2019  Tour of Ireland and the UK

 

IRELAND TOUR 2019

The St Patricks’ College’s Football program is again planning to offer an opportunity for students to tour Ireland in the Term 1 holidays in 2019.

This tour follows successful trips to Ireland (2007, 2010 2013 and 2016), and Melbourne (2006, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018) and aims to visit a number of Edmund Rice sites and play a series of International Rules games – the hybrid game incorporating Gaelic and Australian Rules skills and rules.

The tour would be open to students from Year 10 to 12, 2019 and is offered in line with the Football Programme’s Strategic Plan (2012-2015) in providing participants with educational opportunities both on and off the field. Members of the Australian Rules Football program are invited to apply. This tour is offered in line with the College’s Overseas Trips Policy.

Objectives of Tour

The tour would have the following educational objectives:

1. To heighten understandings of the heritage of the College, specifically the history and traditions of the world wide Edmund Rice network of schools.
2. In doing so to increase boys’ awareness that they are part of a world-wide network of secondary schools, with the shared charism of Catholic education in the tradition of Blessed Edmund Rice.
3. To provide participants with an invaluable learning experience. Those travelling would spend some time playing International Rules but would also take in the sights of Ireland, in particular some of the places integral to the history of St Patrick’s College and the story of Blessed Edmund Rice.
4. To develop further ongoing relationships with schools in Ireland in the Edmund Rice tradition and to explore the possibility of reciprocal visits for sporting, social justice, academic and cultural events.
5. To provide an extension activity for players in the SPC Football program and work on physical conditioning, skill development and team building opportunities prior to the season.
6. To provide an extension activity for student leaders among the College to assist in the development of a strong leadership culture within the College.
7. To enhance the profile and status of the program by providing a significant point of difference from other school football programs thereby assisting in attracting players, coaches, volunteer medical and administration staff and umpires to the College’s football program in the current and subsequent seasons.
8. To enhance further the profile of International Rules as a valuable physical activity in its own right and an integral part of the College’s Physical Education and Sporting Programs.
9. To provide an inclusive educational experience through the joint efforts of tour support group members. Funds from football program fundraising efforts will be utilised to support students in line with the College’s guidelines on Student Bursaries for financially disadvantaged students.
10. To develop further the College’s football and sporting programs through exposure to best practice models of sports management. The tour would take in visits to iconic sporting venues and organisations including Chelsea FC, Wimbledon, and Lords.
11. To provide opportunities for personal development through use of reflective learning practices and the requirement of all students to complete a detailed trip report and presentation to parents and other tour supporters following the group’s return to Ballarat.

Tour Planning Committee

The Tour Planning Committee will consist of the Headmaster, The Deputy Headmaster Student & Staff Wellbeing, the Head of Sport, the Director of Football and Leonie Spencer from Lifestyle Travel who is our preferred Travel Agency.

Selection Criteria – Students

All boys wishing to attend the Ireland Tour will need to apply to the tour planning committee. Boys will be asked to respond to specific questions in line with the tour objectives, in particular an appreciation of the purpose of the tour as an Edmund Rice educational experience, as well as make a commitment to abide by all College expectation and tour rules.

Applications will be assessed by members of the Tour Planning Committee. Invitations to apply to attend the proposed tour will be issued to the following students within the College community:

• Students with a demonstrated record of participation within the College’s football program from Years 9-11.
• Boarding students entering the College at Year 10, 11 or 12 will be considered for the tour in line with commitment to football at their previous school and upon analysis of their tour application.
• Students in Year 10 or 11 who have a demonstrated record of supporting the school football programme through provision of umpiring, administration or team management services.

The number of students able to attend the tour will be dependent upon a number of factors. The tour will be limited to a maximum of 50 players. It should be noted that 24 students (including 20 players) is the minimum viable number for the trip to proceed. In line with the educational objectives of the tour it is preferable to take more rather than less students, given:

• Availability of staff to provide a 1:6 adult to student ratio;
• Availability of suitable accommodation for tour party – either hotel or billets from host schools;
• Limitations for transport arrangements in Ireland. It is preferable to restrict group to one coach load plus one accompanying car (approx. 55 bus seats) for transportation purposes.

Should the number of applications from the College’s football program exceed the number of places available on the tour the following selection criteria will be applied by the Tour Planning Committee:

1. The tour is a part of the 1st XVIII football program. In line with this the Committee will select its best team to represent the College, provided that players considered for selection are making sound academic progress and have a behavioural record that suggests they would represent the College in the manner expected of St Patrick’s College students.
2. The committee will be responsible for the selection of students based on their football merit. Factors taken into account include but are not limited to:
   1. AIS/AFL Academy program members
   2. Previous Victorian Country State Representatives
   3. Current U/18 TAC squad members
   4. Previous State representation in the AFL National U/16 or U/18 competitions including NSW/ACT, NT, Qld, SA, WA, Victorian Metropolitan.
   5. Current U/16 TAC squad members
   6. Previous State representation in the National VSSSA U/15 schoolboys’ carnival
   7. Community Interleague representation at any level.
   8. Representation of the College at First XVIII level
   9. Played senior community football
3. The committee will also take into account student involvement with major fundraising initiatives such as the hosting of student’s from Shibuya High School, Tokyo, the Trots evening and the viewing of a film at the Regent Theatre, Ballarat.
4.  Parents/Guardians of Tour participants must have appropriate financial arrangements (a fee payment schedule) in place with the College and be up to date with fee payments to enable their son to be considered for the tour.
5. The Headmaster will have discretion to select or omit students for the tour in light of circumstances communicated to him in confidence.

Leadership Component of the Tour

The objectives of the tour complement the College’s leadership program. Places for other students to attend the tour will be considered on merit and will be judged by the Tour Planning Committee using the following criteria:

1. The tour complements the College’s Leadership program. In line with this the Committee will select its most appropriate students to represent the College, provided that students considered for selection are making sound academic progress and do not have a behavioural record that could suggest they may not represent the College in the manner expected of St Patrick’s College students.
2. Preference will be given to the College Captain and Vice Captains to represent the College on the tour. Places for other students will be decided upon the merit of their application.
3. Parents/Guardians of Tour participants must have appropriate financial arrangements (a fee payment schedule) in place with the College and be up to date with fee payments to enable their son to be considered for the tour.
4. The Headmaster will have discretion to select or omit students for the tour in light of circumstances communicated to him in confidence, for example financial circumstances.

How to Apply

Any student wishing to apply to join the tour must do so by completing the questions at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ireland2019

 

Key Dates

Tour Departure: Wednesday April 3, 2019

Tour Returning: Wednesday April 17, 2019

A Parent and Student Information Night was held on Tuesday June 12, 2018. Information provided on that night can be found at this link.