Sporting Opportunities and Pathways in 2024

There are many sporting opportunities that students of Holy Family have the opportunity to be involved in each year. Sporting opportunities range from fun gala days to competing and progressing through the representative levels in our Diocesan and pathway sports program through to Diocesan, MacKillop, NSWPSSA and National levels. This document’s aim is to show a clear picture of what sporting opportunities are available to our students and the process for how to register, trial and participate.

Parents are encouraged to access sporting information and opportunities on the CEDoW Sport website. All primary sporting event information and dates can be found on the Sport Events - Primary website- https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/sport/events-primary/ 

CEDoW have recently announced that their sport instagram is now active at cedow.sport 

Please follow for up to date information and sport announcements.

Wollongong Diocese Gala Days

Gala days are fun, round-robin style days designed primarily for student enjoyment of the sport, participation and for the promotion of exercise and a positive sporting experience.  Each year Holy Family students participate in the following gala days - Netball Gala Day, Soccer Gala Day and Basketball Gala Day. 

Most Gala days are open to students in Yrs 3-6. Gala days are lots of fun and there are usually many students that wish to participate. In some instances, the school may require to run trials or limit the participants to allocated grades. Eg only Yr 4 and Yr 6. As this will allow students in Yr 3 and Yr 5 to participate the following year.

As we usually have large numbers of students and many teams participating in each Gala Day we require many parent volunteers to help coach and manage teams on the day.

Netball Gala Day (June 28 - Term 2)

Soccer Gala Day (Aug 23- Term 3)

Basketball Gala Day (Sep 19-20 Term 3)

Carnivals

Each year Holy Family runs a Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics carnival. These carnivals allow students to compete at a school level and serve as a selection process for Wollongong diocesan teams. Children may progress from school level, to Diocesan, to MacKillop, to NSWPSSA and ultimately national level in selected sports the representative levels. Please refer to the flowchart below for progression information for each carnival. The success of each carnival is dependent on the help of many parent volunteers.

Swimming Carnival - Monday, 12th February

Cross Country carnival- Term 1 TBC

Athletics Carnival - Monday, 18th March

Diocese of Wollongong Pathway Sport Trials

Opportunities exist within our school for students in Yr 5 and Yr 6 to access the representative sporting pathways. Students are invited to attend trials for positions in Wollongong diocese representative teams for the following summer and winter sports: AFL, Basketball, Tennis, Cricket, Touch, Softball, Football (soccer) Rugby League, Rugby Union, Hockey and Netball.  These trials are held annually and link to the MacKillop selection trials.

Any student wishing to trial for a pathway sport needs to nominate and register for these events through the school Sport Coordinator at the start of Term 4 (October) for trials in the following year. These nominations will be advertised to the students of Yr 4 and Yr 5 through the Sport Coordinator and via the school newsletter. Nominations after the due date unfortunately can not be accepted.

The Diocese of Wollongong Pathway Sport trials are aimed at students that have adequate experience and training in the given sport. Representative experience is preferential. These trials are not for students wishing to give a new sport a go. There are many other sporting opportunities available for students to participate in a new sports such as the Gala Days.

Each Sport available has a set criteria for the nominees. Some sports such as netball and soccer are extremely popular, therefore proof of representative experience is needed to nominate for these trials. All nominations need to be approved by the Sport Coordinator and the School Principal before being sent to the event convenors. Nominations are then reviewed and finalised by the event convenors, who will inform the school Sport Coordinator of the successful and unsuccessful nominations. Successful nominees will be provided with the details of the Wollongong team trials.

Please refer to the flowchart below for further details on the nomination and trial process.