Applications open on 15th March till 26th March at noon.
Please note that all original documents must be produced upon submission to verify their authenticity.
- Photocopy of all relevant Psycho-Educational or Special Education Evaluation Reports (if applicable).
- 2 passport size photographs (approximately 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm). Please write student’s name on the back of the photographs.
- Student’s Birth Certificate.
Download and submit both application form and emergency consent form found below.
Applications to be submitted at:
Edu Servizz.gov Hub Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation and Employment, Great Siege Road, Floriana Monday to Saturday: 8:00am to 1:00pm Wednesdays only: 4:30pm to 7:00pm |
The Head of College Network Office, Agius De Soldanis Middle School, Triq Duminku Mintoff, Victoria, Gozo Monday to Friday: 8:00am to 4:00pm |
NSS Application Form 2024/2025 | |
NSS Paralympic Application Form 2024/2025 | |
NSS Special Olympics Application Form 2024/2025 | |
Football Pre-Selection Trial Application Form 2024/2025 | |
Emergency Consent Form |
The proposed physical tests should follow the same testing criteria as described hereunder.
Speed test
A 30-meter linear course is marked out with cones with timing gates being placed at the start and finish. Students are allowed a 10-minute general warm-up followed by two (2) attempts with the best time being recorded. Points are awarded according to the time obtained.
Flexibility test
The Sit and Reach test is an indirect measure to assess hamstring and lower back flexibility. Hamstring and lower back flexibility are important for activities of daily living and sports performance. Students are allowed 3 tries with the best measurement being recorded. Only measurements which are held for 2 seconds will be recorded as valid attempts and subsequently points awarded.
Strength test
A counter movement jump test will be performed using force plates to determine the jump height. Each student will be allowed 1 practice jump, followed by 2 official jumps. The best value obtained will be recorded and points allocated accordingly.
Endurance test
Students are to start with a 10-minute general warm-up. Prospective students applying for entry at year 7 will cover a distance of 1000m. The time taken to cover the distance will be recorded using a stopwatch and points awarded accordingly.
Pass mark is 45 marks out of 75 marks.
3 out of the best 4 tests will count towards the final mark.
Students can opt to undertake all four tests or any 3 of their choice.
Students failing to obtain a pass mark in the fitness tests will not be eligible for entry into the National Sport School
Assessment Criteria
Sport descriptions:
Special Olympics: Entry Criteria SOM
Paralympics: Entry Criteria Para
Athletics:
Athletes are to be assessed on their national track and field results & rankings. Depending on the results obtained throughout the year, the students are to be awarded points. Athletes must achieve both of the following criteria:
- Obtain at least 50 pts in 3 different events from 2 event categories (that is at least 2 track + 1 field event or 1 track and 2 field events).
- Achieve 360 pts from the selected 3 events (2 track + 1 field or 1 track + 2 field)
Please refer to the table below
Waterpolo:
Athletes are to be assessed on 3 main components: tactical (20%), technical (40%) and game situation/ current participation (40%).
- Tactical: knowledge of water polo rules and regulations, basic and specific positioning, as well as game time.
- Technical: swimming with/without the ball, leg exercises and ball handling.
- Game situation: good knowledge of positioning, understanding the game, understanding what positions to take in transition, being able to adapt to situations to help teammates and having a good attitude. Marks are awarded to athletes who are actively taking part in national competition.
Swimming:
Students must match the Minimum Qualifying Standards (MQSs) as show in the document attached in at least 3 events. For ranking purposes, the fourth best event will also be considered in the overall scoring. MQSs must be attained by end of May in any ASA meets.
To be eligible for entry, the applicants must compete in at least two ASA Meets between January and May.
Swimming Assessment Criteria.pdf
Artistic Swimming
Athletes are to be assessed on both theory and artistic swimming specifics (practical). The theory part will consist of a written assessment on rules and regulation. The practical part will consist of both land and water tests. The athletes are also assigned marks for their participation in competitions.
Badminton
The assessment consists of three main components: tactical (15%), technical (60%) and training & competition (25%).
- Tactical: insight, understanding of the sport, game intelligence, decision-making and movement concepts. The questions will be asked directly to the athlete by the assessor.
- Technical: focuses on the technique and skill of the sport. Half the score from the Technical Assessment requires the student to hit the shuttle into indicated zones. Feeding is to be provided by a coach/ assessor and footwork assessed by moving shuttles to 6 points of the court. The second half of the score is assessed through a match play situation to 11 points.
- Training & Competition: athlete's training commitments, tournament participation and results. Training is to be confirmed by a signed letter from club head coach & academy head coach. Tournament participation is to be confirmed and supplied by Badminton Malta including results and tables for both local and international events. National results are to be confirmed and supplied by Badminton Malta.
Basketball
Athletes are to be assessed on individual skills as well as in a game situation.
- Individual skills: include both physical and technical aspects. This includes dribbling, passing, shooting, lay-ups, power moves, speed, agility and quickness.
- Game: students are assessed on tactical and mental components. This includes: defending a player, pivoting, positioning, 1vs1, 2vs1, decision making, vision and personality.
Bowling
Athletes are to be assessed on four criteria: tactical, technical, physiological and game-personality.
- Tactical: athletes are to have good knowledge and understanding of the sport, game intelligence, decision-making and movement concepts.
