Sports Scholarship

[MichaelaR72]

DD has a sports scholarship assessment coming up in 2 weeks, amongst other things we were told she has to take a "Beep test" where you have to run 20m back and forth to a series of beeps.

Dutiful OH, downloaded one onto his phone and he got her to try it at the weekend she managed to run level 8.5, however the problem is we haven't a clue if this any good or not?!! Could anyone advise if this is any good, she is 10 (11 at end of March).

Also I know it's a "it depends" but are there any general questions/pitfalls we need to look out for in interview (apart from why do you want to come to this school).

Any advise would be appreciated, especially on the beep test!

[LIZS]

One of the more athletic boys in dd's year 6 last year could do level 12 and a girl (who I think did get a sports scholarship) level 15!

[happygardening]

Sports scholarships vary depending on the school your trying for. Obviously if you apply to somewhere like Milfield your going to have to be very very good and be able to prove this. Your DS is going to need to be heavily involved in at least one sport be at the very least in the schools/local team 1st's or A's preferably better and be successful ie be able to demonstrate this with winnings etc show genuine enthusiasm and be very committed. She may also needs to explain how she is intending to balance academic work with this sporting commitment a big issue for serious athletes especially if the school is academically pretty selective.

[LIZS]

Agree there is much more to it than the bleep test. Excelling, or with demonstrable potential to, in at least 2 sports , at least one of which is a team sport, is a good start.

[MrsDoomsPatterson]

My son was at level 13/14 at 11 years old, just in answer to your question, but he is very fit & athletic. There's a boy in hs football team now (age 13) who is level 25, super fit boy!

[goinggetstough]

Do remember that there is a difference between boys and girls so OP don't panic when you see the scores listed above. I found the table below but it doesn't show the levels specifically for 10 year olds.
www.fitnessbeans.com/2011/fitness-testing-the-bleep-test/
Other articles say that the test is more reliable once puberty has started as the DC is more developed. So for a 10 year old girl 8.5 looks good.
Other problems with purely looking at the test is that is has to be carried out and measured correctly eg a few cms short here and there can make a big difference.
Sports scholarships IME at age 10 look for sporting ability and potential whereas if you are trying for a sports scholarship at 13+ there is more emphasis on ability.

[goinggetstough]

Sorry meant to add, Good luck to your DD!

[happygardening]

I suspect they'll want to see she's a good team player but is also able to lead a team as well; encourage weaker players etc (assuming its a team sport she's good at).
It all really depends on how sporty the school is if its known to be a very sporty school then even at 10/11 their going to be looking for proven ability at a highish level.
Good luck do let us know how she gets on.

[MichaelaR72]

Sorry, didn't explain fully (first post and all that).

DD is quite sporty she is a county/regional champion and trains 25 hours a week, she's just joined the GB development squad but is not much of a "team player"

Likewise although she is a good gymnast she has speed and power but no endurance which is why I was worried about the bleep test result, plus the school is sporty but not gymnastic wise (unfortunately not much choice near where we live). Still as someone pointed out she only needed 8.1 to get in the army so there is always that option LOL

[happygardening]

"the school is sporty but not gymnastic wise" have you spoken to the school? Do they even offer gymnastics assuming this is what your DD does? Many schools allow you to speak to the head of sport/music/art etc. when it comes to scholarships to see if your DC is offering what they are looking for or if your very lucky prepared to accommodate. A friends DD was a an exceedingly capable show jumper (long listed GB team) but didn't go for a sports scholarship because her school didn't even offer riding so they would not have been interested. Having said this if they are interested I would have thought with this kind of record then she's a strong candidate.

[senua]

A friends DD was a an exceedingly capable show jumper (long listed GB team) but didn't go for a sports scholarship because her school didn't even offer riding so they would not have been interested.

Really?
I would have tried - if nothing else, on the basis that if you don't ask you don't get.
Also, what does it matter that the school don't do the sport in question? The DC has got to that level before they joined the school so it's not as if they are reliant on the Sports Dept's input. In fact, it may be a plus:then there is no conflict between loyalty to the school or to the county/regional/national set-up.

they would not have been interested

They like to boast about pupil performance, even if they have little input to it! It's like the academic results: it's not solely down to their teaching, it's partly about picking the winners in admissions tests.


OP, I wouldn't stress about the beep test. To get a sports scholarship, you have to be better than the opposition. The easiest way to prove this is to demonstrate that someone who knows-what-they-are-talking-about believes it: big-up that her sport's Governing Body has already picked her for county/regional level etc etc (but be aware that there are lots of other county/regional players out there too!)

[meditrina]

I don't know much about bleep test scores, and tables usually start only for teens. A 13 yr old on 8.5 would be classed as good. That might translate to very good at her age.

MrsDoomPatterson that child must be bragging, or using a non-standard test. The normal one only goes to 23. And even internationally famous sports people have scores in the mid/high teens range.

[happygardening]

senua at this particular school free extra tuition was provided for sports scholars (but obviously not for show jumping) and time was made available in the curriculum for their training eg extended lunch breaks etc again not useful to show jumpers. The parents spoke to the individual school they were expecting lots of applicants for the sports scholarship who were offering more "useful" talents than show jumping they couldn't see how they as a school including the other pupils would benefit from this. An application to Milfield would probably have been looked upon more favourably.
Competing with horses is exceedingly time consuming and at that level frequently requires time off in the week hence many children who show jump at top level are educated at home.

[senua]

OK hg. It makes sense if they had spoken to the school about it. I read it as they had made the decision themselves to rule the DC out of the running!

[happygardening]

Hence my suggestion that the OP speak to the school if possible most schools are happy for this. of course the school in question was still more than happy to publish my friends daughters successes on their website.

[MrsDoomsPatterson]

Ahh - just spoke to DH, it probably is a nonstandard test! Sorry. Over 22-25 m. They use an app.

He did also say this boy is so fit he came top 5 in boys' Southern running finals, his mum had to stop him doing the test at training because they needed to get on with football training! So he's very, very fit. Again sorry for my confusion!