Competition Pathway and Progressions
Published 15 April, 2026
This policy sets out the requirements for the planning and implementation of school teams and individual's pathway and progression for School Sport Victoria's (SSV) interschool sport competitions.
Details
School Sport Victoria (SSV) provides rules and guidelines so that Full and Associate member schools from all sectors can participate in all aspects of the primary and secondary school sport program. The sport program is designed to be as equitable as possible for all students and schools including those from regional and rural areas.
Any school team or individual student from anywhere in Victoria can progress through the competition pathway, providing they meet the SSV rules and conditions of competition, to reach the State Championships. This policy relates to interschool sport competitions only.
School Sport Victoria (SSV) provides a competition pathway for Full and Associate member schools and their enrolled students to participate in a competition structure that has a defined pathway across Victoria.
This Policy is to be read and implemented in conjunction with the SSV General Conditions of Competition and relevant Sport Specific Rules.
Related Policies
- General Conditions of Competition
- Relevant Specific Sport Rules found on each sport page
Guidance
For Primary Schools, the Competition Pathway is:
District
Division
Region
State
For Secondary Schools, the Competition Pathway is:
Division
Region
State
All members schools are to be allocated to a specific District/Division/Region (Primary) and Division/Region (Secondary) based on their geographical location.
Schools and individuals can only compete in their allocated District/Division/Region (Primary) and Division/Region (Secondary) and cannot seek to compete elsewhere due to clashes.
School Teams and individuals must compete at each level of competition to reach the State Championships related to each sport.
Teams or individuals may only miss a sport's level of competition if an invitation is granted having met the Invitation Policy Criteria or have been advanced as part of the Appeals and Grievances Policy.
Appendix A: Progression Through the School Sport Victoria Competition Pathway
Progression through the SSV Competition Pathway described above is by the number(s) determined by the SSV Interschool Sport Team, approved by the SSV Chief Executive Officer. This is reviewed each year and updated Progression Numbers are to be circulated to all member schools.
The Progression Numbers can be found in Appendix A. There is some flexibility for Primary Districts and Secondary Division to determine their own progression numbers where listed.
Multi Class students in mainstream schools must follow the same pathways and progressions as their able bodied fellow students.
For levels above Primary District and Secondary Division, numbers can only be varied by approved by the SSV Interschool Sport Manager or an SSV Interschool Sport team member.
Appendix B: Progression Through the School Sport Victoria Competition Pathway for Students Attending Specialised Schools
Progression through the SSV Competition Pathway described above is by the number(s) recommended by the SSV Interschool Sport Manager and, approved by the SSV Chief Executive Officer. This is reviewed each year and updated Progression Numbers are to be circulated to all member schools.
The Progression Numbers can be found in Appendix B, Flexibility exists for more students to be invited to attend higher levels of competition as determined by the SSV Interschool School Manager or their delegate.
Changes to the Competition Pathway or Progressions
Changes to the Competition Pathway or Progression Numbers can be proposed by:
- SSV Interschool Sport Team
- Any SSV Region representative
Any change to go forward for voting must be approved by the SSV CEO.
Proposed changes must be received by the SSV Interschool Sport Manager no later than 30 June each year
These proposed changes are then presented to the Region Forum for voting. For a change to be implemented there must be:
- Three quarters (3/4) of the number of Regions in favour of the change
- Approved by the SSV Chief Executive Officer
Implementation
- This policy reflects current practice.
- The policy can be found on the SSV website
- All schools and all coordinators will be notified of any changes via the SSV website, Social Media and the SSV News
Appendix A: Progression Numbers:
Primary Team Sports
G = Girls BM = Boys/Mixed
Sport | District to Division | Division to Region | Region to State Quarter/Semi Finals | State Quarter/Semi Finals/Region to State |
Australian Football | 1G 1BM | 1G 1BM | 1G 1BM | 1G 1BM |
Badminton | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Baseball | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Basketball | 1G 1BM | 1G 1BM | NA | 1G 1BM |
Bowls | NA | Division competitions, if held, conducted by Bowls Victoria | NA | 1 Team of 12 players per Region Region competitions and State Championships conducted by Bowls Victoria |
Cricket | 1G 1BM | 1G 1BM | NA | 1G 1BM |
Football (Soccer) Hockey | 1G 1BM 1G 1BM | 1G 1BM 1G 1BM | NA NA | 1G 1BM 1G 1BM |