- Technical: assessing the technique and skills of the sport.
- Physiological: relates to relevant physiological attributes such as coordination, endurance, strength, power, and flexibility.
- Game-personality: focuses on athlete performance in competitions, knowledge of rules, lane play and consistency.
Gymnastics
Athletes are to be assessed on tactical (5%), technical (50%), physiological (35%) and competition ranking system (10%)
- Tactical: insight knowledge, understanding of the sport, competition intelligence, decision-making and core movement concepts. These questions will be asked directly by the assessor to the athlete on the day.
- Technical: techniques and skills on the vault, U bars, national dev. plan grade 3 routine, beam (120cm) and floor.
- Physiological: strength, power and flexibility. Athletes are to perform exercises relating to the mentioned fitness components.
- Competition ranking system: marks allocated to performance in national championships (minimum participation in grade 3 level) and ranking obtained.
Judo:
The assessment is based on motor skills (25%), technical aspects (50%) and knowledge of the sport (25%).
- Motor skills: students are to be given various exercises relating to the sport to test their movement, posture, and other related skills.
- Technical aspects: techniques and skills of the sport.
- Knowledge of the sport: assessed through a written assessment which will be based on etiquette, posture, rules and history.
Karate:
The assessment is divided into three sections.
- Basic Form (34%): Dachi, hand and leg technique, posture, power, speed, focus and hip movement
- Kata (33%): Kata Name, Dachi, techniques, sequence, rhythm/ timing, focus, power, speed and hip movement.
- Kumite (33%): target/focus, mobility/flow, reaction, spirit, maintaining proper distance, attacking and defensive technique.
Table Tennis:
The assessment consists of technical (30%), match assessment (50%) and national rankings (20%).
- Technical: consists of the technique and skills of the sport along with basic knowledge such as: serve and receive, forehand and backhand control, chop, topspin and block.
- Match assessment: a combination of skills and how to prepare and play in a match situation. This includes: service and receive, footwork and game strategy.
- National Rankings: students will also be awarded marks based on national ranking.
Squash:
The assessment is divided into technical (25%), Matchplay (50%), Speed Agility & Quickness (15%) and National Rankings (10%).
- Technical: athletes are to be assessed on swing technique, timing and consistency of ball contact, ability to play drive, cross court and boast, quality of serve, return of serve, ghosting and movement.
- Matchplay: understanding winning strategy, understanding and implementing ‘right shot, right time’, ability to learn and understand opponent’s game, positioning and spatial awareness and ability to cope under pressure.
- Speed, Agility & Quickness
- National Rankings: participation and ranking in local competitions will be part of the assessment. National results to be confirmed and supplied by Malta Squash.
Taekwondo:
The assessment is divided into 3 sections the tactical, technical and physiological.
- Tactical: insight knowledge, understanding of the sport, understanding of rules and basic concepts of the sport.
- Technical: focuses on specific techniques and skills relating to the sport. This is to include: kicking, defensive and offensive techniques, dynamic flexibility, technique variety, execution and effectiveness.
- Physiological: based on physiological attributes such as balance and coordination, speed and agility, breathing and performance during a match.
Athletes will also be allocated marks based on their ranking and if they are/ have been promoted to the National team.
Tennis:
The assessment is divided into 4 sections.
- Technical part (28%): assesses athletes on swing, timing, footwork and ability of various techniques of the sport.
- Tactical (28%): focuses on understanding the concept of the match and intelligence to make decisions based on the opponent and match situation.
- Physiological (24%): assesses athletes' balance, coordination, speed, agility, strength, power and endurance.
- Ranking/ tournament results: athletes are to be given marks based on ranking/ tournament results.
Triathlon:
Athletes are to be assessed on swimming, running and cycling.
- The swimming assessment consists of a 200m Time Trial and technique. Time trial distance is 200m Freestyle and should be conducted in a 50m pool. The swim is timed from a dive start (optional water start) and concludes with a hand-to-the-wall finish.
- The running assessment consists of a 400m Time Trial and technique. The faster the pace the more marks are awarded. For boys, the highest mark is for a pace of 3:15/km and for girls 3:30/km. Failing mark for boys is 4:25/km and over and for girls 4:47/km and over.
- The cycling assessment consists of a dustbin test and technique. A course is set up and the rider mist complete the course for 10 laps.
- Marks are also to be given for aptitude and willingness.
Weightlifting:
Athletes are to be assessed on snatch, clean, jerk and clean and jerk. Following these tests, auxiliary exercises relating to core strength (sit up test & plank test) and throws (2 kg overhead ball throw) will be carried out.
Athletes will also be allocated marks based on their posture, flexibility, balance, adequate speed and acceleration of lifts, technique and response to feedback.
Marks will also be given based on the performance obtained during the two local competitions happening on the 28th of January 2023 and 8th of April 2023.
Handball:
The athletes are assessed on:
- Individual Skills: passing and receiving, shooting, and feinting.
- Attacking Actions: shooting, moving without the ball, decision making and positioning.
- Defending Actions: gaining space, anticipation, interception, covering and defending in transition.
- Psychological Characteristics-Attitudes: intensity, effort and competitive spirit, commitment and involvement, right attitude, respecting coaches and referees and decision-making.