Since the acceptance of the Australian Capital Territory Secondary Schools Sports Association (ACTSSSA) into the Australian School Sports Council (ASSC) as a full member in 1977, there has been tremendous growth in representative sport at the youth level. This rapid growth in the provision of elite sport opportunity in the school sector has been matched by a similar growth in both representative and skill development programs within the community junior sports associations. The relatively small talent pool that the Australian Capital Territory junior sporting communities are able to draw from creates a potential problem with funding, multiple representation and duplication in organisation. The research highlights the high costs involved in representative sport and provides a detailed analysis of the participant input into this cost structure. The thesis outlines research of the organisational structure of both the school and community junior sporting associations within the Australian Capital Territory. The structure within the schools sector has been found to be both complex and costly. The nexus between the three key school organisations, the Australian Capital Territory Secondary Schools Sports Association, the Australian School Sports Council and the Australian Capital Territory School Sports Council is not clear either in constitution or practice. The organisation of elite junior programs within the Australian Capital Territory community sporting associations is dependent upon the strength of the individual associations and their ability to obtain funding from parent or government agencies. There is clear evidence that communication between all vested interest groups involved in the provision of opportunity for elite junior athletes is limited and in many instances is not evident. There is a demonstrated need for the establishment of a central controlling body to represent all junior sporting associations within the Australian Capital Territory, including both the school and community sectors.