General Guidelines & Eligibility
La Trobe University students who are actively involved in a playing, head coaching, or officiating capacity in eligible sporting competitions/events, may be accepted to the La Trobe Elite Athlete Program.
Students who have performed in national or international productions, installations, performances or events may be eligible for acceptance to the program under the 'Elite Performer' category.
The following general guidelines and eligibility criteria apply to all applications. Specific guidelines and eligibility criteria can be viewed below under the relevant headings.
- Students must be enrolled in at least one undergraduate or postgraduate subject at La Trobe University (LTU)
- Students must apply in a timely manner, usually at the beginning of their first semester at LTU or the first semester in which they meet the criteria for recognition as an elite athlete
- Applications are independently assessed, and meeting the criteria does not guarantee acceptance into the program
- If a student does not meet the eligibility criteria, an application may still be considered
Athletes
Applications to the La Trobe Elite Athlete Program (LEAP) will be assessed against the following guidelines and eligibility criteria:
- Students must be actively involved in a playing, head coaching, or refereeing capacity in a below minimum level of competition/event at the time of applying:
- National level of competition in a sport that is recognised and funded by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC)
- International level of competition in a sport that is not recognised and funded by the ASC
- State or Semi-professional program of an eligible La Trobe Sport Partnership
- Competition/events must be endorsed by the relevant State or National Sporting Organisation
- Students must submit supporting documentation provided by a suitable staff member confirming their status as an elite athlete from one of the following:
- State or National Sporting Organisation or Institute
- Professional Sporting Club or Player's Association
Performers
The following guidelines apply to applications where the student may be eligible for acceptance to LEAP as an Elite Performer.
- Students must be actively performing in national or international productions, installations, performances or events at the time of applying
- The above events must be endorsed by the relevant state, national, or professional organisation/institute
- Students must submit supporting documentation provided by a suitable staff member from the relevant state, national, or professional organisation/institute confirming their status as an elite performer
Examples of eligible performers include:
- Acrobatics
- Ballet
- Ballroom dancing
- Calisthenics
- Cheerleading
- Circus arts
- Ice dancing
- Irish dancing
- Majorette and baton twirling
- Sport aerobics
Athlete Tier Categorisation
Students who are accepted into the Elite Athlete Program will be categorised into one of the below tiers, depending on the level of competition/event in which they are involved.
Tier 1
- Athletes competing in an ASC recognised and funded sport in the following capacities:
- Senior national team competing in an international level of competition/event
- Professional team competing in a national level of competiton
- Identified as an ASC Performance Category Athlete
Examples:
- NBL/WNBL player
- Olympic/Paralympic/Commonwealth Games Athlete
- Australian Diamonds Netball team
- Virtus World Athletics Championship Athlete
Tier 2
- Athletes competing in an ASC recognised and funded sport in the following capacities:
- Underage national team or senior national development team competing in an international level of competition/event
- Underage or senior state team competing in a national level of competition/event
- Training partner for a professional team competing in a national level of competition
- Top-level semi-professional team competing in a national level of competition
- Senior national team competing in an international level of competition/event in a sport that is not recognised and funded by the ASC
- Elite Performers actively involved in national or international productions, installations, performances or events
- Head Coaches or Referees involved in competitions/events outlined in Tier 1
- Identified as an ASC Development Category Athlete
Examples:
- U19 Hockey Victoria State Team
- Australian Senior National Kick Boxing Team
- Training partner for an AFL/W team
- Emerging Pathways team for Bowls Australia
- Head Coach of an A-League team
- Wheelchair Rugby National League
- Cricket Australia Umpire Panel
- National tour of a musical or dance production
Tier 3
- Athletes competing in a state or semi-professional program with the following eligible La Trobe Sport Partnerships:
- Bendigo Braves - NBL1
- Bendigo Spirit - NBL Academy
- Bendigo Pioneers - Coates Talent League
- Bendigo Strikers - VNL
- Carlton Football Club - VFL
- Football Victoria - Emerging Players
- North East Blaze - VNL
