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 18 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 Ryde 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 

  • 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 Ryde Zone Patch?:

• They must be selected in a physical Trial and THEN they must Represent the Zone at:

• a Combined Zone Trial

• a Sydney North Trial

• a NSW PSSA Carnival

• Students receive their Ryde Zone Patch after they REPRESENT the Zone, not when selected. 

Ryde Zone Nomination Process for Zone Trials:

• The Zone Convenor will notify Ryde 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 their community of these sporting opportunities, Ryde Zone has a few ways of getting the message out to support schools:

  • • This website (at this stage).

• 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.

If your have more questions please see your school sport coordinator.