Olympic sports to try at State Sport Centres
If you’ve been inspired by our athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic games and are keen to hit the pool, the track, or to pick up a racquet or paddle, State Sport Centres is the place to chase your sporting dreams!
If you’ve been inspired by our athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic games and are keen to hit the pool, the track, or to pick up a racquet or paddle, State Sport Centres is the place to chase your sporting dreams!
Swimming:
It seems like every Olympics, the world is shocked by just how good the Aussies are in the pool. But when your country is surrounded by water, what else are we supposed to do? Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) is the only venue in Melbourne to have TWO Olympic standard swimming pools for lap swimming, plus a host of squad training sessions and learn to swim classes.
Find out more about swimming at MSAC here.
Athletics:
Running sub-10 seconds or jumping heights of over 4 metres may not be possible for mere mortals, but getting out on the track for a sprint session or track training is accessible for all at Lakeside Stadium. As the home to Little Athletics in the state, there’s plenty of development opportunities for the next generation of Nina Kennedys, Jessica Hulls, Peter Bols and more!
Casual bookings can be made on our website for sessions, or you can visit Athletics Victoria and Athletics Australia, or Little Athletics for more.
Water Polo:
The Stingers and the Sharks have consistently done Australia proud on the international stage, and you too can learn how to grit it out playing “football in the water” at MSAC. For those with a little more experience, Water Polo Victoria host weeknight competitions in our outdoor pool. If you’re new to the sport, come and try it out with their Social Sunday’s program, aimed at encouraging new participants in a non-competitive and encouraging environment.
Find out more about water polo and events here.
Diving:
If a fear of heights has never been a problem, diving might be the sport you’ve been looking for! Diving Victoria have their headquarters based at MSAC, and have been breeding Olympic talent for decades with help from the Victorian Institute of Sport. MSAC has Olympic standard diving facilities with 16 dive boards for use. Keep an eye out for their Come and Try days, encouraging all community member to give diving a go!
Find out more about diving and how to join a club here.
Table Tennis:
Sharp reflexes and quick thinking are required for elite table tennis players, but all are welcome at MSAC for a game of ping pong. There are plenty of tables available for casual play, but make sure you book to avoid disappointment. While you’re here, you may catch an Olympian or Paralympian training across the table from you…
Find out more about Table Tennis and their events here.
Badminton:
MSAC is proud to have one of the premier Badminton facilities in the State, made up of 12 purpose-built courts for all abilities. Our badminton hall regularly hosts national competitions and is often full of life with players coming from all over! Being such a popular sport (and one of the fastest growing), courts must be pre-booked ahead of time. Pending availability, shuttles and racquets are available for hire.
Find out more about badminton and events here.
Basketball:
The Boomers and the Opals are some of the countries most loved athletes, and after the Opals bronze medal performance in Paris, their fan base will be keen to know how they can emulate their heroes on the court.
The State Basketball Centre, opened in January 2024, offers a premier show court arena, 12 community courts, and high-performance facilities for teams like the WNBL Champions, the Southside Flyers.
MSAC also has multiple courts and stadiums for use, where thousands of children and casual shooters come every week to hone their skills.
Book a casual court here or find out more about how you can get involved in basketball here.
Hockey:
One of the most exciting team sports at the Olympics, hockey has consistently been a successful sport for the Australian teams, the Hockeyroos and the Kookaburras. Did you know that the Kookaburras are the only Australian team in any sport to receive medals at six straight Summer Olympic Games between 1992–2012, and the Hockeyroos have multiple medals in their collection, including three gold.
We’re proud to host the Hockey One League at the State Hockey Centre in Parkville, and have Hockey Victoria on site to run their holiday and school programs. The Melbourne University Hockey Club also host their competition on site, bringing in a diverse array of players each and every week.
There’s plenty of chances to get involved in hockey, head to Hockey Victoria’s site for more information.
Netball:
Netball isn’t an Olympic sport… yet. Come Brisbane 2032, Netball is looking to step up from a Commonwealth sport to one the whole world can be involved in. Netball Australia have declared their intent for the game to be included at the next home Games, and we can’t wait to see what happens here!
The State Netball Centre hosts the Victorian Netball League each Wednesday in the winter, as well as the Men’s Mixed League. Netball Victoria also host training camps and sessions for our budding stars with their home team, the Melbourne Vixens.
Check out the Train Like a Vixen Camps here, and find out more information about netball here.
Squash:
Another sport coming to the Olympic games soon will be squash. Set to enter the Los Angeles games in 2028, squash will make its long awaited debut, to the delight of many!
MSAC has 10 international standard courts, that regularly host both state, national and international competitions. Most recently, we hosted the Australian Junior Squash Open, with hundreds of rising stars coming to play. Who knows if some future Olympians are amongst them…