SECONDARY AGE REVIEW - Sport New Zealand...The secondary age group is at risk in New Zealand. We...

REPORT— MARCH 2019

SECONDARY AGE REVIEW

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SPORT NEW ZEALAND

FOREWORD PAGE03

INTRODUCTION PAGE04

PREVIOUSREVIEWS PAGE07

WHATDOESPARTICIPATIONLOOKLIKEINTHISAGEGROUP? PAGE10

THEPHYSICALACTIVITYENVIRONMENT PAGE18

THEWORLDYOUNGPEOPLELIVEIN PAGE22

KEYTHEMES,RISKSANDAPPROACHES PAGE26

ACTIVATINGTHISREVIEW PAGE36

SUMMARY PAGE37

CONTENTS

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SPORT NEW ZEALAND

SportNZisinthefourthyearofitscurrentfive-yearstrategicperiodwithworkwellunderwaytotransitiontoanewstrategyspanning2020-24.Acrossthistransition,ourfocuswillremainonminimisingthedrop-offinphysicalactivityforyoungpeople,whichincludessustainingthelevelofthosewhoareactiveand,equallyimportantly,improvingoutcomesforthosewhoarelessactive.

ThesecondaryagegroupisatriskinNewZealand.WeknowfromthenationwideActiveNZ2017surveythatparticipationisatitshighestfromages12to14.Meanwhilethefirstsignificantdrop-offbothintimespentandfrequencyofbeingphysicallyactiveoccursatage15.Mostwillneverrecoverfromthisdrop-offacrosstheirlifetime.

Toaddressthesignificantchallengesteenagersarefacing,forexample,pressuresatschoolandwidermentalhealth,wemustunderstandtheworldouryoungpeopleliveinandprovidequalityopportunitiestoparticipatethatmeettheirholisticneeds.Inrecentyearswehaverecognisedthatmeetingparticipants’changingneedsmeansfocusingourworkondemand–whattoday’sparticipantswant–ratherthanwhattheplay,activerecreationandsportsystemhastraditionallysupplied.

ThisReviewhasdemonstratedthatwe’renotthereyet.Ithasbroughttolightkeyinsights,namelythatteenagersarenotahomogeneousgroup,andtheissuestheyfacediffer,forexample,bygender,andforaYear9studentcomparedtoaYear13student.Theopportunitiesweprovidemustbeasdiverseastheyare.

Thesecondaryagegroupiswhenyoungpeoplecometounderstandthevalueof,andwiderhealthandwellbeingbenefitsaffordedby,aphysicallyactivelife.Unlessweprovidevaluedexperiencesthatmeettheirneeds,theywillspendtheirtimeinotherways–whichmeansdramaticlong-termnegativeimpactsonourhealthsystemandoursocialandcommunityconnectedness.

Althoughthisreviewiswiderthansportinthetraditionalsense,thisisalsotheagegroupwheretalentisrevealed.Inthisrespect,manyofourtalentedyoungathletesareatriskofintegrityissuessuchasearlyspecialisationanddoping.Wehavetakenstepstoimproveexperiencesforyoungpeopleincompetitivesportthroughimprovedcoaching,targetedinvestmentintogrowthsportsandthroughkeymessagesthatbalanceisbetterandhavingfunisparamount.Yetthereisstillmuchworktodo.

Weencourageorganisationsacrossthesystem–sport,activerecreationandothers–tocollaborateandinnovateatthesystemleveltoprovideequitableandqualityexperienceswhichmakecollectiveimpacttobringaboutchange.Asanexample,Councilsshouldworkwithclubsandschools,andphysicalactivityprovidersshouldworkwithchurchesandyouthgroupstoshareapassionforactiveopportunities.

Finally,wechampionlocalsolutionsandco-design–weneedtohearyoungpeople’svoicesinconversationsanddecisionsaboutthem.Youngpeopleunderstandthewellbeingissuestheyfaceandarebestplacedtoworkwithadultsandco-designmeaningfulsolutionswhichhavelong-lasting,empoweringimpact.I’dliketothankalloftheyoungpeopleandthoseworkingacrossthesectorwhosevoicesarereflectedinandhavecontributedtothisreport.

PETER MISKIMMIN CHIEF EXECUTIVE SPORT NZ

WE ARE PLEASED TO SHARE THE FINDINGS OF OUR REVIEW INTO SECONDARY AGE YOUNG PEOPLE IN SPORT AND ACTIVE RECREATION

Theteenagelifestageisoneofthemostat-riskforestablishingongoinghabitsandalife-longloveofparticipatinginsportandphysicalactivity.