Netball | 1G 1BM | 1G 1BM | NA | 1G 1BM |
Softball | 1G 1BM | 1G 1BM | NA | 1G 1BM |
Table Tennis | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Tee Ball | 1G 1BM | 1G 1BM | NA | 1G 1BM |
Tennis Teams Volleyball | 1G 1BM 1G 1BM | 1G 1BM 1G 1BM | NA NA | 1G 1BM State Championships conducted by Tennis Victoria 1G 1BM |
Sports Delivered by State Sporting Organisations |
|
|
|
|
Futsal | NA | NA | NA | SSO Event |
Rugby League | NA | NA | Conducted by VRL | Conducted by VRL |
Touch Football | NA | NA | NA | SSO Event |
Individual Sports
Primary
Per Age Groups Conducted as per SSV Rules
Sport | District to Division | Division to Region | Region to State |
Cross Country Including Multi Class Students Diving | District/Division decision NA | 9-13 year olds Maximum of 10 Individuals Direct entry via online registration to Region/State event. Two age groups 9/10 and 11/12 years | 9-13 year olds Top 10 Individuals From Region competition in the morning, Region winners and further divers to make a final of 10 |
Swimming Including Multi Class Students | District/Division decision | Max 2 per event where # divisions is less than 5 or 1 per event if 5 or more divisions | One (1) per event |
Track and Field Including Multi Class Students | District/Division decision | Max 2 per event | Two (2) per event |
Sports Delivered by State Sporting Organisations |
|
|
|
Cycling | NA | NA | NA |
Gymnastics | NA | NA | NA |
Orienteering | NA | NA | SSO event |
Triathlon/Aquathlon | NA | NA | SSO Event |
G = Girls B = Boys B/M = Boys/Mixed
Secondary
Number of Teams Progressing are per Age Group as per SSV Rules
Sport | Division to Region | Region to State Quarter/Semi Finals | State Quarter/Semi Finals/Region to State |
Australian Football (Year 7 and Year 8) Australian Football (Intermediate and Senior) Badminton Baseball Basketball Bowls | 1BM 1G 1B 1G 1BM 1G 1BM 1BM 1G Direct entry to region | 1BM 1G 1B 1G NA NA NA NA | 1BM 1G 1B 1G 1BM 1G 1BM 1BM 1G 1 Open (direct from region to state) |
Cricket (All Boys Age Groups, Girls Intermediate and Senior) | 1BM 1G | 1BM 1G | 1BM 1G |
Football (Soccer) Hockey | 1BM 1G 1BM 1G | NA NA | 1BM 1G 1BM 1G |
Netball (Year 7 and Year 8 Girls and Junior Boys) Softball | 1BM 1G 1G | NA NA | 1BM 1G 1G |
Table Tennis | 1BM 1G | NA | 1BM 1G |
Tennis | 1BM 1G | NA | 1BM 1G |
Volleyball | 1BM 1G | NA | 1BM 1G |
Sports Delivered by State Sporting Organisations |
|
|
|
Futsal | NA | NA | SSO event |
Handball | NA | NA | SSO event |
Lacrosse | NA | NA | SSO event |
Rowing | NA | NA | SSO event |
Rugby League | NA | NA | SSO event |
Touch Football | NA | NA | SSO event |
Opportunity exists for A and B levels to be conducted in Basketball and Netball at Division and Region
Secondary
Per Age Groups Conducted as per SSV Rules
Sport | Division to Region | Region to State |
| 12-19 year olds. | 12-19 year olds |
Cross Country Including Multi Class Students Diving Swimming Including Multi Class Students | Maximum 15 individuals runners + any winning School team runners (eg runner #3 and/or #4) outside the top 15 Direct entry via online registration to Region/State event. age group 10-12 years Division decision. As a guide, max 2 per event where # divisions is less than 5 or 1 per event if 5 or more divisions | Maximum 10 individuals runners + any winning School team runners (eg runner #3 and/or #4) outside the top 10 From Region competition in the morning, Region winners and further divers to make a final of 10 One (1) per event |
Track and Field Including Multi Class Students | Division decision. As a guide, max 2 per event where # divisions is less than 5 or 1 per event if 5 or more divisions | One (1) per event Two (2) for 1500, 3000 (standards for 3000) |
Sports Delivered by State Sporting Organisations Cycling | NA | SSO event |
Gymnastics | NA | SSO event |
Surfing | NA | SSO event |
Triathlon | NA | SSO event |
Appendix B: Progression Numbers for Specialised Schools
Individual Sports - Multi Class
Specialised Schools - Primary and Secondary
Members of the South East Special Schools Sports Association (SESSSA) or Members of the North West Special Schools Sports Association (NWSSSA)
Per Age Groups Conducted as per SSV Rules
District Competition Sport | Local Competition to Region | Region to State |
NA Cross Country | Region competitions conducted by SESSSA or NWSSSA Primary and Secondary, Progression numbers decided by SESSSA and NWSSSA respectively | State Championships conducted by SSV Primary and Secondary - Top 12 Individuals in each age group Additional invitations are at the discretion of SSV |
Swimming NA | Region competitions conducted by SSV Primary and Secondary - Max 2 per event Additional invitations are at the discretion of SSV | State Championships are conducted by SSV Primary and Secondary - One (1) per event Additional invitations are at the discretion of SSV |
Track and Field NA | Region competitions conducted by SSV Primary and Secondary - Max 2 per event Additional invitations are at the discretion of SSV | State Championships are conducted by SSV Primary - Two (2) per event Secondary - One (1) per event Additional invitations are at the discretion of SSV |