Blairgowrie Primary School offers cricket to both boys and girls across all age groups, divided into the following teams:

Grade 1 & 2
Grade 1 and 2 learners take part in “Mini Cricket”, aimed at developing a love for the game and learning the fundamental skills to develop later on. Mini Cricket is played with a “Slazenger” ball, not a Hardball. This means that players do not need any cricketing equipment to take apart, and would only need their Blairgowrie PE uniform to participate.

The season consists of two practices a week that will start at 13:10 and end at 14:00. Once the players are comfortable with the basic skills, they are invited to take part in a “Mini Cricket Match”. These matches consist of 8 players, in which each player is allowed to bowl an over, and bat for an over. These matches take place each week at the same venue. Selection for any fixture is indicated by a match letter that would be provided to the player at practice.

u9 – Grade 3
Grade 3 learners are placed into the u9 Age group where they are introduced to “hardball cricket”. u9 cricket is a vital age group for cricketers, as we move onto the actual cricket pitch, play with 113g cricket balls, and start to play the game as we see on TV.

In the u9 age group, it is encouraged that players start to get their cricket equipment which includes a hard ball bat, batting pads and gloves, a helmet, and a protective box. Although having your own kit is encouraged, it is still not a necessity as the school has a selection of kits that can be shared among players when needed. (A protective box however is NOT shared and would need to be purchased). The u9s will have two practices a week and will take part in the home or away fixtures each week. Teams of 11 players are selected, each getting a chance to bowl and depending on the game, a chance to bat. A formal set of rules are followed compared to the mini cricket matches played in Grades 1 and 2.

u10 and u11 – Grades 4 and 5 (Ter Horst)

Johannesburg North Cricket (the district Blairgowrie Cricket is affiliated with) follows the age groups provided by Cricket South Africa. Ter Horst Cricket is a grouping of the u10 and u11 players. Blairgowrie enters two teams into the Ter Horst weekday league, an A Team and a B Team. Team selection is a process that happens continuously during practices and aims at both performance and rotation.

Ter Horst A matches are played on a Wednesday, and Ter Horst B matches are played on a Monday. There are two more days of practice during the week. At this stage, players are encouraged to have most of their own equipment as practices include going to the top field for net practices. Net Practices include bowling and batting. The logistics of this are easiest with players who have their own equipment that is fitted to their size, and that they are comfortable with.

Ter Horst plays with a 113g Cricket ball, and most matches are aimed at 25 overs.

u12 and u13 – Grades 6 and 7 (Commonwealth)

Johannesburg North Cricket (the district Blairgowrie Cricket is affiliated with) follows the age groups provided by Cricket South Africa. Commonwealth Cricket is a grouping of the u12 and u13 players. Blairgowrie enters two teams into the Commonwealth weekday league, an A-Team, and a B-Team. The Commonwealth A Team is considered the First Team of the school, and the team any BPS player should strive to achieve. Team selection is a process that happens continuously during practices and aims at both performance and rotation.

Commonwealth A matches are played on a Wednesday, and Commonwealth B matches are played on a Monday. There are two more days of practice during the week. At this stage, players are encouraged to have their own equipment as practices include going to the top field for the net. Net Practices include bowling and batting. The logistics of this are easiest with players who have their own equipment that is fitted to their size, and that they are comfortable with.

Commonwealth plays with a 135g Cricket ball, and most matches are aimed at 30 overs.

Blairgowrie Primary School offers cricket to both boys and girls across all age groups, divided into the following teams:

Grades 1 & 2

Mini soccer is offered to Grade 1 and 2 learners. There are two practices per grade that will be scheduled according to the extramural timetable. Practices take place on the bottom field. Players are required to wear their full PE uniform to participate, but at this stage of their soccer jourTwo practices per grade willequirement. The Johannesburg Football Association (the association that Blairgowrie is affiliated with) does not provide formal weekday fixtures for this age group, but friendly fixtures are arranged once the players are confident with the basics of the game. This age group plays 7 aside matches on a half field. They use a size 3 soccer ball and reduced-size goals.

u9 and u10 – Grades 3 & 4

u9 is still considered mini soccer but is formally recognized by the Johannesburg Football Association. Players are required to have shin pads in this age group, but soccer boots are not essential. Players are required to play in their full PE Uniform. u9 teams will have two practices a week, as well as a match day on a Wednesday. An A and B team are selected during practices, and match selections are based on performance as well as a rotation perspective. u9s play 7 aside matches on a half field using a size 3 soccer ball.

u11, u12, and Opens

The u11, u12 and Open age groups each have two teams selected for their weekday league matches, an A and B team. Teams are selected during practice. Match selections are based on performance and rotation each week. Each age group has two practice sessions allocated per week, that can be located on the top or bottom fields. These age groups play full 11 aside matches on a full field using regulation-size goals. They play with a size 4 soccer ball. Shin pads are required and soccer boots are strongly recommended but not compulsory. These teams use the full Blairgowrie PE Uniform.

Girls Soccer

Blairgowrie is affiliated with the JPSFA and unfortunately, the association does not allow boys and girls to play on the same team during league fixtures. The reason behind this is to develop girls’ soccer at a primary school level. Blairgowrie is hoping to have enough girls participating in soccer to enter a girls’ team into the league, but until the numbers allow for a full girls’ team to participate, we will allow the girls who wish to play to participate with the boys, requesting permission from our opposition each week to let the girls play.

