BIRMINGHAMTHEBLUECOATSCHOOL1722

U11 IAPS Netball v Various 

It was a beautiful day for the IAPS Bee Netball Festival on Tuesday. The festival followed a 5-a-side format and in the spirit of a festival, there were no overall winners. Instead, the focus was on participation and enjoyment, and the girls got to play a full morning of netball against a variety of opponents.

Although no final standings were announced, scores were recorded so the girls could see how they performed in each game. The results were as follows: Berkhamsted – loss 5-4; Halstead – loss 4-1; Queens College – win 8-0; Kimbolton – win 13-4; Fairfield – win 12-3; Fairfield 2 – win 12-0.

The girls rotated positions every match, giving everyone the opportunity to experience different roles on court and have a turn at shooting. It was fantastic to see how much they have progressed since the start of term, particularly in their shooting accuracy and the timing of their movement into space. They played with enthusiasm and determination, and it was an absolute joy to watch.

 

U9 Football Festival 

Player of the Match: Laith

Result: 5th place finish 

It was a bright afternoon for the U9 Football Tournament at RGS: The Grange, with a welcome ray of sunshine lighting up the pitches. The boys were also grateful to miss the usual trek down the famously waterlogged RGS path, making for a much more pleasant start to the afternoon.

The opening match was a tough one against Winterfold, the eventual tournament winners, and the boys fell to a 5-1 defeat. However, Abel provided a standout moment, cutting back onto his right foot and curling a brilliant strike into the bottom right corner.

The team grew into the tournament from there, battling to a disciplined 1-1 draw against King’s Hawford in a somewhat José Mourinho-esque display, followed by a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Claines School.

These results led to a third-place playoff against Hereford. With the score at 1-1 in the closing moments, Laith scored a dramatic last-minute winner to seal a 2-1 victory, sparking pandemonium both on the pitch and among the parents on the touchline. It was a fantastic way to finish an enjoyable afternoon of football.

 

U11 Netball v Eversfield

Result: 4-11 BCS, 1-10 BCS

Blue Coat U11 welcomed Eversfield for a home 7-a-side netball fixture and produced two excellent performances, winning both games comfortably. From the start, the girls showed great teamwork and understanding on court. They timed their runs well and moved the ball swiftly down the court, creating plenty of attacking opportunities and maintaining strong possession.

Passing was confident and controlled, allowing the team to build pressure and keep the momentum throughout both matches. In the shooting circle, accurate and confident finishing helped the team capitalise on the chances they created, with the shooters working well together and receiving strong feeds from the mid-court players.

It was particularly pleasing to see how much the girls have improved over the course of the term. Their movement, decision-making and communication have all developed really well, and they are beginning to play some very good netball as a team. Overall, it was a fantastic effort from everyone involved and a well-deserved pair of victories for Blue Coat.

 

U8 Netball v Bromsgrove 

Blue Coat hosted three Bromsgrove teams for a friendly 5-a-side netball festival, giving the girls a great opportunity to gain match experience. All players rotate positions throughout the afternoon and each team played three matches. Blue Coat performed really well, especially as they were playing against Bromsgrove’s U9 teams.

As the festival progressed, the girls improved with every game, growing in confidence and beginning to understand the positions and where they are allowed to move on the court. There were some lovely passages of play, with the team passing the ball down the court and working it towards the shooting circle.

It was also fantastic to see some well-earned goals scored. Most importantly, the girls thoroughly enjoyed the experience and supported each other brilliantly throughout. Their confidence increased with every match and it was great to see them learning more about the game while having fun. Overall, it was a really positive afternoon of netball for Blue Coat.

 

U8 Netball v Eversfield 

Players of the Match: Flo and Jaya

Result: 1-3 BCS, 0-5 BCS

The U8 girls enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of netball against Eversfield, securing some solid wins. The girls rotated positions throughout the matches, showing great teamwork and a willingness to try different roles on court. In the sunshine, they played with enthusiasm, smiling throughout and demonstrating some excellent skills, particularly in their passing and movement. It was wonderful to see their confidence growing as the games progressed, with everyone contributing to the team’s success.

 

U11 IAPS Regional

The U11 BCS girls travelled to Millfield for the IAPS Regional Qualifiers and delivered an outstanding series of performances throughout the day.
BCS began the tournament strongly with a 6-2 victory over Kings St Albans, showing confidence in attack and excellent teamwork. They followed this with another impressive performance to defeat King Edward Junior School 5-3 in a competitive and fast-paced match.

Momentum continued with a 6-3 win against Bristol Grammar School, demonstrating clinical finishing and strong defensive organisation, followed by another 6-3 victory over The Downs Prep School. The group stage concluded with an exciting 4-4 draw against Cheltenham College Prep School, leaving BCS top of their group and qualified for the Cup competition.

In the semi-final, BCS faced Kingswood Prep. The girls produced top-class netball, moving the ball down the court with speed, precision, and teamwork, and secured a well-deserved 8-4 victory to reach the final.

The final saw BCS face Richard Pate School, who had been unbeaten throughout the tournament. Much of the game was end-to-end, with both teams attacking at pace. Despite excellent team play, Richard Pate took an early lead and held on, with the match finishing 8-6.

A very close game, but BCS finished as respectable runners-up – an amazing achievement, especially as only three of the girls play netball outside of school. Throughout the tournament, the squad demonstrated teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship, making it a fantastic and memorable day of netball.

 

U10 Hockey v Various 

The U10s delivered an excellent performance at the tournament on Saturday 7 March, showing great teamwork and discipline across five competitive matches. The team faced strong opposition from Solihull Prep School, Sutton Coldfield HC, Bromsgrove HC, Old Silhillians HC and Repton School, finishing the day with an impressive record of two wins, two draws and one narrow loss.

Throughout the tournament, the team demonstrated outstanding positional awareness and organisation. Players worked hard both with and without the ball, supporting each other well and maintaining their structure across the pitch. Their work ethic was evident in every game, with consistent effort in pressing, defending and moving the ball forward.

Two well-earned victories and two solid draws reflected the team’s ability to compete at a high level. The only defeat came in dramatic fashion, with the opposition scoring from the final hit of the game. A special mention goes to George, who was the outstanding player of the tournament. His energy, skill and commitment set the standard for the team and played a key role in many positive moments across the day. Overall, it was a fantastic team performance and a very encouraging tournament.