Cape Town’s Reddam House College (Constantia Campus) has a reputation
for producing top sportswomen like the sensational Natalie Du Toit, star water
polo players like Sarah Harris, and national women’s cricketer Olivia Anderson.
And it’s not hard to see why. Reddam’s core focus is making sure that sport is
fun and they have competent coaches who carry out their vision.
Reddam’s most popular sport is Water Polo and it has the accolades to
prove it. In December 2007, 18 girls from Reddam were selected for the Western Province water polo teams, who went on
to win all 3 age groups at the SA Schools Tournament.
Reddam’s highly talented water polo players arrive in Johannesburg later
this month in search of their third title at the all-girls Annual Old Petrians
Water Polo tournament hosted by St Peter’s College (Sunninghill). Reddam won
the inaugural event in 2005 and also emerged victorious last year.
The
Old Petrians Water Polo tournament is the largest festival of its kind in South Africa, which sees independent and former
Model C schools participating in a top-level Water Polo tournament, in which 18
of the top water polo-playing schools in South Africa are participating.
In our February School Sports Focus, we speak to Reddam’s sports
administrator Norma Schooling, to find out more about their approach to girls
sport.
Norma, tell us more about
Reddam House?
Reddam House was launched in January 2000 as a Co- Educational Private
School, and caters for boys and girls from all over Cape Town. The campus includes a Pre School,
Preparatory School and the College.
What is the state of girls
sport at Reddam and how has it developed over the years?
Reddam House is now 8 years old and girls sport has gone from strength
to strength. We currently compete against all the top Cape Town schools in the following sports – tennis,
water polo, swimming, indoor and outdoor hockey, netball, squash, athletics,
cross country, cycling and horse riding.
Reddam has also produced many provincial sportswomen in these sports
over the past 8 years. We also encourage students to participate in "outside-school"
sports such as surfing, triathlon, duathlon etc. Students are awarded full
colours if they represent Western Province and Honours if they represent South Africa.
Why is it important to
promote sport among girls at school?
There are lots of distractions and problems for the youth of today –
alcohol, drugs, nightclubs, eating disorders to name a few and we like to see as
many students as possible involved in healthy activities and a happy sociable
environment which is what team sports offer them.
It also assists with weight management which is always a concern for
teenage girls, so if they are exercising then a chocolate or two is fine! Sport
teaches students to manage disappointment, to lose with dignity, to win
graciously, to socialize with all types of girls and most importantly how to
work together as a unit in team sports.
What has been Reddam House’s
biggest highlight in girls sport?
The 1st Water polo Team along with the U16A and U14A teams
have won the major Inter-Schools Trophy in Cape Town for the past 3 years, this is
always a major highlight for Reddam.
Over the past 4 years, the 1st team has also won the prestigious
St Peters Girls tournament and the National Co-Ed Tournament 3 times each. In
December 2007, 18 girls from Reddam were selected for the Western Province
water polo teams, who went on to win all 3 age groups at the SA Schools
Tournament. Three Reddam girls were selected for the U19 SA Schools team, with
one being voted the Player of the Tournament – a tremendous achievement for
Reddam!
What is the most popular
girls sport at your school?
Without a doubt it would be Water polo. We have a number of very
competent coaches who have contributed enormously to this success.
What are the schools sports
facilities?
Swimming pool, hockey fields, netball and tennis courts and a multi
purpose indoor hall used for Indoor hockey and netball.
Who are some of the shining
female sports stars that Reddam has produced?
Natalie Du Toit – Olympic and SA swimming sensation
Sarah Harris, Jade Liddell and Megan Schooling – SA Senior waterpolo
team
Olivia Anderson – SA Senior cricket team
Lana Piemontesi – SA Swimming
Jade Antunes – SA Lifesaving
Zaida Jardine – SA Swimming
What is your vision for
Girls Sports at Reddam in 2008?
Girls tend to lose interest in competitive team sports as they reach their
teens, especially the girls who are not provincial players, so my aim is to
make team sports appealing by making it challenging but lots of fun. We are
fortunate to have competent coaches and also use past pupils to coach on a part
time basis.
What is your advice to
parents keen for their children to take up sport at school?
Parents must encourage their children to play sport, as it not only has
a huge physical role to play in their adolescent years but plays a vital role
in their social development in the school – they make lots of friends, meet
pupils from other schools, learn to work together as a group, are exposed to
leadership roles and the dynamics of being competitive. Sport also keeps them focused
on the healthy aspects of life and away from the malls and nightclubs!
How can someone make contact
with the school?
Reddam House College
Reddam
Avenue, Tokai
Cape Town
Phone: 021 7022322
Fax: 021 7022366
College Office: [email protected]
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