We Are Sun Valley: We Own, We Adapt, We Lead, We Succeed

• Learners are to report to their respective practices on time and dressed in the correct gear. 

• Collection is from the Sports Gate next to Grade R. The coach will bring the learners to the gate to either go to Home Base or be collected. If a learner is not collected within 15 minutes after the practice has ended, they will be signed into home base and billed to parents. 

• Practices are never cancelled due to the rain, indoor training sessions will be held for the duration of practice for severe weather conditions such as lightning. Winter sport will continue in drizzle. Learners will only be taken into classes if the coach deems the practie unsafe. 

• Your child will receive a paper match form which indicates that they have been selected for a match. The match form will have a QR code which you can scan and find further information. A match notice has a Reply Slip at the bottom which should either be returned or completed via the Online Digital Match Form. Please always respond even if your child is unable to attend the match or filled in on the Google Form.

• For ALL Sport, if there is a match scheduled for a team and a player does not receive a Sports Notice, there is no practice for him/her. 

• For U9-U13 Sport, if there is no match scheduled, there will be a practice for one hour after school. This does not apply to the ‘Mini-Sports’ or Mini U9 Splash Water Polo.

• No parents are allowed at practices. Enjoy a cup of coffee at Birdies and let the coaches do their duties. No parents are allowed in the Aquatic Centre during practice sessions. Please do not approach coaches before, during or after practices. If you have any queries or questions, please email sport@sunvalleygroup.co.za. A Sports Department representative will contact you thereafter.

• All Sport-related queries are to be directed to the Sports Office at sport@sunvalleygroup.co.za or 021 785 2722. Parents wishing to meet with the Head of Sports privately must book a time suitable for the school and HOS.

• Sun Valley accepts learners who attended schools without sport/a specific sport. These players are called our Academy players. External students MUST register online, fill out the registration form and make payment before attending Sun Valley practices.

• Touchline support: Keep our touchline support positive, enthusiastic and rational.

• Touchline comments: Negative and belittling comments from the touchline to the referee or players are not acceptable at our school. Misconduct of parents will not be tolerated.

• Referees: Personal verbal attacks on a referee are unacceptable. The referee is the sole judge during the game and his/her decision is final. Concerns or complaints may be made in writing to the Head of Sports who will investigate the matter.

• Players: The referee will handle the unacceptable behaviour of any player on the field. More serious issues should be brought to the attention of the Head of Sport in writing. Players who have an ABC rating of 1, may not play in any home/away matches, with immediate effect, until this has been reviewed by the Head of Discipline.

• Transport: School transport is for learners who need transportation as parents/guardians are not available to assist.

• For more information please refer to our Sports Policy Document on our Sun Valley Primary School website: https://www.sunvalleyprimary.co.za/

Please send us any achievements and/or medals your child receives outside the school so we can celebrate them. Send this down to the Sports Office and please make sure to provide a name, surname, and a small write-up about the achievement. We will be sure to celebrate them in the following assembly as soon as we can.

Is there a fee associated with participating in sports at Sun Valley?

SVPS Students do not pay for school sports. The Firebirds Academy are paid for private sports. Academy players who do not attend SVPS but join us for sport are charged a fee per term to participate. Use the Google Form for online registration. Tours are on the parents’ account and certain tournaments may carry a fee. 

What sports equipment do children need to bring for sports at Sun Valley? 

This varies per sport code and we would encourage you to read your sporting codes brochure page to see what equipment is required. SVPS does have limited equipment available that learners can use for practices and matches. Please see the Sports Brochure here. 

Are there any age restrictions for participating in sports at Sun Valley? 

Each learner must participate within their required age group. The age group is the year in which a learner was born. For example, if a learner turns 12 within the 2024 year (1 Jan to 31 Dec), they are U12, regardless of the date of their birthday. This is to ensure safety and fair competition. Some learners may be permitted to play an age group up but this is to be managed within the confines of safety and protocols of the governing body. 

Are parents allowed to attend sports events at Sun Valley? 

Yes, all parents are invited to all sporting events and matches. We encourage parents to partake in their child’s experiences on the sports field. Parent behaviour must be positive and encouraging, regardless of the referee, the team’s performance or any other frustration that may arise. Parents who do not adhere to respectful conduct will be asked to leave the fixture area. 