Afterincreasesthroughouttheprimaryyears,teenageparticipationdropsinallareas–timespent,numberofactivities,involvement–andtheproportionofparticipantsspendingnotimeatallbeingactiveclimbsfromaroundtheageof15.1

Girls,inparticular,haveasignificantfocusonself-drivenactivitiessuchaswalkingforfitness,swimmingandrunning/joggingratherthanorganisedteamsport.OurActiveNZSurvey(2017)suggeststhatre-engagementinsportbeyondschoolisincreasinglychallenging,withasignificantreductioninactivityof13.9percentinthe18-24-year-oldagegroupduringthepast16years.2

Studiesshowtheproportionofparticipantswhodon’tlikesportalsoincreasesthroughtheteenageyears,suggestingthesportofferingisnotmeetingtheirneeds.3

Significantissuesthatimpactthequalityofyoungpeople’sexperiencesinclude:

� Self-confidence,self-esteemandbodyimage� Overemphasisoncompetitionandwinning� Earlyspecialisation� Poorplayermanagement–overuseinjuries,pressuretosucceed,selection/

deselection� Lackofability/skills/physicalcompetence� Peerpressure� Parentalpressureandinfluence� Competingdemandsontimeandinterest–study,friends,family,sport,work� Clubvsschoolcompetingdemands� Sportstructuresandofferingsnotrespondingtoyouthexpectations/lifestyle.

“I do realise that it’s quite competitive. You get a bit nervous because you dont want to lose because everyone would be angry with you ‘cos you’d let the ball go past. But most of the time you’re just there to try and enjoy it”-14YEAROLDRESPONDENT,TOUCHPLAYER

1 sportnz.org.nz/managing-sport/search-for-a-resource/research/active-nz-survey-2017 2 Sport and Active Recreation in New Zealand. The 16-Year Adult Participation Trends 1998 to 2014, 20163 Young People’s Survey (YPS), Sport NZ 2011

INTRODUCTION04


When you’re young there’s heaps of teams that you can get into but as you get older it slowly fades out and there’s just less and less teams and to get into them you have to be like highly competitive to even find a team to play in.”

- TEENAGE SPORTS FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANT

Thisreviewaimsto:

� understandthepatterns,barriersandmotivationsforparticipationinsportandphysicalactivitybyyoungteenageNewZealanders

� developanunderstandingofthecurrentandfutureenvironmental/societalandintra-personalimpactsonthatparticipation

� identifyapproachesthatmightbeadoptedbythoseresponsiblefortheprovisionofsportandactiverecreationopportunitiesforthisagegroup.

Someoftheseapproacheswillbeestablishedthroughotherworkcurrentlyunderwayorinimplementation–including:

� SportNZ’snewSportDevelopmentteamfocusesonthecompetitivesportexperiencesofsecondary-agedparticipants

� WearepromotingourTalentDevelopmentPlan,‘BalanceisBetter’,andestablishingAthleteDevelopmentLeaderstoactivatethatplan

� WehaveundertakenreviewsofSportIntegrity,Ma-oriParticipationandtheKiwiSportRegionalPartnershipFund

� WearelookingtoexpandtheGoodSportspilot,designedtocommunicatethecharacteristicsofaqualityexperiencetoprovidersandsupportersofsportforyoungpeople

� WearerespondingtotheGovernment’sStrategyforWomenandGirlsinSportandActiveRecreation4withoursetofcommitments5

� WearepromotingandfurtherdevelopingourPhysicalLiteracy,LocallyLedDeliveryandInsightsapproaches6

� WeareimplementingourActiveRecreationReview7

� Valueseducationprogrammesareavailabletoschools,suchasSportinEducation,TLC(Talent–Leadership–Character),GoodCleanSport(DrugfreeSportNZ)andtheOlympicValuesEducationProgramme

� Weprovideprofessionaldevelopmentsupportforschoolsportpersonnel,includingRSDsandsportscoordinators

� Educationsystemreformsareunderway.8

Thisreviewisinformedbymanyoftheaboveinitiatives,andsomekeypiecesofresearchthatarestillinprogress:ourActiveNZparticipationsurvey,ourVoiceofParticipant(Clubs)andtheVoiceofParticipant(Schools)workledbySportTaranakiandSportTasman.Someofthedatawillbeupdatedasthesepiecesofworkarefinalised.

Thereviewanditsresultingimplementationplanswillalsoinformour2020-24strategy.

