We structure our sports program around three levels of participation: whole school events where everyone competes, state-wide programs where students play after school for the love of the game, and state-wide competitions for our most skilled athletes. This means whether your young person is trying athletics for the first time or competing for state championships, there's a place for them.
Whole School Athletics Carnival
Every Year 7 through 12 student participates in the athletics carnival in Term 1. Students compete in age-appropriate athletic and novelty events. The goal is participation. Every event a student attempts earns a point for their house, regardless of where they place.
This approach means students who aren't natural runners still contribute by trying the 100 metres. Students nervous about high jump earn the same participation point as those clearing impressive heights. The house that wins isn't necessarily the one with the fastest athletes. It's the one where students support each other to have a go at everything.
Students dress in their house colours. House Captains coordinate cheering sections. The atmosphere on athletics carnival day is unlike any other school event, with hundreds of students gathered around the oval supporting their housemates.
Weekly Sport Program
These after-school programs run from 3:30pm to 4:30pm against other schools in the Southern areas. They're based on participation, not elite selection. If your young person wants to play, they can join a team.
The program is broken into three seasons across terms 1, 2/3, and 3/4. Sports offered include:
- Badminton
- Indoor Soccer and Outdoor Soccer
- Volleyball
- Netball
- Basketball
- Tennis
- 9-a-side Football
- Table Tennis
Weekly sport gives students a chance to represent the school without the pressure of state-level competition. They play against students from nearby schools, develop skills, and build friendships with teammates. Some students discover talents they didn't know they had.
Others just enjoy playing sport in a structured environment after school.
State-Wide Sport
These teams consist of our best possible players, determined by coaches. Competition is serious. Schools are trying to win state championships.
Blackwood has a strong history in State-Wide sport. The following sports run across different terms:
Term 1: Cricket, Interschool Athletics
Term 2: Football, Netball, Outdoor Soccer, Basketball, Cross Country
Term 3/4: Basketball, T20 Cricket, Tennis, Ekiden Relay
Students selected for State-Wide teams commit to training and competition schedules. They represent Blackwood High against the best teams in the state. For some, this is a pathway to elite sport. For others, it's simply the highest level of school competition they'll experience.
Interschool Athletics
PE staff invite our best athletes to represent the school at the Annual Interschool Athletics Carnival in Term 1, Week 11, at the SA Athletics Stadium. This is where students compete against the fastest, strongest, most skilled athletes from other schools.
Being selected for interschool athletics means something. It tells students their training and natural ability have been recognised. It gives them a taste of serious competition in a professional sporting venue.
