2023 ARCHIVE
Beecroft Zone Trials:
The first step of the NSWPSSA Representative Pathway
Nomination Process for Zone and Sydney North PSSA Trials
Zone Trials General Information:
Zone trials are conducted in accordance with:
The NSWPSSA Handbook. Click here to read the NSWPSSA Handbook.
Sydney North Trial Information. Click here to search the Sydney North Calendar of events.
It is from the above PSSA Handbook and the Sydney North Trial information, where Zone Convenors set their criteria for selection
Zone and Sydney North Trials
Zone Trials are for students who have a very high skill level and understanding of their nominated sport
They are not for average or above average students
Not a 'Have-a-go' but for sport's Gifted and Talented.
Convenors typically ask for students that are at a representative level or in a high level graded team on the weekend.
Usually convenors will limit the number of students who can trial from each school to 2-3.
As there is 21 schools in the Zone, if most schools sent 3-5 students, the trial would be too cumbersome, inefficient and not allow students to display their talents fully.
The vast majority of Zone Trials are held in Terms 1 & 2 (only a few spill into term 3).
Zone Trials can be held on any school day either during or after school.
Students typically are in years 5 and 6 and are 10-13 years but in some sports there are specific exceptions.
The majority of Trials are held inside Beecorft Zone but some Trials are Combined Trials with 1, 2, 3 or 4 other Zones taking part at the same time. These could be anywhere in Sydney North from Hunters Hill PS in the south to Gwandalan Public School in the north-east to Annanrgove in the west.
Typically students must be transported by parents to and from these trials.
Some trials take a full school day to complete, some half a day while others a few hours after school. It depends on the Convenor and Trial.
Some Sports have:
no Zone trial, students go directly to Sydney North
2 or 3 trials before the Sydney North Trial
no Sydney North Trial, they go directly to the NSW State Carnival
Some Zone/Combined Zone Trials:
Pick a full team with reserves to compete as a team at the next level
pick a squad to go to the next level where they are mixed with other Zones
Pick 6-8 individual students of exceptional ability regardless of positions, team structures or team balance to go to the next level.
Zone Trial Compositions:
Some sports have a Boys team and a Girls team
Others just have one team, such as:
Australian Football
Rugby League
Rugby Union
Netball
Girls as well as boys have equal access to these sports, taking into account strength, stamina and physique.
A teacher from your child/ward's school will most likely not be present at a Zone Trial unless they are directly involved in convening or assisting is some fashion.
How does my child/ward get a Beecroft Zone Patch?:
They must be selected in a physical Trial and they must Represent the Zone at:
A Zone Trial
a Combined Zone Trial
Sydney North Trial
NSW PSSA Carnival
Students receive their Beecroft Zone Patch after they REPRESENT the Zone, not when selected.
Beecroft Zone Nomination Process for Zone Trials:
The Zone Convenor will notify Beecroft Zone Member Schools of the upcoming trial they are convening via email and stipulate the criteria for nomination/selection, this comes from further up the representative pathway.
They will give the date, time and location etc.
All schools have a different internal process for notifying parents and students of upcoming Zone Trials.
Because of the differences at school level in notifying parents, students and the community of these sporting opportunities, Beecroft Zone has a few ways of getting the message out to support schools:
This website
Once a Convenor has asked for Nominations schools will:
Select the MOST TALENTED students to send to the trial.
This may involve a trial at school level to determine the most talented students.
The School will then contact the Convenor to give them all the relevant information about the nominated students:
Name, age, date of birth, abilities, playing histiory, representative honours, club, years of experience etc.
Students will be given the Zone Trial Permission Note
This note must be signed by the Sport Coordinator, Principal and parents/carers.
It needs to be fully filled in.
It must be handed to the convenor at the start of the Trial along with any other paperwork and/or permissions required for that sport.
No note means no trial.
At the Zone Trial:
On the day of the Trial, students should arrive early and have all stipulated items required on the Trial Note.
On arrival go to the convenor, get your name marked off their roll and give them all relevant paperwork/notes
The trial is then conducted as required by that sport.
At the conclusion of the Trial, the successful students are announced and given a new note for the next level.
This note must be filled in by the School Sport Coordinator, Principal and parents/carers, as above, and taken to the next level and given to the Convenor there.
Zone Patches are given out when students represent the Zone at the next level.