4 sportnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/Women-and-Girls-Govt-Strategy.pdf 5 sportnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/Women-and-Girls-Sport-NZ-Commitments.pdf 6 sportnz.org.nz/about-us/who-we-are/what-were-working-towards/three-approaches/ 7 sportnz.org.nz/about-us/our-publications/sport-nz-active-recreation-sector-sept-2016 8 conversation.education.govt.nz

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SchoolSportFuturesIn2014and2015,SportNZundertookacomprehensivereviewofschoolsportandphysicaleducation,theSchoolSportFuturesProject.9Wecompletedthisworkinresponsetolong-standingconcernsaboutthequalityandquantityofphysicalactivity,PEandsportavailabletoyoungpeopleinNewZealand–thereportmade11recommendations:

Supportschools

� ProvideschoolswithaccesstoPEmentorsandteacherprofessionaldevelopment(primary)

� ProvideschoolswithexpertiseinunderstandinganddeliveringaqualityPEcurriculum(primary)

� Engageschool-basedstafftoalignsportandphysicalactivityopportunitieswiththecurriculum,andtoconnectschoolandcommunityopportunities(primaryandsecondary).

Communitiesleadandmanagetheirownsolutions

� Establishcommunityalliancestoensureconsistencyofopportunityandexperienceforyoungpeopleintheircommunities

� EstablishsharedoperatingmodelsforfacilitiesandplacesbetweenschoolsandCouncils

� EstablishaQualityAssuranceprocessforcommunitysportproviderswhoaccessschoolenvironments.

Governmentleadership

� Long-term,cross-partyandcross-agencygovernmentcommitmenttotheplaceofsportandphysicalactivityinyoungpeople’slives

� AdoptaPhysicalLiteracyapproach� Betterresearch,monitorandevaluateyoungpeople’sinitiativestoensuretheyare

meetingtheirneeds� Areviewofinitialteachereducation(ITE).

Parenteducationandinformation

� Betterunderstandwhatmakesaqualityexperienceforyoungpeople,andtherolethatparentsandothersupportersplay.

Thereviewrecommendations,particularlysupportforschools,havebeenimplementedlargelyintheprimarysettingtodatethroughPlay.sport.10Inaddition,wehaveinitiatedaqualityassuranceprocessforproviders,ourPhysicalLiteracyapproach11iswelldeveloped,andweareworkingtoestablishcollaborativepartnershipsbetweenschoolandcommunityfacilityowners.

9 sportnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/attachments/managing-sport/young-people/School-Sport-Futures- Project-Final-Report.pdf 10 sportnz.org.nz/about-us/who-we-are/what-were-working-towards/play-sport 11 sportnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/SPNZ-AG1039-SPNZ-Physical-Literacy-AW4.pdf

PREVIOUS REVIEWS

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SPORT NEW ZEALAND

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BestpracticereviewofsportandPAinterventionsfor13-18-year-olds12

ThemostsignificantNewZealandreviewintothesecondaryagecohortwascompletedin2006andmadeanumberofrecommendationsandobservations:

� Useclearandmoreconsistentterminology(physicalactivity,sportetc)� Establishphysicalactivityguidelines,andmonitorthemmoreeffectively� NationalleadershipfromSPARC(SportNZ)� Clearerrolesandresponsibilitiesforsportprovisiontothisagegroup� Reducethenumberofexternalsport/PAagenciesworkinginschools� MergeschoolsportorganisationswithRSTs,andadoptSchoolSportUnitswithin

thoseRSTs� Makeschoolsportgovernancetheresponsibilityofprincipals’groups,whowouldact

asadvisorstoRSTs� Betterevaluateandmonitorsportandphysicalactivitystrategiesandplans� Increasefocusonunstructured,non-competitiveandnon-sportopportunities,that

fitaroundchangingyouthlifestylesandareinformedbyyoungpeople� Increaseresourcingandsupportforteacherswhosupportsport,andforsports

coordinators� Betterintegrateschoolsport/physicalactivitywithclub/communityopportunities� Anationwidemarketingcampaignaimedat13-18-year-olds.

12 Best Practice Review of Sport and Physical Activity Interventions for Young People Aged 13-18yrs; Kolt et al 2006

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SPORT NEW ZEALAND

TalentdevelopmentIn2015,SportNZconsultedthesectorabouttalentidentificationanddevelopmentaspartofestablishingourTalentStrategy–‘BalanceisBetter’.13Similarthemeswereidentifiedthroughthisprocess:

� Theselection,playerdevelopmentprocessesandcompetitionstructuresadoptedbythesectorareoftennotfocusedonyoungpeoples’needs

� Thereisalackofholisticapproachestodevelopmentandathletemanagement� Therearepoorconnectionsandalignment,andunclearpathways,betweendelivery

agencies–NSOs,RSOs,schools� Parentsupportandunderstandingiscritical� Accesstoqualitycoachingisanimportantenabler� Multiplesportexperiences,ratherthanearlyspecialisation,areimportantintalent

development� Sportinschoolsisoftenseenasamarketingtoolbyschoolleaders,anda

professionalcareeropportunitybyparents.Theeducativevalueofsportisoftenbeinglostinthepursuitofresultsandtrophies.

