EDUCATION + TENNIS

Tennis Australia recognises the importance of education and does not in any way encourage the early departure of children from the education system.

Accordingly, Tennis Australia has implemented a policy that reflects the importance of education in a child’s development.

What is Tennis Australia’s education policy?

Tennis Australia (TA) recognises the importance of a child’s education and does not in any way encourage the early departure from the education system. Accordingly, TA has implemented a policy that reflects the importance of education in a child’s development. TA does not support athletes commencing Distance Education (DE) prior to Year 9.

Minimum subject requirements will be set by your respective state, but the following is a general guide:

• Year 9 and 10 – English, Maths, Science, Social Science + 2 electives. [6 subjects per year in total – to build the organisational and core skills required to manage the workload of senior studies]. For Australian schooling, most providers require students to study 8 subjects minimum throughout Year 9 and 10. (Please see the NCAA subject eligibility requirements in the section below)
• Year 11 & 12 – Athletes are encouraged to fulfill the minimum requirements of their state education body to successfully complete Year 12, whilst remaining NCAA College eligible. This is usually 6 subjects in Year 11 and 5/6 subjects in Year 12. Some states enable Vocational Courses to be incorporated into the Year 12 Certificate (usually a Certificate III in Fitness is recommended for tennis players).

Completion of School Work

Athletes supported by TA and participating in any tours or state development squads, are expected to meet all school deadlines and DE requirements. This includes assessment tasks, their weekly work submissions, and maintaining regular contact with teachers if they are travelling on the road and unable to attend lessons. Athletes must also ensure that they plan for providing reliable internet when travelling and plan set times for the completion of schoolwork.

When selected to attend a TA Junior Tour that overlaps with school term time, there are educational requirements that must be met and organised prior to their departure. This will be communicated by the tour organiser.

All National Tennis Academy (NTA) scholarship athletes must complete their secondary education, as recognised by the education department in their respective state. Because of the demands on their time, NTA athletes must study through an approved DE provider. For athletes that train at the NTA, the Dean of Students takes over the role of the DE school and assessment supervisor. Should an athlete fall more than 3 weeks behind in schoolwork, the athletes schedule will be adapted to assist them in catching up on their work. For NTA athletes who have completed Year 12, it is recommended that they undertake some form of part-time study or personal development course.

Distance Education

Tennis Australia does not endorse athletes commencing Distance Education (DE) prior to Year 9. Australian state based public DE providers have set criteria that is reviewed annually. To be eligible for the vocationally talented or elite sport performance programs; the providers require evidence of elite performance from the highest authority in the sport. For the latter, Tennis Australia’s Dean of Students provides a “Statement of Fact” outlining the player’s rank in Australia for their sex and birthyear.

As a general guide, DE providers seek confirmation that the athlete is in the top 10 for their sex and birthyear in Australia. Additionally, DE providers like to know the athlete’s involvement in state-based tennis programs, as well as the level and frequency of the National and International competition they have undertaken. Obviously, they will also want to see past school reports, the level of school engagement, and usually have an interview as part of the enrolment process.

As needed, the Dean of Students consults with the lead coach of the respective TA’s state development squads regarding the level of performance and background of the athlete.

NCAA eligibility Year 9 to Year 12 Subjects

Athletes are strongly encouraged to always keep options open for an NCAA College pathway. Grades start counting towards their grade point average (GPA) for the core subjects studied from Year 9 through to Year 12 (Maths, English, Science, Social Science).

These 4 years must be studied consecutively and cannot be studied over a longer time frame. It is strongly advised to make the most of Year 9 and 10 studies, to help alleviate academic pressures in senior years.

> Find out more about US College scholarships

Find out more about Australian State subject approvals and rejected subjects.

Australian Year 12 Requirements

In Australia there are both ATAR and non-ATAR courses available to gain a Year 12 Certificate. ATAR courses prepare students for further Tertiary study (an Australian University). The requirements for an Australian Year 12 Certificate are different to the needs of the NCAA and usually requires more subjects to be studied and sometimes at minimum subject level (like for Maths). There are also many subjects offered in Australia that are not approved as courses for NCAA purposes.

Some Australian states enable students to complete Vocational Courses as a part of both ATAR and non-ATAR Year 12 Certification. Some tennis athletes choose to build a Certificate III in Fitness into their senior years of study. Please consult the relevant Education department in your state for further information. (see the table below)

ACARA – Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority