Sport is flourishing at ACG Tauranga and thanks to the increasing variety of sporting codes now available at the school, more students than ever before are becoming involved. During the winter sports season for example, and despite the lingering effects of nationwide Covid-19 restrictions, they fielded 13 representative teams across archery, basketball, football, hockey and netball.
“This year we have recorded a growing number of students participating in sport at ACG Tauranga, and this growth is expected to continue as we look to introduce more opportunities and specific athlete development programmes in 2021,” says Head of Sport Franki Traini.
This term alone saw over 30 teams sign up to represent the school in archery, badminton, fitness club, futsal, hockey, basketball, mountain biking, volleyball and quick rip rugby. That means the school is well on its way to achieving one of Franki’s key goals – to put ACG Tauranga on the map as one of the city’s top sporting schools.
Appointed at the start of 2020, Franki has been instrumental in growing sport at the school. She works hard to provide clear athlete development pathways and participation opportunities for all students, and as the school role grows, she hopes to have teams across all age groups (Years 1 to 13), in all sporting codes. In the pipeline for 2021 are coach development programmes to ensure students receive the best possible sporting experience and workshops to help parents understand how to best support their child’s sporting development and enjoyment.
Franki says the benefits of playing sport extend well beyond the court and field.
“An effective sports programme that caters for the holistic development of players not only ensures there are opportunities for all students to participate in sport, but also provides support for our performing athletes in ways that are specific to their wants and needs.
“Sport teaches resilience, discipline, and teamwork. It also develops self-awareness, personal growth and the opportunity to learn life skills essential for success in the wider community. Providing our students with meaningful sporting experiences will not only help improve their general wellbeing and health, but it will also have an undeniable positive effect on the school culture and classroom productivity.”
Sports at ACG Tauranga is going from strength to strength and students have a lot to look forward to.
Adds Franki, “As we continue to grow our participation numbers and sport teams it will be hard for Tauranga and the wider community not to take notice!”
Franki’s top 2020 sporting highlights
| ACG Tauranga’s first ever U15 football team were promoted to Division 2 and placed third. |
| In the Archery New Zealand in Schools competition, Felicity Shields gained first place in the Intermediate Limited Recurve Category and Oliver Kirk placed third. What’s more, ACG Tauranga’s Intermediate Limited Recurve team placed first and the Secondary Schools Limited Recurve team placed third. |
| ACG’s intermediate basketball team placed second in the B grade basketball league. |
| Four hockey teams from Years 1 to 13 represented the school and more than 50 students signed up for spring hockey. |
| ACG Tauranga’s first ever senior mixed hockey team placed third in the local secondary school competition. |
| Senior netball teams had the privilege of experiencing a training session with Silver Fern Vice Captain Gina Crampton, boosting their skills in passing, footwork and balance. |
| ACG Tauranga’s intermediate hockey, basketball and netball teams attended the Nga Takaro Sports Festival, which replaced the AIMS Games this year and was hosted by Bethlehem College. The event celebrated natural abilities in sports and promoted sportsmanship. |
| The introduction of sports hoodies and supporters’ gear has been a great way to strengthen the school’s sense of unity and connectedness whilst further enhancing its identity as a school where sport is recognised and valued. |
