Sport program

At Joeys, sport is a vehicle for communicating life values that will last well beyond school years. Teamwork, leadership, respect and resilience are the hallmarks of all Joeys sporting sides and competitors. The famous College maxim “our playing fields are an extension of the classroom” means boys approach sport with the same discipline and dedication they apply to their studies. At Joeys, sport prepares students for life.

It also promotes a healthy life. Boys who are physically active and engaged are better equipped to deal with the challenges they face. Exercise has been shown to improve mental wellbeing and increase a boy’s capacity for happiness.

That is why sport is compulsory at the College. In an age where teenage boys are increasingly glued to computer and phone screens, sport provides an antidote to passivity and frees boys to explore their full physical potential. 

The pursuit of excellence underpins all College endeavours. At Joeys, it does not necessarily mean beating the opposition, it means beating your personal best and always adhering to the College motto: striving for better things. It is in striving on the rugby field, tennis court or cricket pitch that boys learn perseverance, the value of hard work and the reward it brings.

Joeys has a hard-earned reputation for developing some of Australia’s best sporting talents, but as a Marist College, the values of modesty and humility are paramount. Boys are encouraged to live these principles by practising good sportsmanship, avoiding showy ostentation and respecting opponents. Grace always – in both victory and defeat. 

Perhaps the greatest embodiment of the Joeys approach to sport is in the high priority placed on teamwork. Boys play alongside each other – forming new friendships and developing trust – as they come to the realisation that a star team always trumps a team of stars. It is a lesson that is increasingly played out in work places across the country, as the capacity to relate and connect with colleagues – to be a team player – becomes more and more important.

Above all, Joeys sport is for everyone. It is an integral part of a broad education that seeks to produce well-rounded individuals who are equipped to take their place in the world with confidence and conviction. It is designed, as St Paul said, to help students “fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith”.