DIARY OF A GAMES MASTERBlackrock College is best known for rugby, but James Fitzsimons says there are many other sports on offer. He talks to Gavin Cummiskey

BLACKROCK COLLEGE Games Master! Sounds more impressive than it is. Between organising fixtures, ordering gear and booking transport the reality is a little different. The job itself is demanding but is a rewarding administrative position.

I am basically responsible for co-ordinating the games programme in the school. In sport 'Rock is most famous as a rugby nursery. However, many people may not be aware of the multitude of other sports we provide in the school. You name it, we play it.

Our most significant success outside rugby in recent times was winning the All-Ireland Schools Soccer Cup in 2003. This year we have already achieved success in cross country, table tennis, swimming and rowing.

My working day has two sides to it: teaching and games administration. Achieving a balance can be challenging. In between classes I spend a lot of time on the phone arranging matches, organising referees, match times and pitches. You've got to be flexible as arrangements can change frequently. All the games masters tend to get on well with each other. There is a healthy respect.

Rugby takes up about half of my time in the office. We have 28 rugby teams, from under-13s up. Wednesdays and Saturdays are match days. We are fortunate to have a decent number of pitches, which the grounds staff, led by Phil Ryan, look after wonderfully.

It can be an impressive sight on a match day looking down from the top pitch. With so many teams coming in the challenge to find a place to tog out is nearly harder than allocating pitches but Gerry Dowse, the pavilion manager, always squeezes them in somewhere. He has been around a lot longer than I have and is always first in and last to leave.

Guys like Gerry and Phil make my job easier.

The year consists of three sporting terms; the friendly season, cup season and the summer term. From September, we look to develop the boys' skills in whatever discipline is involved. Cup season is busy. When we win, there is a great buzz around the place and excitement for the next round. When we lose the place is like a morgue but that is all part of the game. The boys need to learn how to deal with disappointments as well as success. The senior and junior squads put an enormous amount of time and effort into their seasons.

The summer term is more relaxed, with athletics and cricket to the fore. Rugby balls are dropped for javelins and willow.

After a full day behind a desk, students need to let off steam. Having a wide variety of sport available is the best solution. There is something for everyone. Recently our senior and junior table tennis teams competed in the Leinster Championship finals. We brought in a new coach last year and there has been a massive turnaround in performances.

While watching them prepare I was struck by the spirit and togetherness of both squads. One parent mentioned how his son felt so much happier in the school due to his involvement in the squad.

That comment is clear evidence of how a well-coached sport in a school can really help an individual. We're lucky to have a wid range of sports available so each student can find his niche.

The school is also fortunate to have many dedicated teachers willing to stay on after 4pm and coach the boys. The direct involvement of teachers in the games programme is crucial to its success and again makes my job a lot easier. They help transfer the discipline and organisation of the classroom to the playing fields.

I rely on the goodwill of others to run each individual sport. Crucially our principal, Alan MacGinty, is a sport fanatic so his enthusiasm and input provides valuable support.

When the Six Nations come around I'm suddenly the most popular man in school as I distribute our allocation of tickets. After school, I manage to find time to coach the Under 14 C, D and E rugby squads. It still amazes how much the boys enjoy it. There is fierce competition for places on every team.

One of the most satisfying aspects of the role is you see the educational value of sport first hand. Life skills such as teamwork, leadership and communication are all developed. The boys are learning by doing, which is hard to beat. The job has its demands but you can see the benefits of the work.

James Fitzsimons has been teaching in Blackrock since 2003. He has been the college Games Master for two years.