Figure 1.--Boys during the summer often just put on sneakers (plimsols) rather than changing into their sports gear. This boy is wearing his grey school shorts and not gym shorts. This was particularly common at day schools. |
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Sport is a very important part of the prep school program. This varies from school to school, but generally sport is given considerable attention. This of course reflects the program at the public schools that many of the boys will be attending. The varied sports the children do mean that quite a range of sporls kit are needed. The principal sports are rugby, football (soccer), and cricket, but the children do a wide rang of other sports activities such as athletics (track and field), golf, gymnastics, rounders, swimming, tennis, tumbling, and much more. This depends on the school as the larger schools have a wider range of sports activities than small schools because of the facilities required. Gym suits are worn for gymnastics and track and field, but more specific outfits are worn for sports like rugby and cricket. Some times the boys just put gym suits on and take off their shirts for the games period. Other times they put on their proper gym or sports clothes. This is often done in the summer term when doing cricket. Of course for a proper match whites are worn.
Sport is a very important part of the prep school program. The schools are very proud of their sports traditions. This varies from school to school, but generally sport is given considerable attention. This of course reflects the program at the public schools that many of the boys will be attending. The boys are encouraged to participate in one or more of the school's sports teams. In affition to the exercise, the challenge and team effort required is seen as character building. At one time boysthat were not sports oriented had difficulty at prep schools, but most schools are now much more flexible about sport. Boys are mot pushed as hard as they once were. Academics is now more important and there are a wide range of activities which allow nearly all children to shine in some area.
Prep schools give a considerable attention to games and quite a range of different sports are played. The varied sports the children do mean that quite a range of sports kit are needed. The principal sports are rugby, football (soccer), cricket, and to a lesser extent hockey, but the children do a wide rang of other sports activities such as athletics (track and field), golf, gymnastics, rounders, swimming, tennis, tumbling, and much more. This depends on the school as the larger schools have a wider range of sports activities than small schools because of the facilities required. Many of these sports have destinctive kit associated with them, especially cricket.
Clothes for games varied quite a bit. Gym suits were often worn worn for gymnastics and track and field, but more specific outfits were worn for sports like rugby and cricket. There was quite a bit of difference from school to school. Some times the boys just put gym suits on and take off their shirts for the games period. At many schools the boys wire their regular school uniform for sports and did not change. The formality of the uniform was a factor here. Often the boys just wore their uniform with sneakers. At a few schools they changed socks. This depended on the sport and scool. For rugby they did often change as they often got dirty. For cricket, however, they commonly did not change. This was quite common in the summer term when doing cricket. Of course for a proper match whites are worn.
