Opportunities for individual and team games in sport abound at Loretto, forming a significant part of School life, often laying the foundations of a healthy lifestyle and an enjoyment of all life can offer.

Personal skill development and associated self-esteem are quietly encouraged, while spirit and leadership are nurtured through team games and outward bound activities.

Loretto's major sports are:

*Athletics, Cross-country running and Swimming are also an important part of the core curriculum.

Loretto's minor sports are:

Loretto has a strong team of dedicates sports coaches which it supplements with external sports coaching from visiting professionals. Currently these include: Craig Chalmers and Eddie Pollock who help with rugby coaching and Stephen Dick to coach hockey. Michael Powell coaches indoor cricket.

Minor sports are played during sport sessions and as part of the extensive daily games and activities programme. See activities programme.

The number of sport teams makes it possible for all who show an aptitude for a sport to represent the School at some suitable level. Matches are played in most of the major and minor sports at times which allow a pupil to play both for a major and a minor sport team.

Loretto's long-standing fine reputation for team games is matched by a strong emphasis on fair play. Playing well is seen as being as much about decency to the opposition and team mates as it is about winning.

The extensive area of playing field close to the boarding houses means that pupils are able to take advantage of the pitches for informal recreation in their spare time as well as for the formal games programme. Similarly the Sports Hall, Fitness Centre and the Swimming Pool may be used in spare time, subject to suitable supervision. The all-weather sports pitch (astro) is not only a great asset for hockey but also gives a floodlit, recreational field available when grass is unfit to be played on, or when it is dark.

Sport

Director of Sport: David Burton
David is Director of Sports at Loretto and as such has extensive experience in all area, and has coached Rubgy at County level.

Head of Girls' Sport: Jenny Fletcher
Jennifer is Head of Girls Games and is a House Mistress at Loretto. She coaches Tennis, Lacrosse and Level 2 Hockey. Jennifer has coached East District Hockey and was Manager of the Scotland Under 19 Lacrosse Squad

Physical Education: Daniel H Rossouw
Originally from South Africa, Daniel is Deputy Director of Sport at Loretto. His coaching qualifications cover Rugby, Swimming and Tennis.

Sport: Dennis Dickinson
Dennis was Director of Sports at the Junior School before moving to the Senior School and has been teaching sport and PE at Loretto for 20 years. He holds national coaching qualifications in Rugby, Hockey and Cricket.

Director of Golf: Rick Valentine
Rick Valentine was born in Dubai and raised in England where he pursued many sports before completing a Sports Science Degree. After university he moved to the USA to attend the San Diego Golf Academy to work on his own game, as well as to achieve an Associate degree in Golf Complex Management and Golf Professional. From here he moved to Hong Kong and pursued his amateur career for three years. In this time he represented Hong Kong in the Eisenhower Trophy (World Amateur Team Championships), Namura Cup (Asia Pacific Team Championships) and Putra Cup (South East Asia Team Championships) as well as many other international events. During this time he also won the China Amateur in 2000 as well as being the leading amateur in the Hong Kong Open for both 2001 and 2002. Having returned to the UK early in 2003 he competed in the Qualifying School for the Euro Pro Tour; he won a card and turned professional.

Visiting professional sports coaches:

Craig Chalmers
Criag won 60 caps for Scotland and was a British Lion stand-off. He played his final and 200^th game for Melrose RFC in 2005 where he continues to be the Head Coach .

Eddie Pollock
Eddie is Director of Rugby at Stirling County and has formerly been a Development Officer for Edinburgh City and District, East Lothian and San Diego in California . Eddie is also the Scotland Under 21 Coach.

Michael Powell
Mike has already spent two years at Loretto, has played cricket for Warwickshire since 1993 and captained Warwickshire from 2001-03. He was formerly captain of the England Under 17 team and played for England A in the West Indies in 2003.