The-Huddle_Spring-Term_2025 by HelloFreemens

HUDDLE

Director of Sport’s

WELCOME

WELCOME TO

THE HUDDLE

Another epic term of sport at Freemen's We have managed weather and short days to pack in 490+ sports fixtures and 792 hours of extra-curricular sport since January A huge thanks to the pupils for the early starts, late finishes, and everything in between! The benefits of teamwork, moving the ball through thirds, or taking the opportunity to try squash or dance & cheer all help to develop character and build friendships. Junior pupils have progressed enormously; whether building tackle confidence in rugby, or experiencing new positions in Bee netball - pupils have given their all Big shout-out to the U11 netballers who are county champions! In the Senior School, the 1st XI football cup run was a highlight, and netball have only lost once since October It is not just the pupils that contribute to the fabric of a school - the parents are a huge part of our sporting framework Thank you for your communication, for the lifts too and from fixtures, for turning up, and being 'present' to watch your children play the sport they love.

Next term, we look forward to welcoming Mr Beaumont, our new Head of Cricket, who joins us from Framlingham School We are excited too for lots of cricket, athletics, and tennis for the pupils Have a lovely Easter, and maybe we will enjoy some nicer weather when we come back

Mr Ed Smith Director of Sport

In this newsletter you will find:

What our pupils are saying, sporting highlights, Team of the Term, and more!

TEAMTALK

WhichFreemen’s sportingvalueismost importantandwhy?

“Sportsmanship:Itsays moreabouthowyouare asaperson,andithas thegreatesteffecton yourteam.”

Natalia-Upper6

“Teamwork:Tosucceed youhavetoworkasa team.Ifyousupporteach other,youallimprove, notjustindividually.”

Sylvia-Upper4

“Progress:Making progressinyoursport helpsthewholeteam.”

Carla-Upper4

“Resilience:It’snotsportif yougiveupwithouttrying hard.”

Leo-Upper2

HOCKEY SpringTrm

As we end another season, we reflect on the hard work and effort from our players, coaches, and parents With over 175 matches played, I thank all of the players for their commitment this season

Although the Spring Term focuses on netball for Juniors, our Seniors have continued to represent in competitions and friendlies Our U15s reached the QF of the ISHC National Plate, whilst our U14s battled weather at St Teresa’s Invitational Both should be proud of their performances Our Juniors have continued to prepare for next year, as our U9s and U13s transition to 7-a-side and 11-a-side We can’t wait to see their efforts pay off in September

The end of any year is bittersweet, as we look forward, we also say goodbye to players that have given so much to Freemen’s Mrs Murfin and I are so grateful to our Upper 6th who have represented the 1st and 2nd XI this year. You will be greatly missed. We hope to hear stories of you playing hockey at university and beyond

Mr Iones

Head of Hockey

TEAM OF THETERM

1. ELEANOR W

2. ELLIE B

3. ALESSIA T

4. ANNA J

5. MADDIE R

6. ALEX S

7. PASHA L

8. MILLIE M

9. FREYA B

10. ANNABEL D

FELICITY W

RUGBY Spring Trm

All teams have demonstrated exceptional skill and sportsmanship this Spring Competing against some of the leading schools in the South East, our players have showcased talent and dedication, especially for a school with small numbered year groups. The Junior teams have had successful seasons Emphasising skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship – these young players have showcased their potential both on and off field I hope all the players have had fun; that's the most important aspect of playing any sport.

Overall, our results highlight the depth of talent and commitment in a changing and challenging landscape for school rugby The performances reflect the school's dedication to nurturing athletic excellence, alongside academic achievement

Lastly, I would like to thank all the coaches, players, and, importantly, the parents for your support and engagement in Freemen's rugby

Mr McKee

Head of Rugby

TEAM OF THETERM

U18

U13

1. FEREIDUN D

2. COLIN L

3. JONTY P

4. HARRY W

5. RAFE C

6. HARRY J

7. WILLIAM M

8. LUCAS T

9. QUINN K

10. SEB F

NETBALL Spring Trm

With 40 teams from U8 to U18, we ’ ve seen so much success U8 and U9 played at St Catherine’s Invitational, with the entire year groups participating, coming away with 6 Golds and 1 Silver U11 won Plate Gold at IAPS, before being crowned COUNTY CHAMPIONS – a Freemen’s first U12 won Gold at the District Tournament U13s came top four in the SE, winning Gold at Districts and the Tormead Invitational; they’ve also made the County Finals U14 gained Silver at Tormead U15B won Gold at the St Teresa’s Invitational, and have had an unbeaten season. Finally, our 2nd VII took Gold at Dunottar’s Versatility Tournament Well done, all!

Our programme is flourishing thanks to the support of our Senior Captains, Yasmin, Natalia, Emilia, and Alex. Between them, attending all our Saturday fixtures and being excellent role models to our younger girls All our athletes, whatever level they are playing at, are wonderful and make us proud every day!

