Senior School Sport

Oxley Sport 2024

Welcome to another year of Oxley sport! We have already hit the ground running with a return to summer sport training and Round 7 of the ISA season taking place last week. We are looking forward to the last few rounds of the competition with plenty of summer teams challenging for a spot in the finals. There have been some slight changes to the structure and personnel of the Oxley Sport department this year and we have also moved offices. We are now located on the mezzanine level of the PCC. You will see us on your left as you enter from the Junior School side. Ms Kim McNaught continues in her role as Sports Administrator as does Ms Fran Dorczak in her role as Junior School Head of Sport. I (Mr Joshua Hurkett) have moved into the role of Head of Senior School Sport and we welcome Mrs Brooke Devlin to our department this year as our new Gym and Coaching Coordinator. Mrs Devlin will be supporting all of our wonderful coaches to ensure that students are given access to high-quality training sessions throughout each season. As always, if you or someone you know may be interested in joining our team of coaches, please get in touch. We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead.

Swimming Carnival

Our Senior School Swimming Carnival takes place next Friday 16 February at Bowral Swimming Centre. Information about the carnival including permission notes and the program for the day have been sent home this week. Note that students wishing to participate in the 200m Individual Medley or the 100m Freestyle events must make their own way to the pool by 8.30am. All other students may either make their own way to the pool by 8.50am or travel by bus from Oxley College at 8.45am (meet on Founders Field by 8.30am). Buses will return students to school at the conclusion of the carnival if they wish, or they can make their own way from the carnival with permission from a parent. If you intend to pick up your child from the carnival, we ask that you do not arrive before 2.40pm to allow buses to be loaded and depart safely and on time.

Winter ISA Season

The winter ISA season is rapidly approaching, and it is time for students to begin thinking about which sport they would like to play. Sports on offer in the winter season include Hockey, Netball, Rugby, Football (Soccer) and Tennis. Shortly, you will receive the winter sports booklet with further information about each sport. Around Week 6, students will receive an online form asking to nominate their chosen sport for the winter season which they will complete in mentor group time. Once submissions have been received, we will communicate about the date, time and location of sport trials. Students will then be notified about which team they have been selected for and their training time and location, prior to Term 2 and the start of the season.

New Athletics Offering

The Oxley College Athlete Development Sessions are a new initiative by the Oxley Sports Department open to students of all abilities interested in improving their overall Athletic performance and technique. Sessions will be run on Monday afternoons from 3.45 pm to 5.00 pm in Terms 1, 2 and 3 and will focus on improving technique and fitness leading into the Cross Country and Athletics Carnivals.

A select number of high-performing students will be invited to join the Training Squad. Selection for this squad will be based on past carnival results and participation and performance at the Monday afternoon development sessions. The Training Squad will travel to Sydney twice each term to participate in high-performance training sessions with a professional coach. Dates to be confirmed.

Students interested in participating are encouraged to attend an introductory session on Monday 12t February. Please meet Mr Sievert on Founders Field at 3.45pm. Students should wear their PE uniform or Oxley Cross Country/Athletics uniform.

ISA Trial Nominations

Throughout the year, talented athletes are nominated to attend trials for ISA representative teams in their chosen sport. ISA teams are selected from all students in ISA schools, are mostly open to all age groups and are highly competitive. If the Sport is offered through summer and winter Saturday competitions at Oxley College, the Sports Department in consultation with coaching staff will nominate students.

Oxley students are also eligible for ISA selection in several pathway sports. Pathway sports are those that the ISA does not provide inter-school Saturday competition. These include AFL, Baseball, Diving, Golf, Boys Hockey, Rugby League, Sailing, Boys Softball, Triathlon, Touch Football, Volleyball and Water Polo.

If your child plays any of the above pathway sports at a representative or state level and you wish for them to be considered for nomination, please contact sport.admin@oxley.nsw.edu.au briefly outlining their playing history and achievements. Note – final decisions regarding nomination will be made by the Head of Sport.

Celebrating Student Sporting Success

We are lucky to have so many wonderfully talented student-athletes performing at a high level, across a wide variety of sports. Unfortunately, it is hard for us to stay on top of these achievements when they take place outside of school. If your child is playing at a representative level and has achieved recent success in their sport, we would love to hear about it! Please email office@oxley.nsw.edu.au and it will be passed on to the relevant staff members.

Warm regards

Mr Josh Hurkett
Head of Senior School Sport