Inadditiontothesetwokeypiecesofwork,anumberofNewZealandandoverseasresearchershaveregularlyidentifiedtheenablersandbarrierstoparticipationbysecondary-agedyoungpeople.SeveralNSOshaveundertaken,orareconducting,reviewsoftheirsportsinthisagegroup(e.g.NewZealandFootball,NewZealandRugby,NetballNewZealand,VolleyballNewZealand)inresponsetodecreasingparticipationandmembership,andinsightsgatheredthroughresearchtoolssuchastheVoiceofParticipantSurvey.

Similarly,insightsintothepatterns,enablersandbarriersofparticipationinwiderphysicalactivity,particularlyforgirls,havebeenundertakeninestablishinginitiativessuchasShift,HERAandThisisMe(SportWaikato).

Anumberoftherecommendationsfromthesepreviousreviewsandresearchinquirieshavebeenimplemented–forexample,PhysicalActivityguidelines,improvednationalleadership–buttheissuesidentifiedbythemarestillprevalentinthe13-18-yearagegroup.

13 sportnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/SportNZ-BalanceIsBetter.pdf

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WHAT DOES PARTICIPATION LOOK LIKE IN THIS AGE GROUP?

Althoughyoungpeople’sparticipationinsportandphysicalactivityisrelativelyhigh,theteenageyearsaremarkedbyreductionsin:

� timespentparticipating� theproportionoftimespentbeingactiveincurriculumtime(largelyduetoPE

becominganoptionalsubjectafterYear10)� thenumberofactivities� timespentplayingwithfriends� confidenceandperceivedcompetence� theenjoymentofplayingsport.

Whatandhowmuchdotheydo?

Theearlysecondaryyearsaremarkedbythehighestparticipationratesofthelifecourse–98percentof12-14-year-oldsparticipateinsportand/orphysicalactivityatleastonceaweek,foranaverageof12.5hours.However,thesemetricsdecreasesignificantlyforthe15-17-yearagegroup–only89percentreportweeklyphysicalactivityandforareducedamountoftime(average8.3hours).

Thesereductionscanbeseenintheproportionoftimespentinorganised(PE,competitionandcoach-ledtraining)vsinformalactivity(playandself-directedtraining).Theproportionoftimespentinorganisedactivitychangesacrosstheagecohortsfromanaverageof6.1hoursperweekto3.8hoursperweek,largelyattributabletoareductioninPEasthesubjectbecomesoptionalatYear11.ThephysicalactivityassociatedwithPEisnotreplacedbyotherincidentalactivity.

Similarly,thetimespentinplay(withandwithoutfriends)dropsfrom5.5hoursperweekinthe12-14-yearagegroupto3.0hoursperweekinthe15-17-yearagegroup.Atthesametimeasthereisadecreaseintrainingforcompetitionwithacoach(0.6hrs)thereisaslightincreaseintrainingalone,withoutacompetitiveaim(0.2hrs).

Overall,60percentofsecondary-agedyoungpeopleparticipate(onaweeklybasis)inactiverecreation(non-sport)activitiesonly.Thirty-threepercentparticipateinbothcompetitivesportandactiverecreationactivities,andonly1percentparticipatesolelyincompetitivesport.

Physicaleducationisasignificantcontributortothetotaltimespentbeingactive–71percentof12-14-year-oldswereactiveinPE,reducingto40percentwhenPEbecomesanoptionalsubjectinYear11.Thenumbersinvolveddropyear-on-yearafterYear11asthesubjectbecomesmoreacademic,andyoungpeopleleaveschool.TheaveragetimespentinPEforthe12-14-yearagegroupis2.4hoursperweek,reducingto1.1hoursperweekfortheolderagegroup.

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FIGURE 2

WEEKLY PARTICIPATION, AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOURS PER WEEK SPENT PARTICIPATING AND AVERAGE NUMBER OF SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES BY AGE.

Young people are much more active than adults. In any given week, 95 per cent of young people and 73 per cent of adults participate. Young people spend an average of 11 hours participating in 5.4 sports and activities. Adults average 5.3 hours in 2.3 sports and activities.

For young people, weekly participation, time spent participating and number of sports and activities peak between ages 12–14, before declining between ages 15–17. Participation is relatively stable throughout adult years before declining again from age 65.

