SPORTS CLUB SO FAR...

Sports club has been a program that we at Mernda Park Primary have created to further assist the students in Grade 4/5/6 continue to develop their skills in different sports, leadership, conflict resolution and extend the CARE values.  This program is driven by student voice, where sports are suggested by our students who then learn and participate in the chosen sport for 3 weeks.  At the commencement of each sport, teams or courts are mixed between Grades 4/5/6 with students who then learn to play, manage and work with a different group each week.  Each lunchtime we have a CARE Captain that is nominated by the students for demonstrating the CARE values and Rights and Responsibilities behaviours including cheering on other’s success, using manners and treating other’s as equals.  The CARE Captains have responsibilities to manage their teams or run a court depending on the sport.  In addition to the participating students, it has provided an opportunity for our Grade 6 students to take on an umpire/referee role in some of our sports.  These roles have been extremely valuable to our students who have reported enhancing their skills in Collaboration, Responsibility and Empathy which feature heavily in this program. The sports that students have chosen so far this term are Futsal (indoor soccer) and Downball.  We have had such a positive response from students about this program and are looking forward to seeing where it goes and how it continues to develop across the year.

Sports Club - Futsal
The first 3 weeks of sports club the 4,5,6’s involved played indoor soccer (Futsal). The year six’s umpired to gain experience and leadership skills. The games went for twenty minutes with subs every two. It was interesting as an umpire to see each team’s different perspectives on the game. At the end of every lunch the umpires awarded a CARE captain to a student that was displaying the CARE values on the day. The CARE captains received a sticker that made them captains for the next lunchtime. Their job was to organise their teams at the start of sports club and organise their teams subs. All teams were amazing, and seemed to have a lot of fun. I think everyone would agree that Sports Club has been really amazing. Thank you Susie, Rhece and Corinne for creating this amazing opportunity.
Paige
I enjoyed Futsal at Sports Club because it teaches people what it takes to be a leader. I also enjoyed making friends with people I wouldn't usually play with. There's two courts so there's more play time for everyone so you can play the full 20 minutes.There are teachers there so that students can organise and work through any problems in the stadium during lunch. I really enjoyed it. I’m better now at communicating confidently with different people.    
Lucas
Sports Club - Downball
We were gathered around Susie and Rhece at the beginning of the first day for the rules to be explained. Susie then separated us into 6 different groups to play in. The game was fun and ran smoothly because the rules were the original - barebones downball, no cherries, no JGI (Just got in Dunce)...no nothing. At the end of each day, a new CARE Captain was selected to keep watch over the players and nominate a new CARE captain for the next day. Every day we played fairly, supported each other and became much better in not just our sport, but with us as a whole. Everyone had fun and honestly I’m happy that I joined. In conclusion, this was the best Downball experience I’ve ever had!
Mahad
When the sports club first started I didn't go, but when the downball version came I instantly joined. Mahad and I had actually tried to make a downball tournament before, but Susie and Rhece showed us how to get it going and everyone wanted to play because they wanted to try out the downball tournament. When the downball sports club first launched, I saw a ton of people that wanted to play the downball. The first time I went, I was in court 5. We played for a few days and the rules were getting better and we were having so much fun and I got to be CARE captain. It has taught me a lot about my skills on and off the court. 
Johnathan