Girls' Major Games
Girls at Culford follow a traditional annual programme of hockey, netball, tennis and rounders in their respective terms and receive three coaching sessions each week. The majority of competitive matches are on a Saturday afternoon, but are complemented with some mid-week fixtures. All girls are actively encouraged to take part in these and in the House matches each term.
Culford’s games programme is structured by year group:
Fourth Form (Year 9)
Monday afternoon, Wednesday morning and Thursday during activities
Lower Fifth (Year 10)
Tuesday afternoon, Thursday morning and Thursday during activities
Upper Fifth to Upper Sixth (Years 11 to 13)
Tuesday morning, Thursday Afternoon and Monday during activities.
There is a real emphasis on skill development throughout the age groups enabling players to make the most of all the opportunities that arise. Culford strongly support the local district and regional representative structure and girls regularly represent Suffolk and the Eastern Counties in all the major games.
Hockey
• From September the all weather pitch is used one night a week in order to prepare the girls for the season ahead • The season begins with a pre-season training camp with a focus on team building, skill development and conditioning.
• Culford have welcomed Bury Hockey Club to use the school as a training base; this has provided a clear pathway for all pupils to experience the benefits of a first class junior club coaching programme
• The girls have benefited from guest coaches who conduct specialised coaching sessions.
• The girls have enjoyed the benefits of a mid-term tour both to Barcelona and in the UK.
• Culford pupils regularly represent the county at regional level.
Netball
• Netball is a thriving sport at Culford and girls prepare for the season one night a week in the first half term of the year. • The competitive year is extended for netball as the regional tournaments are completed in term one. This is followed by a full Saturday calendar in term two.
• Culford regularly represent the county at regional level and the school is a dominant force within East Anglia
Tennis and Rounders
• As a key sport the girls enjoy the benefit of a year round tennis programme that takes place in the championship standard Indoor Tennis Centre • A team of 5 coaches managed by the Director of Tennis ensures the tennis provision is a match for any school in the country
• The School currently holds six National titles and has a number of players ranked within the top 10 in England.
• The pathway form the School Nursery to Culford’s High Performance Tennis Academy is a unique opportunity and one that allows the girls to thrive.
• Rounder’s complements the summer sporting programme and the Head of Rounders has instilled a competitive edge that saw the U16 team reach the National final in 2010.