FIGURE 3

WEEKLY PARTICIPATION AND AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOURS PER WEEK SPENT PARTICIPATING BY AGE AND GENDER.

Weekly participation is the same for males and females, except between ages 50–64 when more females are participating. However, males spend more time participating: an extra hour for young males and half an hour for adult males – with the largest gap at ages 18–24. There is no difference in the average number of sports and activities by age and gender and the trend line reflects that in figure 2.

YOUNG PEOPLE ADULTS

Average # hours per week

Average # sports and activities per week

Weeklyparticipation

10.6

5.1 5.4

11.412.5

8.3

5.95.1 5.1 5.4

5.7

4.4

5–7

94%

18–24

75%

25–34

75%

50–64

72%

8–11

96%

12–14

98%

15–17

89%

35–49

77%

65–74

69%

75+

62%

11

95%

5.3

2.3

73%

5.4

6.4

3.9

2.5 2.6 2.62.1 1.9 1.4

Significantly higher/lower than total

PARTICIPATION

YOUNG PEOPLE ADULTS

73

%

74

%

5.6 5.0

11.6 10.4

5–7 8–11 12–14 15–17 18–24 25–34 35–49 50–64 65–74 75+

Average# hours

Weeklyparticipation

94%95% 92% 95% 96% 98% 98% 89% 89% 77% 74% 78% 74% 76% 78% 70% 75% 68% 71% 62% 61%

11.211.8

11.0 11.7

8.2

5.2

13.2

8.5

6.9

5.3

4.9 5.4 5.7

3.8

5.4 5.4 5.85.1

10.0

4.895

%

94

%

MaleMale participation

FemaleFemale participation

Significantly higher/lower than the other gender in the same age group

FIGURES 2 & 3Base: All respondents, excluding not answered.

Q7. (18+) Thinking back over the last 7 days (not including today) have you done any physical activity that was specifically for the purpose of sport, exercise or recreation? Q12. (5–17) In the last 7 days (not including today) have you done any physical activity specifically for sport, physical education (PE), exercise or fun? Q19. (18+).

Still thinking about the physical activities you have done in the last 7 days, in total how many hours did you spend being physically active for sport, exercise or recreation? Q16b. (5–17) In total in the last 7 days how many hours did you spend being physically active for sport, PE, exercise or fun? Q8. (18+) Which of the following have you done in the last 7 days, and which have you done in the last 12 months? Please only

select the activities where you have been physically active specifically for sport, exercise or recreation. Note: reporting is based on responses to the 7 days component of the question. AND Q97. Please select the additional activities you have done in the last 7 days. Q13. (5 to 17) Please tick all the ways you have been physically active for sport, PE, exercise or fun in the last 7 days (not including today).

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ACTIVE NZ 2017

FIGURE 1WEEKLY PARTICIPATION, TIME AND NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES.

FIGURE 20

WEEKLY PARTICIPATION, I.E, PHYSICALLY ACTIVE IN PE OR CLASS AT SCHOOL PAST 7 DAYS, AND ENJOYMENT OF PE.

Being physically active in any given week in PE or class is highest from ages 8–14, then drops between ages 15–17 when PE is no longer a compulsory subject in the education curriculum.4 Fifty-three per cent continue to be physically active in PE or class at age 15. This drops to 33 per cent at age 16, and 24 per cent at age 17.5 However, overall enjoyment among those taking PE is high.

FIGURE 19

AVERAGE TIME (HOURS) SPENT PER WEEK PARTICIPATING IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORGANISED AND INFORMAL SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES BY AGE.

Young people aged 5–7 spend 7.3 hours or 69 per cent of their time participating through play. Those aged 12–14 spend 6.1 hours participating in organised sports and activities – the most of all other age groups. The amount of time spent participating drops by 4.2 hours between aged 12–14 and 15–17, mostly accounted for by a reduction in time spent in play (2.5 hours) and PE (1.3 hours).

5–7

0.2 0.1

8–11

12–14

15–17

Total (hours)

2.1

2.3

2.4

1.1 0.8 1.9 1.5 1.9 1.1 8.3

1.2 2.5 1.3 3.9 1.6

0.7 1.7 0.3 5.0 1.6

0.9 5.3 2.0

12.5

11.4

10.6

PE (or class at school) Competition Training (with a coach)

Extra training

Organised:

Informal: Playing with friends Playing alone

YOUNG PEOPLE

% Physically active in PE/Class in the past 7 days

Enjoyment (total % agree or strongly agree), for those aged 15–17, this is enjoyment among those who chose to continue doing PE after it was no longer compulsory

Enjoyment (total % agree or strongly agree), among those who stopped doing PE after it was no longer compulsory

5–7 8–11 12–14 1515-17 16 17

65% 68% 71% 53%40% 38% 24%

85% 83% 81%89% 89% 90% 87%

29%28% 33%

26%

Significantly higher/ lower than total

FIGURE 20Base: All respondents aged 5–17.

