Changes for National Primary Games in 2018

The games – which are presented by the Northern Inland Academy of Sport (NIAS) with the support of Macquarie Bank – have been given an overhaul with the number of sports reduced, the age groups opened up and the date of the event pushed back.

Instead of 12, just five sports – soccer, gymnastics, rugby league, netball and tennis – will be run at this year’s event.

But now, athletes from under 8s through to under 14s can compete where it was previously just for kids aged 9-12.

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NIAS chief executive officer James Cooper said the changes were made following a discussion after last year’s event.

“What we did at the end of the last primary games was we sat down with our board and did a review of the whole process,” Cooper said.

“By reducing the number of sports, but still maintaining the popular sports, we felt that was a better platform for the event to experience growth.”

Heading into its fourth year, the National Primary Games – which will be held in July opposed to April like last year – has grown from year to year.

1100 kids turned out in the first year before close to 1700 played in last year’s event.

Cooper said part of the reason for that was the athletes were enjoying their time at the games.

”The pleasing thing for us is we’re now becoming a part of people’s calendars,” Cooper said.

“We’ve had registrations for the soccer that are on the back of the experience they’ve had. There’s clubs that are returning.”

Invitations have been sent out to schools, clubs and associations from across the eastern seaboard of Australia for the event to be held on July 21-22 and Cooper said registrations are flowing in.

To register for the games, head to http://nationalprimarygames.com.au/npginformationregistration/