How are sports teams organised at Sun Valley? 

Teams are selected by the coaches and are based on player ability and practice attendance. Each age group has a certain standard that is required to play within the A and B teams and it is up to the coaches to determine whether a player has reached a certain level to be selected to play. B and C teams are rotated when possible to give all players a chance to have a match experience.  

How are teams notified about match selection? 

Players will receive a paper sports notice which is to be completed, either manually written on the reply slip and returned via the homework diary, or electronically via Google Form. Notices will either be given out at practice or in class. Please complete the reply slip/Google form regardless of whether your child can play or not. Confirmation ensures we know the team is full and we can arrange transport accordingly. 

Why does my child's sports practice start later in the afternoon rather than straight after school? 

To allow learners to take part in as much sport as possible as well as accommodate court/field sharing, we have had to stack certain sports on the same days. This means that if your child’s practice begins at 15h30, there will usually be another practice for a different age group or gender beforehand. If they do not have another sport to take part in, they are to wait at Homebase or go home before their practice begins. 

What is the transportation policy to and from Sun Valley sports events? 

Sun Valley Primary offers transport to and from most fixtures. Please accurately indicate if your child will require transport to the fixture and back on the Google Form. As much as we want learners to enjoy the atmosphere on the bus, this is not always possible and puts strain on the transport available. If you can assist with your child’s transport and members of their teams, we appreciate it. Parents are encouraged to arrange transport between teammates if the learners want to travel together. School transport is for learners who need transportation when their parents/guardians are not available to assist. Upon completing the Sports Permission Form, by requesting transport for your child, you provide permission for your child to travel either via School Bus, Hired Bus or a team mates gardian. You will be infomred if your child has been allocated transport with another parent. 

What should I do if I have sports-related concerns or suggestions? 

Please email the sports department at sport@sunvalleygroup.co.za and we will get back to you. 

I have experience in a specific sport and would like to volunteer my expertise. 

We are eager to have parents with experience involved in coaching. Please note that parents will not coach their child’s team as this is a conflict of interest. If you are interested, please email the sports department at sport@sunvallygroup.co.za and we will get back to you. 

My child has been asked to fill in for a team on the day of the match. What should I do?

There may be occasions where we will contact you to request your child assist a team with a match on the day of the match. This may be due to a player falling sick, being absent, etc. You will be required to complete the digital reply slip via our Google Form to provide permission. If a certain Sports Kit is required, please drop this at reception for your child, or the Sports Office if it is after school. 

Where do I find fixtures for the week?

A weekly fixture list is provided on the back of every sports notice. In addition, we have a Sports Google Drive where fixtures per week are uploaded for viewing. Any other programs that are relevant to the week are uploaded too. The fixtures can be found by following this link. 

What should my child do if their sports practice is not straight after school?

If your child’s sport begins more than 30 minutes after school, they are to either be taken home, be checked into the Homebase, or take part in another sport during that available time. No students are to be unattended on the school field for safety reasons. If your child is found on the field and is not attending sports, they will be sent to Homebase and you will be billed.

My child has been selected for a Match but they have a sports practice at the same time, what takes preference?

Matches, where a learner has been selected to represent the school, take preference over any other sports practice. Please encourage this as we want our teams full of all the required players.

My child has been selected for a Gala/Athletics event but they do not want to take part. This includes inter-school events and inter-house events. 

We encourage learners to take part in these events with their peers and represent their house, and or school. They have been selected based on their ability and should proudly participate. A valid reason and fair warning should be provided if a player will not be attending said event. 

My child is playing an away match. How will I know when to fetch my child from SVPS?

A D6 App message will be sent out to parents when the bus leaves the venue and an ETA will be provided. If you haven't already done so, please download the D6 App to stay informed of all Sun Valley events.

My child is playing a match but has fallen ill or is injured. What should I do?

Please contact the Sports Department at sport@sunvalleygroup.co.za to inform us so we can arrange a substitute. 

Am I required to provide lunch for my child’s after-school sporting activities?

Please provide your child with sufficient lunch if they are taking part in afternoon sports practices or matches. The hosting school might not have an open tuckshop on the day, so please do not rely on this as an option.