Q12. In the last 7 days (not including today) have you done any physical activity specifically for sport, physical education (PE), exercise or fun? Q16. Where or how did you do <insert activity> in the last 7 days? Q39a. (5–17) Please select a box on each line to show how much you agree or disagree with each statement. (R1) I like/liked PE or fitness class at school.

4. Weekly participation in PE or class between ages 5–14 when a compulsory school subject does not total 100%, as the reported figure is based on one calendar year, not the school year. It does not consider non-attendance or no physical activity undertaken as part of class.

5. The decline is accounted forby fewer young people taking PE with each successive year and less time spent being active in PE or class.

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FIGURE 2AVERAGE TIME SPENT PARTICIPATING IN SPORT AND ACTIVE RECREATION ACTIVITIES.

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FIGURE 3NON-COMPETITIVE SPORT PARTICIPATION IN THE LAST WEEK.

GenderdifferencesGenderdifferencesinthetimespentparticipatingareevidentinthe12-14-yearagegroup(13.2hoursforboys,11.7hoursforgirls),butthe15-17-yearagegroupshowslittledifference(8.5hoursforboysvs8.2hoursforgirls).

Thereisnosignificantgenderdifferenceinparticipationincompetitiveornon-competitiveactivities.For13-17-year-olds,35percentofgirlsand33percentofboyshaveparticipatedincompetitiveactivities,andforasimilaramountoftime(1.1hoursperweekand1hourperweek,respectively).Fortypercentof12-14-year-oldsparticipateincompetitivesportweekly,droppingto29percentinthe15-17-yeargroup.

Thereisalsolittlegenderdifferenceinthenumberofactivities(average6.4for12-14-year-oldsand3.9for15-17-year-olds).

Themainactivitiestheseagegroupsparticipateinaretypifiedbyhealthandfitnessactivities,play,andgamesinthe12-14-yeargroup,andhealthandfitnessintheolderagecohort.Theonlysportsthatappearinthetopeightactivitiesarenetballforgirls,andfootballandbasketball(for15-17-year-oldsonly)forboys.

OurActiveNZSurvey(2017)alsoclarifiesthatalthoughsomeactivitiesmaybetraditionallyviewedassport,manyparticipantsviewtheirengagementwiththemasnon-competitive.Forexample,acrossthewholeyoungpeopleagerange(5-18-years)only30percentviewedtheirparticipationinfootballascompetitive,26percentinbasketball,50percentinnetballand42percentinrugby.

FIGURE 11

WEEKLY PARTICIPATION IN NON-COMPETITIVE SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES IN THE PAST 7 DAYS BY AGE AND GENDER.

There is no gender difference among young people when it comes to weekly participation in non-competitive sports and activities. On average, female adults are more likely to participate in non-competitive sports and activities, particularly between ages 35–74.

FIGURE 12

WEEKLY PARTICIPATION IN NON-COMPETITIVE SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES BY ETHNICITY AND GENDER.

Among young people, there is little difference in weekly participation in non-competitive sports and activities by ethnicity. Among adults, M-aori, Pacific and Asian are less likely than average to take part, while European and M-aori adult females are more likely to participate in non-competitive activities.

5–7

Male Female

8–11 12–14 15–17 18–24 25–34 35–49 50–64 65–74 75+

YOUNG PEOPLE ADULTS

62

%

64

%

57

%

64

%


75%

58% 56%

62%

54%57% 60% 58%

53%

46%

81%

62%59%

57%

58%62%

69% 69%64%

52%

64%

63%

65%

59%

58%

61%

59%

64%

55%

66%

65%

68%

59%

63%

*

57%

*

61%

50%

*

72%

*

67%

68%

67%

9% gap7% gap

63%

YOUNG PEOPLE

Ma-ori Pacific Asian Samoan Indian ChineseEuropean

Ma-ori Pacific Asian Samoan Indian ChineseEuropean

ADULTS

61%

62%

58%

67%

55%

51%

58%

49%

48%

51%

57%

58%

57%

47%

40%

51%

59%

63%

56%

57%

59%

55%

Ethnicity result is significantly higher/lower than the total

Significant gender difference within ethnicityTotal

Male

Female *Base size less than n=100

FIGURES 10, 11 & 12Base: All respondents, excluding not answered.

