Sport

We encourage students to participate in a variety of sports whilst at college.

As a sports department, we endeavour to offer a large number of sporting codes to a wide range of students. If a particular sport is not offered, we will attempt to provide an opportunity for that student to represent BDSC in that sport.

We have a High-Performance Programme providing specialised testing, goal setting, and daily training for select athletes.

Sports are offered all year round with Summer Sport being played in Terms 1 and 4, and Winter Sport in Terms 2 and 3.

Sporting Events

Every year Botany Downs Secondary College offers college-wide events in which every student is expected to compete. These events are Athletics and Cross Country. Both events are held in the first half of the year. Students who excel in either of these events have the opportunity to represent the college at regional and national events.

Sports Tournament Week is held during Term 3 where our top Netball, Hockey, and Football teams compete. These are always a highlight of the year for our teams after a tough, long season.

Our annual Sports Awards dinner is held later in the year. This is a great opportunity for the Sports Department to recognise our top teams, coaches, managers and individual students who have represented the college. Our big sporting codes also have individual prize-giving awards for all teams.

Picnic Day is a fun event held for Years 9 and 10 students in the last week of the school year.

(excludes Netball and Rugby) See below…

If you have any questions or are able to help our teams in any way…

We have dedicated staff to help drive and support the co-curricular programme, so please do not hesitate to contact us.

sports@bdsc.school.nz

Director of Sports:
Mr Karl McLennan,   ext. #475   k.mclennan@bdsc.school.nz

Coordinators:
Ms Rachel Scott,   ext. #226   r.scott@bdsc.school.nz
Mr John Samuel,   ext. #219   j.samuel@bdsc.school.nz
Mrs Vanessa Walter,   ext. #344   v.walter@bdsc.school.nz

Summer

Winter

Archery

Who can get involved?
Experienced archers – must have your own equipment.

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
No trainings. Weekly league, matches on Wednesdays in Term 1.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Ms Scott

Cost involved
Weekly league $40, Match play champs $12

Athletics

After the colleges annual Athletics day, which is held very early in Term 1, our best athletes are selected to represent Botany Downs Secondary College at various competitions in the Auckland and Counties Manukau region. If they are successful at these events, there are national events which our students may be eligible for.

Who can get involved?
Anyone

Likely commitment for students
1-2 events in Term 1 – Counties Manukau Zone & Auckland Champs.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mrs Walter

Cricket

We have a number of teams available which includes 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, Colt’s Team (consisting of Year 9 and 10), Junior Boys (Year 9 only) and 1st XI Girls.

With the current promotions we have had with our 1st XI Boys and 1st XI Girl’s, student involvement in cricket has been fantastic.

As well as competing in the Saturday Auckland Interschool Competition, our top teams also contend for the Gillette Cup, NZCT Junior and 1st XI Girl’s Tournament.

We have a cricket academy during winter which is open to all players. Senior’s and Junior’s play in Term 1 and Term 4.

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial.

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly training.
Boys: Matches Saturday in Terms 1 & 4
Girls: Matches Wednesday in Term 1

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mrs Walter

Cost involved
Premier: $125
Other grades: $105

Equestrian

This opportunity is only available for individuals with their own horses who want to compete at Botany Downs Secondary College. Our riders in the past have competed in both Cross Country and Dressage events. Most events take place during Term 1. Due to the nature of the event, we are always grateful for parent help in managing this event.

Who can get involved?
Experienced riders with own horse and transportation.

Likely commitment for students
Compete in various events throughout the year.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Ms Scott

Cost involved
Approx $70 per event

Golf

Botany Downs Secondary College usually enters two teams into the Auckland Schools Golf competition. Although we do encourage those players who are already registered and have a handicap, we can often accommodate those who are new to the sport as well.

Our college is a top competitor at the Auckland Secondary Schools Regional Stroke Play Championship in which we won the girl’s title in 2012 and came runner-up in 2013.

Who can get involved?
Players must belong to a club and have a handicap.

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly competition with matches on Monday during term 1.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Ms Scott

Cost involved
$65

Lawn Bowls

Who can get involved?
Students are to advise the Sports Department if they wish to enter events.

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
2 day tournaments throughout the year.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mrs Walter

Cost involved
TBC

Orienteering

What’s it about? What does the group do?
Compete in Summer Spint Series, Tag Event and Auckland Champs.

Who can get involved?
Anyone

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Terms 1: 6 week sprint series on Tuesday. Students need to arrange own transport.
Further events throughout Terms 1, 2 & 3.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Ms Scott

Cost involved
Summer print series: Free
Other events: approx $15 per event

Softball

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Training leading up to 1 day tournament.
Term 1: Seniors
Term 4: Juniors

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mrs Walter

Cost involved
TBC

Swimming

Who can get involved?
Experienced swimmers, normally club swimmers.