Mrs Marchant & Mrs Bennett Heads of Netball

TEAM OF THETERM

U18

U15

U14

U13

U12

U11

1. CHARLOTTE M

2. ALEISHA P

3. CARLA P A

4. EBBA R

5. SUMMAR K

6. MILLIE H

7. BAILEY T

8. HANNAH C

9. MARYAM O

10. SOPHIE C

FOOTBALL Spring Trm

Football continues to thrive at Freemen’s, with over 250 students attending Squad – our highest yet It’s inspiring to see students embracing the sport and contributing to its success.

The most rewarding aspect has been the connection across age groups I’m incredibly proud of those who have gone above and beyond to support the programme, whether through coaching, refereeing, or mentoring Your dedication makes a real difference

As we approach the end of the senior programme, we reflect on a season of hard work, discipline, and enjoyment Coaches have introduced techniques such as video analysis, player profiling, and psychological readiness training, all to enhance player development.

A special thank you to our retiring U6 students, led by School Football Captain Ryan You should be proud of the legacy you leave behind – it’s been a pleasure watching you thrive in your final year The L6, U5, and L5 students are ready to continue Freemen’s Football’s success.

Mr Allen Head of Football

TEAM OF THETERM

1. JOEY H

2. WILLIAM B

3. JERRY Z

4. ZAC P

5. VISHAL S

6. LOGAN P

7. LUCAS B

8. XANDIE C

9. CHRIS G

10. TOBY J

11. NATHAN C

We are proud of our swimming pedigree at Freemen’s and take pride in the opportunities our pupils have to swim From Squad and lessons, to House swimming and regional competitions – everyone has the chance to swim, learn, and compete in our pool

Since taking over swimming provision in 2017, it has been fantastic to see the programme grow organically through the interest of our swimmers and their hard work We now run six different swim sessions for over 200 swimmers, and the enthusiasm makes our morning sessions worth the wake up!

This term plays host to our high-profile competitions. We were pleased to host 128 swimmers from seven Prep schools in February's IAPS Qualifier Whilst we await results, we have fingers crossed for another year of National Finals qualification In addition, a delegation of our Juniors competed in the SSSA Surrey Primary Relays at Guildford Spectrum, where we saw excellent swims, and appreciated parental support from the gallery. For our Seniors, January brought the SSSA Surrey Individual competition Congratulations to Poppy (L6th), who is the Surrey Schools Champion in the Senior Girls 100m Butterfly, with a record time of 1:02 14 We also took swimmers to the annual Bath Cup at the London Aquatics Centre, which is always a highlight. Whilst the end of the Spring term has seen some disruption to our usual provision, we look forward to diving back in after Easter to continue our progress towards new challenges and opportunities

SPOTLIGHT: SWIMMING

BEHIND THE WHISTLE

Mr J. Moore

See what we asked him...

Can you share a bit about your journey at Freemen’s over the past 28 years?

The pupils are brilliant. I enjoy working with them from Form 1 to Upper 6, taking pupils on overseas tours, and delivering as close to a professional experience as possible Also, seeing those pupils grow It’s down to the pupils

What have been some of the most rewarding moments in your career?

My favourite part is creating a team and developing the right environment for them The journey over each term with each team is special That’s what makes me tick

Can you describe a memorable event or accomplishment that stands out from your time at the school?

-Beating Millfield to win the National Junior Swimming, 2002

-Taking the 1st XV to be the first school to play at the Allianz Stadium in the Quarter Final of the School’s National Cup

-Always loved the fundraisers for major tours. It’s always been a key part of building the team. We did a 24-hour row event, rowing the length of New Zealand

-Friends I’ve made in the PE Department There have been some good people come through here

What’s the most important lesson you hope your students take away from their time in your classes?

Work hard Play hard

THE FREEMEN’S SPORT WORDSEARCH

WORD LIST

MEDIA CORNER

ROGER FEDERER’S TAKE ON PERFECTION

Roger Federer explains two crucial elements of his legendary career As soon as he lost a point, made a mistake, or was defeated, he was able to instantaneously move on. �� “When it's behind you, it's behind you ”

<2 minutes

ARE ATHLETES REALLY GETTING BETTER?

When you look at past sporting achievements it seems like humans have gotten faster, better and stronger in nearly every way Yet, as David Epstein points out in this counter-intuitive talk, we might want to lay off the self-congratulation

14 minutes

THE SECRET WEAPON BEHIND THE TOP 1%

This episode dives into how we can align with our core values to tackle challenges From self-esteem struggles caused by social media, to the importance of resilience How childhood habits are formed, and the role parents play in shaping these patterns

1 hour 25 minutes

WINNING WHEN IT’S IMPOSSIBLE

Cath Bishop (OLY) believes we define winning too narrowly - winning a medal, or the level set by others, rather than ourselves. Cath talks about the need to redefine winning in a way that helps us to better explore our potential and thrive over the long-term 6 minutes