Sport & Wellness Programme
Durban Girls’ High School offers a comprehensive Sport Programme that encompasses both the competitive and wellness elements of physical activity. Within a broader context of a holistic and balanced education, our Sport, PE and wellness activities are intended to foster health, wellness, fitness, self-discipline, team work, cooperation, goal setting, social interaction and self-confidence. The aim of the programme is to encourage and assist each learner to participate at the highest level of her potential, either competitively or as part of our wellness program.
We facilitate the use of accredited external coaches and offer participation in all our sports codes’ district and provincial trials with over 100 KZN representatives annually.
We also run CHaOS (our Camping, Hiking and Outdoor Society) which covers outdoor activities, such as hiking, lifesaving, mountain biking, surfing, rowing and sailing.
Competitive Programme
In 2019 we fielded 65 representative teams that participated in 25 inter-schools leagues. We had more than 100 KZN learner representatives and two staff members were selected for South African teams. Our coaches also excel in their own areas of expertise and we have a number who have represented South Africa, have won national championships, continue their coaching certifications and we support our past learners who continue to excel in sport after they have completed Matric.
Athletics
In the first term the KZN District and Provincial trials are run and the National Schools Championships are in March. In the third term the inter-house Athletics meeting is part of our Inter-House Day.
Badminton
Under the guidance of Head Coach, Giles Audibert, we have won the Girls’ A league a number of times and have 4 teams that participate in the various school leagues. We have a number of learners that play in the Provincial Junior and Senior school teams and we participate as often as possible in the South African Inter-School Championships.
Ballroom Dancing
In its 13th year at DGHS, Ballroom Dancing is one of our most popular codes. Our learners are trained under the esteemed Neville Letard (Shall We Dance) and we have learners who compete in the local school competitions. Each year we participate in the grading of school learners and we have twice hosted the Inter-School Ballroom Dance Competition.
Basketball
Basketball is a vibrant and growing code. Our teams compete in the inter-school competition in the third term and in 2019 the Junior team won their league. We also participate annually in the Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High Tournament.
Cricket
Cricket is a new code at DGHS with many eager participants. We participate in the inter-school league that is run in the fourth term by the KZN Cricket Association.
Cross Country
In the second term we participate in the Cross Country inter-school league. During the rest of the year the programme runs as Run for Fitness where the learners participate in runs around the Glenwood area.
Dance
In Dance our learners are taught a range of styles such as Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz and Broadway. The Dance Team has been an exciting project at DGHS and has gone from strength to strength, due to the girls’ dedication and the choreography of Kayleigh Forbes. A highlight of the year is participation in the Dance@Kearsney programme.
Drummies
Drummies has a long and proud history of success at DGHS and we are currently ranked third in South Africa. This year-round code demands commitment and dedication. Keith Alho is our resident Head Coach and is the longest serving coach at DGHS with 29 years’ service. Our team is seen often around KwaZulu–Natal as they provide entertainment at many sporting and tourist events. They also offer their services to civic organizations and are supported by a well-organized parent body.
Equestrian
Our school’s membership riders compete under the SANESA banner which is acknowledged by the South African Equestrian Federation (SAEF) and SASCOC. Our riders own their own horses and stable and ride them at their own clubs.
Hockey
Indoor Hockey is played in the first and fourth terms and Outdoor Hockey in the first and second terms. In the third term we run an Academy Programme. DGHS fields 12 teams in the Indoor and Outdoor school leagues and participates annually in the Spar Regional Tournament. Our U14 team are currently league winners in both their Indoor and Outdoor leagues. We have learners being selected for the Umlazi and KZN teams, and our coaches are provided extra experience by coaching at these levels. We utilize the Three Schools’ Turf which we share with Glenwood and Penzance. Our young players are introduced to club hockey via Municipals who also practice at the Three Schools’ Turf. Our formidable Head Coach, Nolwazi Nkabinde, manages our Hockey programme and Mrs Dekford is our First Team Coach.
Ice Skating
Our skaters practice with their own clubs but participate as a school for the annual inter-school championships which we have won for the last three years.
