our zone from 15:00 – 17:00, and there are seven to eight within the season, culminating in the Zonal and Cape Metro Champs where the top 10 runners per age group are invited to attend! We have done exceptionally well this year with many of our pupils placed in the top 10 or 20 in their age groups.
Sam Gouws, a mother at our school, is the motivator and coordinator of our Cross Country.
Cricket
Cricket at Llandudno Primary is played in terms 1 and 4. All Foundation Phase (U9) and Intermediate Phase (U11 and U13) boys are encouraged to partake in cricket practices which are offered twice per week by our well qualified and experienced coaches and under the guidance and supervision of sport managers. Focus is placed on positive teamwork, good sportsmanship and enjoyment of the sport. Coaches assist with the development and growth of specific techniques required to play cricket, such as ball handling, bowling, coordination, batting technique and fitness. The Foundation Phase plays Mini Cricket which aims to help the children have fun while developing these skills.
Weekly matches are played against other Atlantic Seaboard schools as per agreed fixture lists. Matches are either played at participating schools or Green Point Cricket Club.
Squash
At LPS, Squash has been offered to both beginner and squad players in Grades 5 – 7 for many years. It is a fast-paced, fun and busy racquet sport. We practice with our experienced coaches at the Llandudno Squash Club next door to the school. We have one team entered into the “Southern Suburbs C league” and compete against various schools and invitational schools across Cape Town. Some years we have entered 2 teams in the league and currently more than 30 pupils play squash at LPS which gives our pupils a good grounding for joining the Llandudno Squash club in their high school years or after school.