Sport
Instilling The Values Of Sportsmanship
Sport plays a significant role in the lives of very many of our pupils and we provide a broad range of opportunities for children of all abilities.
Lorettonians are regularly selected for regional and national teams in many sports and although we are a small school we have a tradition of ‘punching above our weight’ and competing successfully against much larger schools.
A Strong Coaching Team
One of the reasons for this success is the talented team of specialist coaches who develop the skills of all children whether novice or elite player.
Led by Jason White, former Scottish Rugby Union captain and British Lion, our coaches teach our youngest children at the Junior School and track their progress right through to the Upper Sixth in the senior school.
Coaches know the children very well and are therefore able to nurture talent as well as developing their leadership skills.
Enjoy, Work Hard And Dream Big
Lorettonians have an enviable reputation for sportsmanship. Teams aim to win, but we don’t believe that winning at all costs instils the right values. Fair play, respect for the opposition and officials, and commitment to team mates and training are all hallmarks of our philosophy.
A mark of our success is the enjoyment that pupils get from playing sport and the fact that the majority continue to play at clubs after leaving school.
A Comprehensive Sports Programme
Major team sports (for girls: hockey, lacrosse and tennis/cricket; for boys: rugby, hockey and cricket) are the bedrock of our provision but there is ample opportunity for other sports including, basketball fives, squash, badminton, soccer and rock climbing.
Major Sports
Sport plays a vital role in the life of pupils at our School. Loretto has a long tradition of producing competitive and successful teams in both major and minor sports.
The School believes in the unique educational and social values that experience of playing team sports provides, and considers participation in team sports to be very important. As a small school everyone is encouraged to represent the School in the major sports teams.
All pupils from Second to Fifth Form play the major sport of the term. Whilst the majority of Sixth Formers choose to continue playing the major sport there are alternative options available and these can be found in the activities section.
There is a structured development programme in place to cater for elite performers in all our major sports, which includes specialist coaching clinics, specifically tailored strength and conditioning using state-of-the-art fitness equipment and a fully qualified strength and conditioning coach, and playing opportunities at the highest level.
A variety of individual sports also flourish to provide all pupils with the opportunity to participate in as many activities as possible laying the foundations of a healthy lifestyle.
Golf
Loretto has set the standard for excellence in golf education with the Loretto Golf Academy. Since its founding in 2002, the LGA has established itself as one of the UK’s leading golf schools.
The sport is played year-round, with golfers enjoying access to word-class indoor facilities located on campus, in addition to match play opportunities along Scotland’s Golf Coast and further afield. Training is delivered by our team of PGA professional coaches, each offering exceptional guidance and support to ensure every golfer reaches their full potential.
Girls And Boys Major Sports By Term
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girls | Hockey | Lacrosse | Tennis |
| Boys | Rugby | Hockey | Cricket |
Representation
Loretto regularly produces representatives of National and District age grade squads in Rugby, Hockey, Lacrosse and Cricket.
Minor Sports
All pupils from Second to Fourth Form play the major sport of the term. Whilst the majority of Fifth and Sixth Formers choose to continue playing the major sport there are alternative options available. Minor Sports at Loretto include Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Gymnastics, Health Related Fitness and Swimming.
Please follow this link for Minor Sports.
In order to deliver our high quality programme we have excellent sports facilities.
Sports Hall
A fully equipped sports hall with 4 Badminton courts, a full-sized Basketball court and 4 full length Cricket Bays. The sports hall accommodates the many interests of the students and is also used for P.E. lessons, indoor Hockey, Netball, Football, Basketball and circuit training. There is also a cardio gym with some fixed weights machines on the 1st floor of the sports hall.
Astroturf®
The Astroturf is a multi-use surface. It is used for both boys and girls hockey and in the summer it is home to 12 tennis courts.
Tennis Courts
In addition to the Astroturf which can accommodate 12 courts, Loretto has 3 hard surface courts at Hope House. The courts are also available for recreation during the evenings to boarding pupils.
Cricket
4 state-of-the-art outdoor cricket nets are an excellent addition to our indoor cricket facilities in the sports hall during the winter months.
Fitness Centre
The fitness centre consists of two separate rooms; A cardio room and a weights room. Both have state of the art equipment including treadmills, rowing machines, spinning bikes, cycle ergometers and cross-training machines. The weights room is predominantly free weights and kettle bells, the pupils will start by learning the basic techniques of the major Olympic lifts with broom handles and progress to using weighted bars.
The fitness centre is extensively used by all pupils in the Senior School for PE lessons, fitness and strength training.
