All such good sports
THROUGH physical activity, Fahan School maintains a vibrant culture of involvement, enriching the lives of students through healthy participation and sporting achievement.
A culture of support, encouragement and an incredible willingness of our girls to “have a go’’ is intrinsic in daily life at the school.
This is evident in the high participation rates in all sports offered at Fahan.
Junior sport co-ordinator Tim Dale said the school’s participation rates were matching strides with schools that had three times the number of students.
“In one class alone last year, almost 90 per cent of the girls participated in basketball when it was offered in Term Three,” he said.
“When I speak with other schools, I am often met with disbelief when I put forward our team numbers.”
The high participation rates are also present in the Senior School.
But beyond participation, the enthusiasm the girls bring to every sport, across all year groups, is what is most commendable.
There were a huge number of examples of outstanding commitment and resilience shown by girls representing the school in sports last year.
In 2017, Fahan hosted the inaugural Girls’ SSATIS Australian Rules football grand final.
After going through the season undefeated, the Fahan Firsts senior football team lost a thrilling grand final to Guilford Young College by two points.
The game was hard fought and a great spectacle played in front of a sizeable and enthusiastic crowd.
“Our girls had a fantastic season and I was so proud of their efforts,’’ said senior sport co-ordinator Alister Foot.
“They drove the sport to a new level and trained consistently hard each week throughout winter.”
While the team didn’t take home the trophy, the girls learned a valuable lesson: the journey is just as important as the destination.
“The sportsmanship they displayed after such a tough game was superb,” Mr Foot said.
Student Amy Madsen said she really enjoyed playing football for Fahan.
“It was a great experience, especially my role in being the school captain,” she said.
“I learnt a lot and my team leadership skills increased.
“It is fantastic that women can now play AFL too, especially in a school environment, as contact sports are lots of fun and different to others that we play.”
Student Bronte Oh was delighted with the school’s sports program.
“The AFL season was a highlight of my year, where I was lucky enough to play up with the senior girls, who were very welcoming,’’ she said.
“The games were intense, but everyone always left with a smile on her face.”