Netball
We have 8 teams that participate in the First Division of the Inter-School League and which utilise our 4 outdoor courts and 1 indoor court. Our First Team participates in the Gelofte Nite Series (where we are the current runners-up) and the Voortrekker Competition in the first term as well as Fast5 or Action Netball in the third and fourth terms. Our accredited Head Coach, Mrs du Toit, manages the Netball Programme.
Rock Climbing
Rock Climbing is split into Bouldering in the first and second terms and Sport Climbing in the third. Jordan Pillai is the coach of our team and we annually have climbers who are selected for the KZN teams.
Rowing
Rowing is a new code at DGHS that runs all year round and is supported and coordinated by the Durban Rowing club. We row in the Durban Harbor and, in a short space of time, have fielded a provincial schools representative. Our aim is to participate as a school in the SA Schools Rowing Regatta.
Soccer
Soccer is growing exponentially at DGHS and we have 5 teams that participate in the inter-school league in the third term. We participate annually in the Crawford North Coast 6–a–side tournament which our first team has won numerous times. We have learners regularly being selected for the KZN teams. Nolwazi Nkabinde is our resident first team coach.
Softball
Softball is played in the 3rd term and we have 3 teams that participate in the schools’ league. Our first team is coached by Gareth Brooks and are the current league winners. Our present programme rests on a solid base that was set up by the esteemed Ingrid Dixon who coached our First Team for 12 years. We have had many DGHS players who have gone on to represent Senior KZN and South African Teams.
Swimming
Our pool is heated and floodlit and is used extensively by our swimmers. We have an A and a B swimming team that compete in the inter-school friendly galas and we were placed 5th in the Girls’ A League Inter-School Gala in 2020. We have numerous swimmers and staff that compete in the Midmar Mile. We also compete annually in the All Girls’ National Aquatics Festival. Our resident coach is Mark de Swardt.
Touch
Touch is a fast-paced, popular code at DGHS and our 9 teams play in the inter-school league in the first and fourth terms. We have a proud history in this code and have produced a number of SA and KZN representatives. Our resident First Team Coach is a past learner, Paige Saunders, who is also an SA & KZN Coach.
Ultimate Frisbee
This action-packed code is small but fiercely enjoyed and is played in the second and third terms.
Volleyball
Volleyball is a much- loved code that is played in the first and second terms by a junior and senior team that compete in the inter-school league held at Westville Boys’ High. Our resident First Team Coach is past learner, Hannah Davison (SA Junior Volleyball).
Water Polo
Water Polo is played in terms one, three and four. We travel annually to the National Aquatics Festival and participate in the KZN Top Schools and St Anne’s tournaments. We have three teams who compete in the inter-school league, and the First Team also competes in the KZN Winter League. DGHS has proud Water Polo history as a number of past learners have represented South Africa. Our resident First Team Coach is Miss Morton (KZN U13 Coach).
Wellness Programme
The wellness programme runs all year round and the learners are encouraged to ‘move’ by choosing from social sport or wellness/recreational activities. We offer activities such as: Ballroom, Walk for Fitness, Dance, Yoga, Social Tennis, Social Swimming, Social Squash, Aerobics and Taebo.
We also run Learn to Swim programmes and First Aid courses for learners.
- # Fitness
This is a functional HIIT session (High Intensity Interval Training) held in various venues around the school.
- Learn to Swim
The Learn To Swim Programme is run in the first term for all learners, but specifically Grade 8s who haven’t had exposure to swimming pools in primary school and those who have a fear of water.
- Run for Fitness
This involves a structured, monitored run around Glenwood.
- Self Defence
Our Brown Belt educator, Miss Coetzee, takes learners through their paces.
- Taebo
This rapid-paced total body workout uses martial arts techniques such as kicks and punches.
- Walk for Fitness
This popular activity includes a bi-weekly, brisk and supervised walk around Glenwood.
- Yoga
This practice which includes breath control, simple meditation and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is practiced for health and relaxation.