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Sports Development & Performance Program

Sports Development and Performance Program

Perth College’s Sports Development and Performance Program encourages and empowers girls to stay active and involved in sports. Through our two pathways, Community Sport and Athlete Development, students can enjoy physical activity and reach their full potential with the right support. This program underscores the School’s commitment to building well-rounded individuals poised for success both on and off the field.

Community Sport Pathway

The Community Sport Pathway is dedicated to promoting active sports participation and providing a welcoming environment for students and families. We focus on enhancing physical activity, developing skills, and ensuring enjoyment through a variety of competitive and non-competitive sports and fitness programs. Our committed staff and coaches work diligently to instil a lasting passion for sports and movement, contributing to the overall health and well-being of our community.

Athlete Development Pathway

The Athlete Development Pathway is a personalised, high-performance sports program designed to help Senior School students excel in their chosen sport while also managing their studies. Tailored for athletically gifted students, this pathway supports various facets of athlete development, including personalised goal-setting and scheduling plans, strength and conditioning training, and mental skills workshops aimed at optimising sports performance outcomes. This pathway is criteria-based and is led by our fully accredited Athletic Performance Manager.

The Sports Development and Performance Program is a unique approach to school sports delivery and is constantly evolving. In 2022, several initiatives were established by the program which included the following:

  • Repurposing of Perth College Sports Precincts, with improved facilities for all students to enjoy
  • Increased co-curricular sports offerings for Junior School students
  • Greater connection to community clubs for participation beyond school-based activities
  • Providing boarding house transport arrangements for mid-week training opportunities
  • Creating tailored Strength and Conditioning programs for our advanced student-athletes
  • Development of Australia’s first Female Umpiring Academy program in partnership with the West Australian Football Commission
  • Introducing Senior School students to high-performing female athletes for workshops and guest speaker experiences

Why did we create the SDPP program?

This program was designed to combat some of the current trends for girls in sport, including addressing the key barriers to that are currently responsible for declining sport participation rates. The Suncorp Australian Youth & Confidence Research 2019 highlighted the following results:

  • Nearly 50% of girls turn their back on sport by the age of 17
  • Girls aged between 15 and 17 spend 2.5 hours less time than boys (of the same age) undertaking physical activity each week
  • 1 in 3 girls aged between 11 and 17 years have stopped playing sport because 'they don’t think they are really good at it'
  • 1 in 2 parents of girls aged between 13 and 17 years believe playing sport is a key confidence booster
  • 1 in 2 parents of girls are concerned about their daughter's self-esteem
  • 2 in 3 girls aged between 11 and 17 years acknowledge that sport can make them feel more confident and great about themselves
  • Adolescent girls and their parents believe sport teaches them (about):
    • Teamwork
    • Connecting with friends
    • Feeling more confident
    • Bouncing back in difficult times
Perth College Umpiring Academy

How does the PC Sports Development and Performance Program support this data?

  1. We are investing in our coaching capabilities to ensure PC students are provided positive, inclusive and advanced teaching environments within school sports.
  2. We are strengthening our sports delivery (in every year level), providing unique engagement and development opportunities for all student abilities.
  3. We are delivering tailored training programs and learning initiatives for targeted Senior School students who display advanced standing within their preferred sport.
  4. We are connecting with external providers and key partners who can elevate our school sports delivery whilst strengthening community club relationships for ongoing student participation across multiple sporting disciplines.
  5. We are working closely with our PC community to communicate our program offerings, identifying the benefits the program will bring to PC students.
  6. We will prioritise holistic development within the program, so students establish healthy connections to sport and continue to remain physically active throughout their lives once graduating.
Perth College Strength and Conditioning Sessions

Perth College works with several partners to enable this program to thrive, including:

For any questions about this unique school sport offering, please contact the Enrolments team directly, [email protected] or 08 9471 2104.