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
1-2 events in term 1. Counties/Manukau Zone and Auckland Champs.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Ms Scott

Cost involved
TBC per event

Tag Football

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly training, matches in Term 1 on Wednesday.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mr Samuel

Cost involved
TBC

Tennis

Tennis is offered as both a competitive and social sport at Botany Downs Secondary College. The competitive season runs through Term 1 and 4 and is available for all age groups and abilities. Depending on the level of the competition, it will be against local and Auckland wide teams with both home and away games being scheduled.

The Champion of Champions tennis tournament is an opportunity for our top level players to represent Botany College in both singles and doubles in their respective age groups. This is a very tough one-day tournament is against some of the best players in Auckland.

Social tennis is offered one day after college for all of those players interested in tennis, however, do not want to compete for the college. Tennis rackets and balls are provided for those who do not have their own.

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly trainng. Matches on Saturday in Term 1.
Juniors only: Matches Saturday in Term 4.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mrs Walter

Cost involved
Premier: $125
Other grades: $40

Touch

Touch has always been popular at Botany Downs Secondary College. Term 1 offers Senior Girls, Boys and Mix and Term 4 Junior Girls and Boys.

The competition is held on a Tuesday afternoon at Macleans College.

We have had students reach regional and National honours. In recent years we have had great success with our Mix, Senior and Junior Girl’s teams winning the Eastern Zone Interschool competition and competing at Regional’s and Nationals.

To prepare for Nationals, teams will play at the local Pakuranga Rugby Club Summer Competition and for the past few years have travelled to Australia to compete in the Queensland All Schools Touch Tournament.

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly training. 1 day tournament, term 1: Seniors, term 4: Juniors
Mixed: Weekly games on Tuesday

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mr Samuel

Cost involved
$10 day tournament fee

Triathlon, Multi-sport

Botany Downs Secondary College currently does not have a Multisport ‘team/squad’, but these sports are available to individuals who wish to compete. In past years we have always had a small number of students that represent the college at Auckland wide events.

Who can get involved?
Students to advise Sports Department if they wish to enter events

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Various events throughout the year.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mrs Walter

Cost involved
Approx. $40 per event

Ultimate Frisbee

Who can get involved?
Anyone

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly training. One day tournaments in term 1 & 4.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mr Samuel

Cost involved
TBC

Volleyball

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly training. Weekly games on Thursday.
Seniors: term 1
Juniors: term 4

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Miss Scott

Cost involved
$65

Badminton

Who can get involved?
Social: Open to all.
A/B grade: Trial for experienced players only

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Social: Term 3
A/B grade: Term 2, matches Friday

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Ms Scott

Cost involved
Premier: $105
Other grades: $85

Basketball

We love basketball here at Botany Downs Secondary College. Trials at the beginning of the year bring many students hoping to make the grade and selection in a college team, sometimes there are 40-50 players vying for 10 spots on a team.

We take steps every year to make our Basketball programme better and stronger. The students are great to coach, reliable and committed. We believe in playing hard and playing ‘team basketball’ where we encourage students to play basketball that exceeds the sum of the players’ individual talents. At Botany we also believe that Basketball can teach students about life, none more so than in reacting to the outcomes of games, we like the simple wisdom of ‘humble in victory and gracious in defeat’ as a timeless principle and model for coming to terms with the ups and downs of competitive sport.

We have teams in all competitive leagues; U15 Boys and Girls, U17 Boys and Girls and U19 Boys and Girls (our U19 Boys play in Open Grade).

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly trainings and games in Terms 2 & 3.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mr Samuel

Cost involved
Premier: $125
Other grades: $105

Cheerleading

Who can get involved?
Open to all – boys and girls.

Likely commitment for students
Mostly Term 2 & 3. Weekly training with competitions throughout the year.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mrs Te Hira

Cost involved
TBC

Cross Country / Road Running

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Ms Scott

Football

With eight football teams in the college, it is easy to see that football is one of Botany’s popular sports.

Our 1st XI Girls play in the Auckland Premier Grade, the top competition in Auckland and qualify for the National Football Tournament every year.

Our 1st XI Boys team play in the A2 Premier Championship division and also attend the National Football Tournament during the winter sports tournament week.

Our top Junior girls and boys team play in the Junior Premier Grades with 4 boys feeder teams also being available.

A large number of teams caters for varying abilities and ages and assistance from coaches in the community offers great development opportunities for our players.

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial.

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly training and games in terms 2 & 3.
Boys: Matches on Saturday
Girls: Matches on Wednesday

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mrs Walter

Cost involved
Premier: $125
Other grades: $105

Gymsports

We have a number of students interested in Gymnastics, Aerobics, and Trampolining. They compete in a one-day tournament held in Auckland. From there, our top performers are eligible to compete at the National Tournament held in Term 3.

Many of the students belong to clubs and we give them the opportunity to represent the college in their selected sport.

Who can get involved?
Experienced competitors who most probably belong to a gym club.

