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As a school, we are committed to ensuring all students receive a variety of sporting opportunities and to develop each student as an active participant in sport and exercise.

Sport at Ōtūmoetai Intermediate has developed and evolved over the years to a point where the school now offers many different sports for the students to participate in at either a participatory or elite level. The school has fostered a strong climate of student self-belief and a play hard, play fair attitude to all competitive events.

For all students, coaches, and managers there is an expectation of excellence in everything we do. This includes presentation, sportsmanship, teamwork, and a high standard of skill development.

Since 2004, Ōtūmoetai Intermediate sports teams and individuals have forged a formidable reputation during the ZESPRI AIMS GAMES National Sports Tournament, the premier sporting tournament for New Zealand Year 7 and 8 students.  This National Tournament was an initiative started by the Principals of Ōtūmoetai and Tauranga Intermediates to provide sporting opportunities and competition at the highest level for our students and year 7 and 8 students in schools across New Zealand. The tournament has established itself as the top sporting event for this age group.

We believe that sport and physical activity are important for the personal growth of our students and these are promoted at a participatory and competitive level.  There are three tiers of sports at Ōtūmoetai Intermediate School.

Tier one is the compulsory participation level where all students are expected to take part in physical education lessons and school wide events such as the school duathlon, school athletics sports and school cross-country.

Students are also given an opportunity to participate, on a voluntary basis, in inter-class sports events at lunchtimes and inter-house sports competitions at lunchtime.

Tier two is based on competitive sport where students are selected to play in inter-school sports (Super 11) teams or in local leagues.

Tier three is sports at an elite level where students are selected to represent the school through the Sports Academy or in our ZESPRI AIMS Games teams.

The school promotes and organises sport in a variety of ways.

Interschool events provide an opportunity for our sports teams to represent the school in competitions against other Intermediate schools.  Games may be local or held in Rotorua, Gisborne, Taupō, Whakatane or Te Puke.  Students are invited to trial for these teams as a basis for selection.  In major sporting codes, the school may field more than one team in a range of grades.  For example, netball, hockey and football.

Local competitions and leagues are run by clubs in sports such as cricket, rugby and soccer where the school does not field representative teams.  Students are encouraged to go along to the club muster days and join a club team.  The school makes every effort to promote club information in our school newsletter and facebook page.

There are also a number of leagues in sports such as volleyball, kiwi tag and waterpolo, where the league may be organised by a club, association or another school.  Our school does not field representative teams in these leagues but facilitates the formation of teams on the league organiser’s behalf.

We will do our best to convey information provided by the organisers to interested students.

 

Elite sports teams are selected throughout the year to prepare for national competitions such as the ZESPRI AIMS Games.  All teams are based on trials and students are all given an opportunity to try out for these teams.  Some of these teams are formed well in advance of the competition to allow team members and coaches to train and prepare for the competition.

 

Because of the large number of sports offered and teams required, the school prioritises our ability to appoint staff to organise or manage a sport.  In almost all cases, we rely on parents to act as coaches or managers for teams.  We have also appreciated and taken up offers of coaching from students at Ōtūmoetai College.

Elite sports teams are selected throughout the year to prepare for national competitions such as the ZESPRI AIMS Games.  All teams are based on trials and students are all given an opportunity to try out for these teams.  Some of these teams are formed well in advance of the competition to allow team members and coaches to train and prepare for the competition.

 

Because of the large number of sports offered and teams required, the school prioritises our ability to appoint staff to organise or manage a sport.  In almost all cases, we rely on parents to act as coaches or managers for teams.  We have also appreciated and taken up offers of coaching from students at Ōtūmoetai College.

This approach has been taken because at all times the central focus for teachers is student learning, especially as we establish routines and expectations at the beginning of the year.  This means as a school we cannot provide a completely hands on approach by our staff in all sports.

We appreciate the tremendous support the school receives from our parents and community and we encourage you to participate as active supporters of your child’s sport or team.  This may mean offering to act as a coach or manager so the team can go ahead.

Fees must be paid in full (or arrangements for automatic payments set up) before the commencement of leagues or tournaments in order for students to compete in school teams.

All concerns/enquiries need to be directed to the sports coordinator in the first instance – email Leigh Gallagher, Sports Co-ordinator on sports@otuinter.school.nz

 

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