Q15. (18+) In the last 7 days, have you done this as a competitive sport or a competitive activity? Q16a. (5–17) Where or how did you do <insert activity> in the last 7 days?

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TABLE 1TOP 8 ACTIVITIES BY AGE. 12-14yrs 15-17yrs

Running, jogging or cross-country Running, jogging or cross-country

Games (e.g. four square, tag, bull rush, dodgeball)

Walking for fitness

Walking for fitness Workout (weights or cardio)

Playing (e.g. running around, climbing trees, make-believe)

Netball

Swimming Swimming

Netball Games (e.g. four square, tag, bull rush, dodgeball)

Dance/dancing (e.g. ballet, hip hop etc)

Dance/dancing (e.g. ballet, hip hop etc)

Trampoline Group exercise class (e.g. aerobics, CrossFit, Jump Jam)

GIRLS

12-14yrs 15-17yrs

Running, jogging or cross-country Running, jogging or cross-country

Games (e.g. four square, tag, bull rush, dodgeball)

Workout (weights or cardio)

Walking for fitness Walking for fitness

Football, soccer or futsal Football, soccer or futsal

Playing (e.g. running around, climbing trees, make-believe)

Cycling or biking

Cycling or biking Games (e.g. four square, tag, bull rush, dodgeball)

Swimming Basketball or Mini-ball

Trampoline Swimming

BOYS

Wheredotheydoit?Themajorityofsecondary-agedyoungpeopleparticipateinsportandphysicalactivityatschool(65percent),57percentathomeandbetween50-58percentinindoorandoutdoorsportfacilities.Themajorityofparticipationshiftsfromclubtoschoolinthesecondaryyears.14

14 sportnz.org.nz/managing-sport/search-for-a-resource/research/young-peoples-survey-2011

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FIGURE 4WEEKLY PARTICIPATION FOR FUN OR PHYSICAL WELLBEING.

Whatenablesorstopsthemdoingit?

Enablers

Thekeyfactorsthatmotivateadolescentyouthtobephysicallyactiveareorientatedaroundthethemesoffun(physicalactivitymustbeenjoyable),bodyimage(concernsandperceivedoutcomesofbeingphysicallyactiveassociatedwith‘notbeingfat’),friends(socialacceptancebypeersandinteraction),asenseofachievement,andenhancedsportperformance.15

Themajority(76percent)ofyoungpeopleparticipateinphysicalactivityforfun,tohangoutwithfriends(45percent)forfitnessandhealth(31percent)andtolearnnewskills(31percent).Thesemotivationsdifferbytypeofactivity,andtheprimarymotivationshiftsfromfuntohealthandfitnessthroughtheteenageyears.Thistrendismoreevidentforgirls(6percentdifferencethroughouttheteenageyears),andgirlsaresignificantlymorelikelytobeactivetoloseormaintainweight,particularlyinthe15-17yearagegroup(22percentvs10percent).16

Foradolescents,higherlevelsofself-esteemarealsothoughttopositivelypredictactivitylevels.Forexample,Reynoldsetal.researchin2004,foundthatself-efficacycorrelatedpositivelywithphysicalactivitybehaviour,andpredictedweeklyphysicalactivityparticipationinUSadolescentsaged14-16years.17Additionally,inareviewofphysicalactivitybehavioursamongchildrenandadolescents,KohlandHobbs(1998)statedthatyoungpeopleparticipateinphysicalactivitiesforwhichtheyhavepositivefeelings.18NewZealandadolescentshavealsoidentifiedbuildingself-confidenceasareasontheyfindsportappealing.19

15 Leslie et al., 1999; O’Dea, 2003; Park & Wright, 2000; Schofield et al., 2002; Wendell et al., 199916 Active NZ 201717 Reynolds et al (2004): Three-step validation of exercise behaviour processes of change in an adolescent sample. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science18 Kohl and Hobbs (1998): Development of physical activity behaviours among children and adolescents Paediatrics.19 Sport NZ (2005): The Value of Sport: attitudes, barriers and motivations for participation in sport by 11-14-year-olds

MOTIVATION

FIGURE 22

WEEKLY PARTICIPATION IN AT LEAST ONE SPORT OR ACTIVITY FOR FUN OR PHYSICAL WELLBEING BY AGE.

With increasing age, participation for fun declines and wellbeing increases. Between ages 15–17 participation for fun drops. Participating for physical wellbeing begins between ages 12–17. Younger adults aged between 18–34 are less likely to participate for physical wellbeing than those adged 50+.

FIGURE 23

WEEKLY PARTICIPATION IN AT LEAST ONE SPORT OR ACTIVITY FOR FUN BY AGE AND GENDER.

