Sport Performance Academy

In addition to our sports programme, the Sport Performance Academy (S.P.A.) has been established to work with our developing athletes who we believe have the potential to become elite competitors during their time at Rangitoto College.

The aim is to enhance the capacity of our high achieving junior athletes in preparation for potential premier and high-level secondary school sports competition.

In Years 9 and 10 selected students will participate in an academy that aligns with their main sport or sports of interest. In 2023 the school is piloting some new SPA initiatives relating to both selection and programme design for some sports. As such there are some differences relating to SPA across each sport.

For Hockey, Football, Cricket, Netball and Volleyball, the status quo remains, and students should register for these SPA programmes via the link in this website. We do not hold trials for these programmes and selection is based on prior sports performance history covered in the application. Enrolling students should have both the aspiration and ability to make a junior premier/A team in their sport. Although SPA selection and participation does not guarantee selection into top teams, we are confident that students will leave SPA as more competent and confident athletes.

Students not successful with their application will be placed on a waiting list.

For Basketball and Rugby, SPA (or a revised programme name tbc) will be selected during the year based on form shown in the season (this may be early or mid-season depending on the timelines for this group).

Our Sport Performance Academies will take approximately 150 Year 9 and Year 10 students each year across these sporting codes.

The Sport Performance Academy offers these athletes the time to hone existing skills and to learn and develop a wider range of new skills and game tactics.  The students also learn from each other, in an environment that fosters and encourages them to be confident and more proficient athletes.

As part of the Rangitoto’s Sport Performance Academy, we are launching a new Athlete Education Module which all SPA student athletes can attend as part of their involvement in our SPA programme. This module will include a series of special topics in term 2 and 3 including but not limited to nutrition, athlete wellness, balancing sport and study, introduction to strength and conditioning and much more. Topics and dates will be posted in term 1.

For students of all year levels who compete in individual sports, or for team sport athletes who are wanting to gain experience in strength and conditioning we offer the high-performing S.P.A. Blue programme. Students in SPA Blue have the opportunity to work with our strength and conditioning coaches twice a week to develop their strength and athleticism in the school fitness center.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ This programme is just as much about learning as it is about training with the goal that our students become more confident in the environment with movement efficiency, wellness, injury prevention and athletic performance as key tenants.

Important note – Although this is not a the norm, if registration numbers do not reach the required minimum for each SPA programme, that particular programme may not be able to proceed.

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The selection process is a thorough, objective process carried out by a group of qualified staff members. Applications will be discussed and further research into students’ abilities/attitudes will be carried out where necessary. Selection is not limited to pure sporting talent, the students must display academic effort and focus in all subjects.  

All intermediate students entering high school, whether local to the school or not, who wish to perform at an elite level are encouraged to apply. Students not successful will be placed on a waiting list.