St Norbert College scores with specialist soccer program on the doorstep of new State Football Centre
22 June 2022
St Norbert College has created a new pathway for aspiring soccer players as construction starts on a new State Football Centre in Queens Park.
The Specialised Football Program teaches participating students the fundamentals of the game while developing physical skills, fitness, teamwork and knowledge of sport officiating and coaching.
Program co-ordinator and teacher Jacob Aquino, who has 25 years’ playing experience including at state level, said the aim was to help students reach their footballing potential, whether that meant playing overseas or locally in a Football West-run league.
“The sky is the limit for our students, as long as they continue to apply themselves not only in the specialised program but in all aspects of school,’’ Mr Aquino said.
After focussing on rules last term, students are now analysing attacking and defensive styles of play and will complete a Football West-run referee course and study a statistics unit.
Players will compete in a variety of soccer competitions, including the School Sport WA’s Champion School Competition and the Associated and Catholic College Super Series.
It comes amid construction of the $32.5 million State Football Centre – a joint initiative by the Western Australian and Federal Governments – that will provide world-class football facilities at the Queens Park Open Space.
The facility will include two floodlit pitches for high-performance and high-intensity use, as well as supporting infrastructure, including changerooms and a gym. It will also accommodate the administration facilities for Football West, the state governing body for soccer in WA.
Due for completion in mid-2023, the State Football Centre is expected to be ready in time to be used as a training venue for the nine international teams travelling to Perth for their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 five group-stage matches.
The criteria to be accepted into the St Norbert Specialised Football Program includes academic performance, physical skill levels and a positive attitude – similar to the college’s long-established Specialised Basketball Program.
Applications for the Specialised Football Program for 2023 are now open and can be found on the St Norbert College website.
