News Detail
A League of our own
Internal athletics competition
The stirring sounds of laughter, whistles, shouts of excitement, shoes hitting hardwood and pucks slapping boards – in short, the sounds of sport – can be heard throughout Shawnigan’s campus once again. As with most aspects of daily life both here at Shawnigan and around the world, our Athletics program is operating in a whole new way. Yet coaches have found exciting ways to run safe, effective and fulfilling programs while still adhering to public health guidelines.
Running regular practices has not posed too great a challenge for our Athletics Department, with each sport adapting their training sessions, habits and protocols according to their individual circumstances. In many cases, the impact of these adjustments is minimal.
“The same drills and games are still being run by our basketball coaches, except now we are split into our House cohorts,” explains Nathan K. “Before each session, we are required to wash our hands thoroughly and wear our masks before entering the outdoor court. The same sanitation policies apply even if our sessions take place in the gym or if we’re doing strength and conditioning training in the weight room.”
Some students have even found benefits to their changed circumstances. “Even though we can’t play field hockey against other schools, our practices include lots of scrimmages and skill work,” shares Paige M. “This time off of competitive games has allowed our team to develop and learn skills that we may not have had the time for with our usual busy schedule.”
“Ice hockey this term has been crazy,” adds Allison M. “We have several ice times during the week dedicated to skills and systems. I am enjoying the time the team has spent together and we are already a tight-knit group!”
Keeping the programs competitive, however, has required higher levels of resourcefulness and inspiration. With inter-school competition not planned for the foreseeable future, our coaches have had to get creative – and creative they have been! Each of our competitive sports has created a unique intra-school program of games and tournaments. These events have proven to be fun, inclusive, and yes, truly competitive – and feedback from student athletes is overwhelmingly positive.
“Reflecting on this term of soccer so far I would be lying if I didn’t say it was outstanding,” shares Aslan F. “This is a brilliant idea, and I can tell you from the perspective of my team and people in soccer alone, that this has been an uplifting experience. What makes sports so fun is the harmless competition. And that’s exactly how my team and I feel when playing soccer in this new Shawnigan internal competition. It has been refreshing to finish school and head up to the fields with my team to compete.”
Some of our internal competitions include: World Cup of Flag Rugby; a soccer league based on the English Premiership; student-led 3 v 3 basketball; a 4 v 4 co-ed ice hockey tournament; a 14-team 4-a-side field hockey tournament; and a virtual cross country running challenge with other schools around the province. Each of these programs revolves around multi-age, varying skill – and in some cases, co-ed – teams. There is even a coaches’ team in field hockey! These diverse groupings allow for peer mentoring and are strengthening bonds within wider programs. Leadership opportunities abound for senior students.
“All the Grade 8s through 12s in the rugby program have been split into even teams and we have been playing a sevens flag tournament,” shares Henry G. “Many of the Grade 12s, including myself, are captain of a team and it is our job to try and lead our team to victory.”
Within these intra-squad games and tournaments, as in regular training sessions, strict protocols have been put in place to keep everyone involved safe. “Equipment is cleaned before and after each session, the games are all small-sided to allow for greater space in the playing area, and the rules are adapted to lessen the risks,” explains Director of Athletics Tim Murdy.
It would seem that Shawnigan’s Athletics program has found a way to thrive in the face of great change and uncertainty. School spirit is indeed alive and well!
Shawnigan Lake School is adhering to all COVID-19 guidelines released by the BC Ministries of Health and Education, including those regarding learning cohorts, physical distancing and mask-wearing when appropriate.
Running regular practices has not posed too great a challenge for our Athletics Department, with each sport adapting their training sessions, habits and protocols according to their individual circumstances. In many cases, the impact of these adjustments is minimal.
“The same drills and games are still being run by our basketball coaches, except now we are split into our House cohorts,” explains Nathan K. “Before each session, we are required to wash our hands thoroughly and wear our masks before entering the outdoor court. The same sanitation policies apply even if our sessions take place in the gym or if we’re doing strength and conditioning training in the weight room.”
Some students have even found benefits to their changed circumstances. “Even though we can’t play field hockey against other schools, our practices include lots of scrimmages and skill work,” shares Paige M. “This time off of competitive games has allowed our team to develop and learn skills that we may not have had the time for with our usual busy schedule.”
“Ice hockey this term has been crazy,” adds Allison M. “We have several ice times during the week dedicated to skills and systems. I am enjoying the time the team has spent together and we are already a tight-knit group!”
Keeping the programs competitive, however, has required higher levels of resourcefulness and inspiration. With inter-school competition not planned for the foreseeable future, our coaches have had to get creative – and creative they have been! Each of our competitive sports has created a unique intra-school program of games and tournaments. These events have proven to be fun, inclusive, and yes, truly competitive – and feedback from student athletes is overwhelmingly positive.
“Reflecting on this term of soccer so far I would be lying if I didn’t say it was outstanding,” shares Aslan F. “This is a brilliant idea, and I can tell you from the perspective of my team and people in soccer alone, that this has been an uplifting experience. What makes sports so fun is the harmless competition. And that’s exactly how my team and I feel when playing soccer in this new Shawnigan internal competition. It has been refreshing to finish school and head up to the fields with my team to compete.”
Some of our internal competitions include: World Cup of Flag Rugby; a soccer league based on the English Premiership; student-led 3 v 3 basketball; a 4 v 4 co-ed ice hockey tournament; a 14-team 4-a-side field hockey tournament; and a virtual cross country running challenge with other schools around the province. Each of these programs revolves around multi-age, varying skill – and in some cases, co-ed – teams. There is even a coaches’ team in field hockey! These diverse groupings allow for peer mentoring and are strengthening bonds within wider programs. Leadership opportunities abound for senior students.
“All the Grade 8s through 12s in the rugby program have been split into even teams and we have been playing a sevens flag tournament,” shares Henry G. “Many of the Grade 12s, including myself, are captain of a team and it is our job to try and lead our team to victory.”
Within these intra-squad games and tournaments, as in regular training sessions, strict protocols have been put in place to keep everyone involved safe. “Equipment is cleaned before and after each session, the games are all small-sided to allow for greater space in the playing area, and the rules are adapted to lessen the risks,” explains Director of Athletics Tim Murdy.
It would seem that Shawnigan’s Athletics program has found a way to thrive in the face of great change and uncertainty. School spirit is indeed alive and well!
Shawnigan Lake School is adhering to all COVID-19 guidelines released by the BC Ministries of Health and Education, including those regarding learning cohorts, physical distancing and mask-wearing when appropriate.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 12 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
