Swimming

Te Rapa Primary School is very fortunate to be able to offer a quality Aquatic Education Programme, well supported by our very modern and well resourced Swimming Pool complex.

Each and every child at Te Rapa, from Year 0 to Year 8, has the opportunity to take part in the SwimSafe programme, and staff are trained as SwimSafe Tutors.

Teachers and support staff endeavour to plan and implement water safety and aquatic swimming programmes to assist our students.

The pool is a 6 x lane 25 metre pool, with an adjoining shallow learner’s pool measuring approximately 6m x 8m.

This learner pool is primarily used by the staff in the Junior School as a means of building confidence in and around water within a secure environment.

Each of the four syndicate teams within the school organise a Swimming Sports day in Term 1.  Parents are invited to attend to see their children’s progress first hand.  From there swimming squads are selected to represent the school at inter-school swimming championships.

At the Year 5/6 level the students compete against students from all other schools in the North-West Hamilton region.

At the Year 7/8 level the students selected compete in the Waikato Full Primary School’s Association Championships, which comprises of schools from Waikato, King Country and Thames Valley.

Te Rapa Primary School are the 2008, 2009 and 2010 North West Primary School Swimming Champions.

Waterpolo is a team water sport. It is aimed at Year 7 & 8 students at Te Rapa, although occasionally a strong Year 6 swimmer will be selected.   All our games are played at Waterworld, Te Rapa. 

http://www.hamiltonpools.co.nz/index.php?section=2

The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores the most goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water (using a sort of kicking motion known as "eggbeater kick"), players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing the ball into a net defended by a goalie.

Seven players from each team (six field players and a goalkeeper) are allowed in the playing area of the pool during game play. Visiting team field players wear numbered and usually white caps, and home team field players wear usually blue caps (though any other contrasting colors are now allowed); both goalies wear red caps, numbered "1". Both teams may substitute players while the ball is in their possession. During game play, players enter and exit in the corner of the pool, or in front of their goal; when play is stopped, they may enter or exit anywhere. There are 7 people in the field including goal keeper.

For further information go to  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_polo

Or check out    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJBMInCf5nc (We don’t  have to wear ‘speedos’!)

Te Rapa School has a good reputation for providing players for Waikato Representation.

 Intermediate Waterpolo is split into 3/4 divisions depending on entries.  Games are mostly player on a Sunday between 5 and 7 pm.  Higher division games can be played on a Monday or Wednesday evening. 

In 2011, we had 2 teams playing.  Te Rapa Turbos played in Division 1 and 2.  Te Rapa Torpedoes played in  Division 4. 

The games are played in the dive pool so swimmers cannot touch the bottom.  Higher divisions play using the whole pool, l
ower divisions play using a half pool. 

Flippaball is based on Waterpolo, but made easier.  It is open to Year 5 and 6 students although occasionally a strong Year 4 swimmer will be selected.  In Flippaball, players are allowed to stand on the bottom of the pool whilst passing or defending although they are not allowed to move with the ball.  It is played at the far end of the 50m pool, at Waterworld, across only half the pool.  It is important that a student wishing to play is  tall enough to have their head above the water level.

 Waterpolo and Flippaball are played all year round although training in the school pool ceases over the winter.  Our training days are Tuesday at morning tea for Waterpolo and Wednesday at morning tea for Flippaball.

For any further information contact Mike McCurry Room 12.

If you're not sure, come to one of the in-school practice sessions and give it a try!

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