What gives Epworth pupils an edge on the sports field

Epworth High School for Girls has a long-standing reputation for sporting excellence, with Epworth girls achieving success across a wide range of sports disciplines. However, Epworth is probably most well-known for its prowess in canoeing and squash, so much so, if you mention Epworth in canoeing or squash circles, you are bound to hear that an Epworth girl in a canoe or on a squash court should never be underestimated!
Epworth paddlers have laid claim to 13 consecutive inter-schools’ leagues and SA schools’ canoe sprint titles and have repeatedly represented South Africa on the international stage. Many former pupils continue to dominate the canoeing scene nationally and internationally.
Epworth is as formidable on the squash court and boasts 21 South African and 29 KwaZulu-Natal Top Schools’ squash titles. Individual players, across all age groups, feature prominently on provincial and national teams and on ranking lists.
Epworth’s success in the sporting arena proudly extends to other sports too, as winner of the Midlands Junior or Senior Cross-Country Leagues for the past seven consecutive years, back-to-back winners of the Spar KZN Regional Hockey Tournament and winners of the Joy Watt U19 Tennis League in 2019.
A large number of Epworth sportswomen annually represent South Africa, or are top SA-ranked in their respective sports.
So, what makes sport at Epworth so great?
• A wide variety of sports on offer: tennis, squash, indoor and outdoor hockey, netball, action netball, basketball, swimming, diving, artistic swimming, water polo, canoeing, cross country, soccer, social running, stretch and fitness classes. Athletics and canoe polo are offered on a user-paid basis.
• Adventure sport is a key component of our sports programme and we offer trips and excursions that centre around activities such as kayaking, hiking, mountain biking and trail running.
• Elite, modern facilities including six all-weather tennis courts, two hockey/cricket/rugby/soccer fields, five netball courts, four glass-backed squash courts, a dance studio with sprung floors, an artificial hockey surface, a ten-lane, 25m swimming pool and springboard diving facility, a full cross-country course, a gym, two multi-purpose indoor centres with basketball, indoor hockey, netball and tennis courts and access to a nearby facility for canoeing.
• A core of experienced and highly qualified sports staff complemented by coaches who are specialists in their disciplines.
• An in-house biokineticist who assists with training and rehabilitation programmes.
• A high-performance training programme for our top athletes.
• Sports programmes that cater equally for beginners, intermediate and advanced athletes.
• We provide a solid foundation in fundamental sports skills and gradually build upon these in order to maximise the potential of each pupil.
• Strong relationships with professional sports bodies and clubs.
• All our sports programmes integrate key life skills and values. We firmly believe that the skills and values learned on the sports field, such as resilience, commitment and discipline, carry through to academics and contribute to a holistic education.
• In most of our team sports, the school focuses on fielding multiple teams so that pupils of differing abilities have the opportunity to play and benefit from competitive sport.
• Balance is key to our sports programme with balance between developing physical skills, mental skills and the enjoyment of participating in a sport, balance between the pressure to win and the challenge of healthy competition, balance between growth as a member of a team and growth as an individual and balance between academic and sports commitments.
• We celebrate and recognise sporting performance, regardless of whether or not the sport is a recognised school sport. Teams and individual pupils are acknowledged and recognised at weekly assemblies and awards ceremonies.
• Sport is an integral part of school life at Epworth. It is used to build school spirit and camaraderie and to develop responsibility. Regular inter-house sports competitions and fun events promote cohesion and belonging. Sports and house captains act as role models and to set standards.
• We value each athlete and are committed to their journey in their chosen sport(s). Sports coaches take a keen interest in pupils’ physical and mental development, focusing on building trust and promoting growth.
• Epworth sportswomen are renowned for their strength of character and spirit. The following quote by Ken Doherty rings true for sport at Epworth, “The five S’s of sports training are: stamina, speed, strength, skill, and spirit; but the greatest of these is spirit.”
If you would like to find out more about our sports programme and how to apply to be a part of the Epworth family, contact us on [email protected] or (033) 846 2519.