Discovery Cup

Each year, Blairgowrie Primary School enters an u10/11 team and a u12/13 team into the Discovery Cup. The cup is played in a knockout format. Participation in this event requires proof of birth certificates and registration, which the school provides. This event is focused on the top players and selection is not guaranteed.

Blairgowrie Primary School offers cricket to both boys and girls across all age groups, divided into the following teams:  

Grades 1 & 2

Grades 1 and 2 hockey are considered mini hockey and are not officially recognized by the Southern Gauteng Hockey Association, so no formal matches are provided for this age group. Friendly matches are organized by the school once the players are comfortable with the game. At this age, group players are required to wear their full PE uniform and shin pads are a pre-requisite. A gum guard at this age group is not necessary. Players are encouraged to have their own hockey sticks, but the school does have a collection of hockey sticks for learners to use. To control the size of practice, Grades 1 and 2 hockey is divided into a girl and a boy’s practice. They will have two practices scheduled per week, and a match day may be included. 

u9 and u10 – Grades 3 & 4

u9 Hockey is still considered mini hockey, but is recognized by the Southern Gauteng Hockey Association, and formal weekday fixtures will be scheduled. The age group combines both boys and girls into the same team. A selection process will happen each week, and depending on the number of participants, Blairgowrie will enter an A and a B team to ensure the participation of all players. This age group will have two practice days scheduled and one match day. u9 Hockey players are required to wear their full PE uniform and shin pads are a pre-requisite. A gum guard at this age group is not necessary. Players are encouraged to have their own hockey sticks, but the school does have a collection of hockey sticks for learners to use. u9 Hockey plays on a half field with 7 players aside.

u11 – Grade 5

u11 Hockey is a step up from u10 hockey as the teams are split into gender specificgender-specific, teams and played over a full field, with formal hockey rules applying. It is played with the full 11 players and a completely kitted goalkeeper (the school does have sets of keeper kits as they are very expensive, but if your player is interested in playing keeper it is encouraged to purchase your own kit). These age groups start playing short corners and have rolling substitutes. This age group will have two practice days scheduled and one match day. u11 Hockey players are required to wear their full PE uniform and shin pads are a pre-requisite. A gum guard at this age group is strongly encouraged. Players are encouraged to have their own hockey sticks, but the school does have a collection of hockey sticks for learners to use. 

u12, u13 and Opens

Open hockey teams are split into gender specificgender-specific teams and played over a full field with formal hockey rules applying. It is played with the full 11 players and a completely kitted goalkeeper (the school does have sets of keeper kits as they are very expensive, but if your player is interested in playing keeper it is encouraged to purchase your own kit). These age groups play short corners and have rolling substitutes. This age group will have two practice days scheduled and one match day. Hockey players are required to wear their full PE uniform and shin pads are a pre-requisite. A gum guard at this age group is strongly encouraged. Players are encouraged to have their own hockey sticks, but the school does have a collection of hockey sticks for learners to use. All Open hockey matches are required to be played on an ASTRO field. This means that all open hockey matches will be played away.

Blairgowrie Primary School offers netball to girls across all age groups, boys can participate in practices but are not able to participate in league matches. Age groups are divided into the following teams:  

Grades 1 & 2

Mini netball is offered to the Grade 1 and 2 learners. Two practices per grade will be scheduled according to the extramural timetable. Practices take place on the bottom field. Players are required to wear their full PE uniform to participate. The League does not provide formal weekday fixtures for this age group, but friendly fixtures are arranged once the players are confident with the basics of the game. 

u9 – Grade 3

u9 is still considered mini netball but is not formally recognized by the league. Players are required to play in their full PE Uniform. u9 teams will have two practices a week, as well as a match day when friendly fixtures can be arranged. An A and B team are selected during practices, and match selections are based on performance as well as a rotation perspective. 

u10 – Grade 4

u10 Netball is formally recognized by the netball league. Players are required to play in their full PE Uniform. u10 teams will have two practices a week, as well as a match day on a Wednesday. An A and B team are selected during practices, and match selections are based on a performance as well as a rotation perspective 

u11, u12, u13 and Opens

The u11, u12 and Open age groups each have two teams selected for their weekday league matches, an A and B team. Teams are selected during practice. Match selections are based on performance and rotation each week. Each age group has two practice sessions allocated per week, that can be located on the top or bottom fields. These teams use their full Blairgowrie PE Uniform.

Blairgowrie Primary School offers Cross Country to all age groups. It is seen as a mass participation activity and there is no selection process. Practices are offered in groups of Grades 1 and 2, Grades 3 and 4, and Grades 5, 6, and 7. There are two practices per week and on a Thursday, learners that wish to compete in the inter-school inter-school races are encouraged to attend. All inter school races happen at venues that can facilitate a 5km course, so all races are away. Learners that do not wish to participate in the inter-school races can just attend the practice for fitness. Learners are required to wear their full PE uniform. The race distances vary from 2km to 4km depending on age groups and venues.

Blairgowrie Primary School offers Chess to all age groups. It is seen as a mass participation activity. Chess is divided into age groups according to grades. Each grade will have one chess practice per week. Inter school chess matches are arranged according to the attendance of the age groups and availability of opposition. Chess matches could be hosted at Blairgowrie, but away fixtures are also possible depending on fixtures. Should your child be selected for a chess match, a match letter would be provided. Learners will participate in their full Blairgowrie School Uniform. All chess equipment is provided by the school.