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Events throughout the year

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mrs Walter

Cost involved
Appox $30 per event

Hockey

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial.

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly training and games.
U15 boys: Games Monday
U15 girls: Games Tuesday
Senior boys: Games Wednesday
Senior girls: Games Thursday

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Ms Scott

Cost involved
Premier: $125
Other grades: $105

Ki O Rahi

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial.

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Training leading up to one day tournament

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mr McLennan

Cost involved
$10 day tournament fee

Mountain Biking

Who can get involved?
Students must have own bike and equipment.

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Various events throughout the year.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Ms Scott

Cost involved
TBC

Netball

This is one of the largest sporting codes in our school. Netball is available for all years and abilities, from those wanting to play high level in the Premier team or those just starting out.

Our Premier team is consistently in the top Premier Grade in Auckland with our Senior A, 10A and 9A teams at the top of their respective grades.

We are fortunate enough to have some great coaches from the community to assist with creating competitive teams from our college.

Our top netball teams are entered into various tournaments during the year including the Auckland Netball Pre-Season Tournament and the Combined Point’s Tournament held later in the year.

Our Premier netball team also attends the Upper North Island Secondary Schools (UNISS) Tournament during the winter tournament week in September in which they have always been in the A or B grade.

We have the ability to put forward players recognized as top performers to trial for their respective age group representative teams. As a developing college of netball, we have had great successes with students representing provincial teams.

Botany Downs Secondary College also offers students Umpire Theory and Coaching Modules through Auckland Netball and Netball Northern Zone.

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial.

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly training and games.
Matches on Saturday in terms 2 & 3.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mrs Mahar

Cost involved
Premier: $125
Other grades: $105

Rugby

Rugby at Botany Downs Secondary College has flourished since fledgling steps in 2004 with one team of mixed weight boys playing in the Fifth Grade Competition. After ten years the rugby programme boasts 8 teams and as many Auckland titles as any school in Auckland over recent seasons.

While some schools field few teams, at BDSC we provide a place for every boy who wishes to play the “great game”. It is a testimony to the high calibre of coaching and the standards set by the college that so many championships are won despite 30% of our players taking up rugby for the first time since starting at BDSC.

Fielding a U15 team, 4th Grade and 2nd XV, the infrastructure is in place to provide a consistent flow of quality players through to our premier team.

In 2013, 20 players were nominated for Auckland representative teams and to undergo a rigorous selection process.

Yet another highlight has been to have 5 ex-students from BDSC in the Pakuranga URFC team who were Auckland U21 Champions in 2012. Their returning to college to present awards at our annual prize giving was inspiring and enlightening as they described their rugby grounding as comparable to those boys from more traditionally famous institutions. The respect and pride Ben, Dave, Mark, John Pierre and Brandon have for BDSC should encourage young players and give them faith in the quality of the BDSC rugby programme.

There are numerous stars in the making, but the focus is “making good men” and 2012 captain Tone Ng Shiu demonstrates these qualities as he made the Pakuranga premiers in his first year out of college but still helps out with coaching at the college each week despite his heavy schedule.

BDSC rugby has turned heads, demanded respect and our teams have demonstrated the values that our community can be immensely proud.

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly training, games on Saturdays

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mr McLennan, Mr Samuel & Mrs Walter

Cost involved
Premier: $125
Other grades: $105

Sevens

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Training leading up to 1 day tournament

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mr Samuel

Cost involved
TBC

Squash

Botany Downs Secondary College has a number of squash teams that competitively compete against other Auckland teams. With consistent top finishes in each year group, we are a college to beat.

Although we do not have our own facilities, we have formed a great partnership with the Howick Squash club that allows us to practice twice a week.

We also enter squash teams into the New Zealand Secondary Schools Tournament held every year in different regions over New Zealand.

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly training. Weekly games depends on grade.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mrs Walter

Cost involved
$65

Table Tennis

A sport that has become very popular since its addition to our sports co-curricular programme in 2011. Participation rate has been on the rise with the assistance of the Auckland Table Tennis coaching staff coordinating training

Our Premier teams have had great success competing in the Auckland Interschool Competition and Greater Auckland Tournament.

Who can get involved?
Anyone can trial

Likely commitment for students – days, hours, etc
Weekly training. Weekly games on Friday during term 2 & 3.

How do I get involved? Who can I contact?
Teacher in charge: Mr Samuel

Cost involved
$85

High-Performance Programme

The BDSC High Performance Programme is designed to assist students aspiring to be world class athletes both on and off the field, in their chosen sport.

The programme takes a holistic approach where athletes will be given an individualised strength and conditioning programme, they will learn about mental skills, nutrition and get support with understanding sport, school and life balance. The programme also caters for all age and stage groups with sessions for sports scholarship students, year 9 & 10 students and female only sessions.

Athletes are chosen based on their current level of play ie. New Zealand/Auckland Rep.

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