The Other Half

The Club takes part in the Independent Schools League, Oxfordshire Independent Schools Competition, the Aegon Cup and the Independent Schools Tennis Association Tournaments held at Eton at the end of the Summer term. There have been a number of unbeaten teams over the last few years and many players go on to gain county and even national honours. The Club runs internal box leagues and ladder competitions, with every match being played as a British Tennis rating match. All players are eligible to sign up for a free British Tennis Membership, offering them a rating, free entry to the Wimbledon ticket ballot and other LTA membership offers. Touch Rugby Touch Rugby is a fast paced and energetic game that removes the physical nature of the 15-a-side game, focusing on skills and game awareness. Four small sided games are played on Upper Field, each team being led by an older boy from either the U16A XV or one of the Senior XVs. With between 7 and 10 on a team there is much more time on the ball and the removal of the contact allows a more level playing field. It provides an excellent opportunity for boys of all years to mix and for younger boys to learn vital skills from more experienced players. Volleyball Volleyball is played on outside courts during the Summer term. Students are encouraged to practise their serve, volley, set, dig, block and smash with games played either 2 or 6 per side. Water Polo Water Polo is a fast-paced and physically demanding hybrid of swimming, basketball and rugby. The boys train together on Fridays. The teams compete against Eton and Stowe (for example) and often as part of a ‘double-bill’ with swimming competitions. Matches and training with the Oxford University Men’s team takes place on an ad hoc basis. New players are always welcome to come along for a trial, especially boys in the First and Fourth Years. No previous experience is necessary but being a confident swimmer is essential. Yoga for Mindfulness and Wellbeing Come and join a very new and exciting addition to the Other Half programme focused on physical and mental health and wellbeing. Mindfulness is all about being in the present to give you “brain space” and time to get away from and take control of the stresses and strains of everyday life. With practice it can also help you to cope with challenges to your health and wellbeing in a positive, active way allowing you to take back control in the face of stress or conflict. Yoga teaches this by focusing your mind and body on the practice itself, holding poses, recognising the physical stresses and strains on the body as you strengthen and increase flexibility along the way too. Through gentle yoga poses and relaxation you can explore threads of practice to focus your mind and learn a new way to escape from harmful, damaging stresses and emotions. We use mindfulness techniques to bring skills into practice for coping with everyday situations. The Other Half activity looks at four main yoga focus threads throughout the term: The breath The poses/asanas The transition between poses/asanas The whole Yoga process, breath, postures and transition… Yoga flow 43