NSW’s sports selective schools see rise in female enrolments post-Women’s World Cup
Sydney’s sports schools have seen an up to 50 percent surge in female enrolments in the last year alone. Here’s why.
Education
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Sydney’s sports schools have seen a surge in female enrolments off the back of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and massive investment in women’s rugby league, with the number of girls signing up rising by as much as 50 per cent in the last year.
Five of the state’s seven public sports schools are reporting greater interest from girls in their talented sports program (TSP), with principals attributing the rise at least in part to the “Matildas effect” – confirmation there’s money to be made in pursuit of women’s sport.
Both The Hills Sports High School in Seven Hills and Endeavour Sports High School in Caringbah have seen a 40 per cent increase in TSP girls, while Hunter and Illawarra Sports High Schools have seen their overall female enrolments rise by four and 16 per cent respectively.
Matraville Sports High School in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has more than doubled the number of girls in its sports programs over the last three years, with a 46 per cent increase between 2023 and 2024 alone.
There are now 92 girls in the TSP, roughly a quarter of the school’s population, which director of sport Ante Juric – also the head coach of Sydney FC’s women’s team and a former Socceroo – said is in part due to the increasing visibility of women’s sport.
“The A-League women’s game is improving, it’s on TV, the Matildas have become a big brand, and with AFLW being out there too girls can see a pathway to that,” he said.
“The World Cup was huge, and they’re seeing Sam Kerr make huge money overseas – people can see a career, and it’s not just playing sport for sports’ sake.”
Endeavour High principal James Kozlowski began his tenure with only a handful of girls and a female-only strength and conditioning gym to make them feel comfortable.
Now the school’s high performance sessions are mixed gender – the best of the girls train with the boys “because they’re just that good”, he said.
“We’ll be seeing them become household names in ten to 15 years’ time,” he said.
“The Matildas have transformed women’s sport across the board, not just for football.
“Our girls’ football program … has boomed – and the growth in talent has been exponential.”
Paul Chapman, principal of the independent Central Coast Sports College at Kariong, said increased popularity of rugby league among prospective female students has been “the more immediate surprise”, following significant investment from the NRL and sponsors into the women’s game.
“Football’s going to get left behind – even though there’s huge opportunities in it, the market’s already bigger in the NRL. They’re putting the money behind it,” he said.
GOAL College principal Kate O’Donnell said her school for Year 11 and 12 students has also seen “extreme growth” in women’s rugby league, as well as touch football, but retention of girls in sport is still an issue nationwide.
“You see (the Matildas effect) evident in the enthusiasm for the sport in primary schools, but it will take a while for that to filter through at the upper end of high school,” she said.
“The challenge is in keeping kids involved in sport – statistically we see a drop off in kids between 13 and 18, and that’s both boys and girls.”
Matraville Year 7 student Mariah Kyriakou is one of two dozen newcomers and hits the field with her ponytail tied up in ribbons – a homage to her favourite Matilda, Hayley Raso.
The 14-year-old joined Matraville’s talent sports program “to stay active, and to challenge myself to become a better player”, she said, with the stars of the Matildas all her “favourite people”.
“One of my best friends lost their confidence after being bullied, but when she heard Sam Kerr being interviewed … she really took confidence from that, she’s so much stronger on the ball now.”
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