Hi, we are in the early stages of planning our move and I just wanted to find out how your children have adapted to sport in their Australian schools?

My son is only in year 2 and loves sport (and is reasonably good although not exceptional). DH seems to think a lot of children in Australia are sporty from a much earlier age and my son will be devastated if he is 'rubbish'.

Loads of kids are brilliant and loads aren't. No different from the UK in that respect although the pressure on the good ones is possibly greater and there is definitely more opportunity to be as good as you can here. Neither of my girls are sporty and haven't suffered at all. My experience is that there is no pressure unless you want it. Other schools may be different of course.

My kids aren't "sporty" in the English sense... however they are the kind of kids who will "have a go" and THAT appears to be what matters at their level... its not the being gifted but the taking part that counts...

But that's just our experience and no doubt there will be some one along any minute to tell you exactly how cut throat australian primary school sports are where they live

My daughter is in Year 3 here and absolutely loves the sports lessons at school and unless she is keeping her talents very well hidden from me I don't think she is very good at it really. She runs like a newborn foal and catches like ... the England cricket team going through a particularly bad patch However, as someone else here has said, she always gives it a go and with great enthusiasm and for that she is praised and commended. She might yet find the sport that suits her and all the while that the school encourages this enthusiasm and love of sports she will keep trying.

I also think a fair indication that this does carry on throughout the school system is that so many people of all shapes, sizes and abilities continue to play regular sport long into their adult lives. My OH plays indoor cricket so we go to the sports centre each week where they play indoor "soccer" and netball too and we see all sorts there.

I think your son will be fine.

Whilst sport does go on at schools most of the kids who are in to sports tend to join a club and do it over the weekend/evenings. The kids that make up the teams at school tend to be the ones who are already engaged in the sport via the clubs.

None of ours do sport outside of school and we have a soccer captain, a basketball team member, a netball team member, a cricket team member a school representative at cross country and kids who are ALWAYS picked for the interschool carnivals...

but ours are at public schools not private... so I dont know what the private ones are like

you're right Renth.. there are some very competitive children who do most of their sport outside of school... and excell... I can think of one young lady inparticular who not only excels at her sport but also uses it to do amazing things for other people...

This is a great country for recognising talent and nurturing it... as well as appreciating those that "have a go"... so no kid misses out...

My girls are at primary school one is in the AFL team and one in the soccer. The great thing is you don't get picked to be in the team. If you want to be in it then you're in.

My boy is at private school, Yr 7, the impression I got when talking to teachers is that the kids need to already be proficient in a sport to play it, that is to say I'd like my boy to play cricket but he can't because he can't play cricket i.e. he isn't in a club that plays at the weekend. I could be wrong though, in fact I'm hoping I am. He's only been there since February and I'm hoping he'll be able to do soccer, cricket etc...

Our sprog is in Prep and is half-way through a very casual soccer course ... she has no natural talent and is always way behind the ball.

I've heard England scouts are on the next plane to check her out.

(edit) Does this get me a week ban or do I need to try harder?

Yes totally agree with your perspective. I think because of this more Children participate in this Country. It's probably why overall Australia tends to do well at sports, because if they are out there... the education system will find them. I'm guessing that there is less Piiss taking of the kids that have less ability. Although I wouldnt really know as I've not had kids go through school in the UK.

Another factor is, over the last two seasons, my Sons football team including him havent been doing too well. Consequently he doesnt want to carry on next year. Thing is he doesnt want to give up without finding another sport to go to first. It's basically expected that most kids, including by the kids themselves, will always have a sporting activity outside of school. Personally I'm encouraging him to carry on playing Football.
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Dont worry about it too much. There ar a lot of sports that people dont start untill very late. Ive got 2 friends who are professional boxers one is European middle weight champion and the other was world ameture champion and has recently been signed by frank warren for a nice £1 million and they both didnt start untill they were 10 and 12. There are also lots and lots of medal winning olympians that didnt start their chosen sports till there mid teens.
If you enjoy sport then that is most important.

Hey don't joke about it, they do go to Australian clubs. My g-nephews are in a football excellence program at a specialist school because they were scouted from their home state to QLD during the National Titles, then at last years National Titles one of them was picked up by the National Scouts and now attends QLD Academy of Sport. European scouts came to local clubs to check out the older guys too recently.

Doesn't surprise me, get 'em early and all that.

"Scouting For Boys" isn't just a manual for followers of Baden-Powell and The Clergy