Policy

The policy sets out the requirements for schools to apply for an invitation on behalf of their student(s) to School Sport Victoria (SSV) interschool sport events provided they meet the criteria set out below.

Details

School Sport Victoria (SSV) is responsible for the organisation and administration of interschool sport for members schools at the Primary and Secondary levels. SSV currently conducts State Championships in a number of sports at Primary and Secondary levels.

School Sport Victoria recognises that there may be circumstances where students are not able to follow the prescribed pathway for SSV competitions.

This policy allows schools to apply for an invitation for these students as long as they meet one of the criteria mentioned in this policy. If the student's circumstances do not meet one of the criteria, then an invitation cannot be granted.

Related Policies

This Policy is to be read in conjunction with:

1. General Conditions of Competition
2. Competition Pathways and Progressions
3. Relevant Sport Specific Rules.

Guidance

SSV Interschool Competitions

1. Individuals must compete at each level of competition, as outlined in the SSV Competition Pathways and Progressions Policy, to reach the State Championships.

2. Individuals may only miss one level of competition if granted an Invitation by meeting the Invitation Criteria as listed below. A request to miss more than one level of competition can not be granted.

3. Invitations to compete can only be considered in competitions for individuals in the sports of:

a. Cross Country

b. Swimming

c. Track and Field

4. Invitations can be considered only where space is available. It is possible to meet the criteria listed below and not be considered for an invitation on the grounds there is no space in the event.

5. For Track and Field, invitations may not be possible for Hurdles, 200m, 400m and 800m events. A maximum of four (4) invitation competitors per field event can be accepted where space is available.

6. For a relay team to be considered for an invitation the team must have withdrawn from a level of competition because two or more members of the team have been unable to compete due to invitation criteria as listed in 8 a to e below

7. Invitations for SSV Teams Events (eg Football, Netball etc) cannot be granted under this Policy.

8. Invitation Criteria are:

        a. A student has been involved in official school assessment and this assessment was not able to be changed;

        b. The student is unable to attend the previous level of competition as they are attending a compulsory school camp/excursion at that time;

        c. A student has not attended the previous level of competition because they have been representing Victoria or Australia in a sporting competition;

        d. A student has not attended the previous level of competition because of their participation in a sporting competition considered by SSV staff to be of greater status than that level of competition;

         e. An 'official error' has caused the student/team to either not attend the previous level of competition, miss their event at that level or an official error has occurred during competition (note that errors made by school-based staff may not be deemed an ‘official error’);

        f. A student is injured or ill at the time of the previous level of competition. The student must provide a medical certificate indicating an injury/illness and verifying the fitness of the student to compete in the requested level of competition;

        g. A student who has qualified for a level of competition and changes to another affiliated school before the event.

Note 1: Family holidays and personal commitments are not grounds for an invitation.

Note 2: Schools/individual students are not eligible for an invitation to the next level of competition where a school has made the decision to not attend a scheduled interschool sporting event.

9. The level of performance of the individual/team concerned must be able to be verified and be of sufficient standard to have normally qualified them for the level of competition requested.

10. For Invitations to State Championships (ie missing Region level), referred to in Clause #3 above, to be considered:

        a. The competitor must have come 1st, 2nd or 3rd in their Division competition in that year

        b. Performances must be equal or better than 8th place at the previous year’s State Championships

        c. Invitation requests must be sent to the SSV Region School Sports Officer on the official SSV form prior to the competition for 8 a, b c or g

        d. In the case of 8 d, e or f, within 72 hours of the completion of the competition

        e. All invitations are at the discretion of the State Championships Officer

11. For invitations to Region or Division levels (ie missing the level below) to be considered:

        a. The competitor must have met the above criteria set out in 8 a to g (incl). and 10

        b. There must be space available

        c. Invitation requests must be sent to the relevant Region or Division Coordinator on the official SSV form prior to the competition for 8 a, b or c

        d. In the case of 8 d, e or f, within 72 hours of the completion of the competition

        e. In addition, for invitations to Primary Region (ie missing Primary Division):

             i. The Competitor must come 1st, 2nd or 3rd in their Primary District and/or

             ii. For Swimming and Track and Field:

Best verifiable performances must be equal to or better than 8th place at the previous year’s Region Championships.

Evidence of the performance must be submitted.

For Cross Country: Best verifiable performance that would have qualified for the previous year’s Region Competition. Up to 10th place for Primary and 15th place for Secondary.

Evidence of the performance must be submittediii. All Region invitations are at the discretion of the relevant Primary Region Coordinator and all Division invitations are at the discretion of the relevant

Primary Division Coordinator.

12. An invitation must not disadvantage an individual who has progressed through the qualifying levels of competition.

13. Only schools can submit Invitation requests that must be signed by the School Sports Coordinator and either the Principal or Deputy Principal. Students requesting invitations must provide evidence (results, not just placings), from their District or Division and the previous year’s Championship to show that they would be competitive in the event.

14. Invitation competitors are eligible to receive medals but not to participate in other awards e.g. team aggregate. Official results will recognise any records established by such competitors.

Exceptions

1. SSV reserves the right to grant an invitation for exceptional circumstances. These invitations must be approved by the SSV CEO.
2. Any invitation request declined as it has not met the criteria above are not considered exceptions.

In summary:

• An Invitation can only be considered for individuals in Cross Country, Swimming and Track and Field and only if space is available
• An Invitation Request can only be submitted by a SSV Member school
• The form below must be completed and submitted to the relevant SSV Officer or Coordinator by the times specified in the Policy
• Application form must be accompanied by competitor's results at the previous level of competition or performance in the previous year's Championships (if relevant)