The web site of the NSW Department of Education states:

“Sports high schools are for local students and those who aspire to be elite athletes. The schools offer the usual range of subjects that meet the needs and interests of individual students in line with Board of Studies requirements for the HSC.  In addition, all students benefit from access to state-of- the-art onsite sports facilities and programs and from mixing in a culture where students aspire to achieve their personal best.”

All Sports High Schools (SHS) offer a talented program in football. To gain entry to a such a program, it is usual to complete an application form and then attend a number of selection trials. Competition can be fierce for places. Players who miss out in one year should not be discouraged by a failure to gain entry to a school and its program. There is much to learn
from undertaking the process and it makes future participation in selection trials a more comfortable experience. Players learn much about what they need to improve along the journey to becoming an elite footballer.

A young player does not have to attend a SHS in order to achieve at the highest level in football. Many students at Comprehensive High Schools achieve excellent academic results; the same applies to football. Opportunities in the school system abound for those players who wish to achieve at high levels using the education-based pathway.

A number of SHS are accessible to players in the north-western and western suburbs of Sydney:

The Hills Sports High School: Contact Lesley Potts at the school for more information.
(http://www.hillssport-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/talented- sports)

Westfields Sports High School: Contact person is Kory Babington. (http://www.westfields-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/talented-sports- programs/sports-programs/football)

Although not a SHS, Bossley Park High School has a Gifted and Talented Football Program. The program works in conjunction with club development. That is, the school concentrates on the aspects of the game that clubs don't get enough time to focus on because too often the clubs focus on results.

The Director of the Football Program is Scott Belgre.
(http://www.bossleyparkhigh.nsw.edu.au/enrolment/enrolment-forms)
 

Opportunities also exist at other State Sports High Schools:
Endeavour Sports High School: Chris Bradley is the contact person.
(http://www.endeavour-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/targeted- sports/tsp-applications)
 

Matraville Sports High School (http://www.matrasporth.schools.nsw.edu.au/documents/2111096/2118299/tsp_trial_brochure__football_2018.p
df)

Narrabeen Sports High School (http://www.narrabeen-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/academy)

Hunter Sports High School (http://www.hunterspt-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/talented- sports-
program)
 

Illawarra Sports High School (http://www.illawaspor-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/sport)
 

For information on what is happening in the world of football in Secondary Schools in NSW and Australia, keep a lookout for information on this web site and its associated Facebook page:
http://nswschoolsfootball.org.au
https://www.facebook.com/NswSchoolsFootball/
Further information on this article can be obtained from Ron Keith
(ron@asafootball.com.au).