Overall, males are more likely to participate for fun. For young people, this appears to emerge between ages 15–17 when the gap between males and females is the greatest.

5–7 8–11 12–14 15–17 18–24 25–34 35–49 50–64 65–74 75+

YOUNG PEOPLE ADULTS

For fun Physical wellbeing

75+


84%

8%

78%

57%

77%

47%54%

78%

24%

82%

23%

79%

18%19%

65% 66%

73%

36% 33%

27%31%

27%

73%

76%

Physical wellbeing

Fun Physical wellbeing

Fun

77

%

74

%

30

%

25

%

5–7 8–11 12–14 15–17 18–24 25–34 35–49 50–64 65–74 75+

YOUNG PEOPLE ADULTS

Male Female Significantly higher/lower than the other gender in the same age group

86%

77%

78%

61%

39% 35% 31% 26% 26%19%

83%80%

76%

54%

33% 31%24% 21% 20% 15%

40

ACTIVE NZ 2017

16


Thevaluethatpeople,organisationsandsocietiesplaceonsportandactiverecreationisalsoapredictorofactivity.WoldandHendry(1998)observed,“Nationsandcountriesdifferinthevalueandmeaningattachedtophysicalactivityintheircultureandthesedifferencesareexpectedtoresultindifferentactivitylevels”.20OurActiveNZSurvey(2017)andtheActiveRecreationreview21identifieddifferencesinparticipationpatternsacrossdifferentethnicgroups,particularlyAsian22,thatmaybeattributabletothisresearchfinding.

Enjoymentishighforallyoungpeople’sagegroups,andthereisrelativelylittlegenderdifference–enjoymentofsportfor15-17-year-oldsis85percent.

Barriers

Irrespectiveofthelevelofactivitytheyarecurrentlyundertaking,allsecondary-agedyoungpeoplewishtodomoreactivity(73percent),particularlygirlsinthe12-14-yearagegroup.

Themainbarriertoincreasingparticipationistime–48percentofthosewhowouldliketobemoreactivearetoobusy.Busylivesassumegreatersignificanceasyoungpeopleprogressthroughtheirteens–41percentof12-14-year-oldsciteothercommitmentsasthereasonwhytheydon’tdoasmuchactivityastheywouldlike,climbingto55percentinthe15-17-yearagegroup,andcontinuingtoincreasepost-secondaryschool.

Seventy-ninepercentofsecondaryschoolstudentsidentifiedschoolworkastheprimaryreasonforthisbusyness–46percentreportedotherhobbies,35percentotherphysicalactivityand20percentemploymentresponsibilities.Schoolworkassumesgreaterimportanceacrosstheagegroups,andtheintroductionofworkandjobsinthe15-17-yearagegroupcorrespondswithsignificantreductionsinotherphysicalactivityandhobbies.

20 Best Practice Review of Sport and Physical Activity Interventions for Young People aged 13-18, pg 57 Auckland University of Technology (2006) ibid.21 sportnz.org.nz/about-us/our-publications/sport-nz-active-recreation-sector-sept-201622 sportnz.org.nz/managing-sport/search-for-a-resource/research/active-nz-survey-2017

17

SPORT NEW ZEALAND

FIGURE 5KEY BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION.

Eighteenpercent(of12-14-year-olds)and30percent(of15-17-year-olds)don’thavetheenergyandsimilarproportions(16percentand27percent,respectively)can’tmotivatethemselvestobeactive.Asignificantproportion(21percent)areaffectedbyjudgementbarriers:lackofconfidence,fitnessorfearoffailure.Judgementbarriersaremoreprevalentforgirls(25percentforgirlscf.16percentforboys).

Fifteenpercentofyoungpeopleinthisagegrouparealsoimpactedbysocialbarriers:nothavinganyonetoparticipatewith,orapeergroupthatisnotactiveintheactivitiessoughtbytheyoungperson.

Physicalandculturalsafetyplayaroleinenablingaccesstophysicalactivity.Theconcernforsafetyregardingactivetransportationwasespeciallyacknowledgedbyfemalestudents23and25percentofmothersworrythattheirchildrenwillgethurtwhentheydophysicalactivity.24Differentethnicgroupsmaybeunabletoparticipateforreligiousorculturalreasons(e.g.respectingreligiousdressrequirements).25

Supplycanalsopresentabarriertoparticipation–thisisparticularlyevidentinlowdecile,highdeprivationareas,andgeographicallyisolatedcommunities.Thesecommunitiestypicallydonothaveaccesstoawidevarietyofsportandactivityproviders,sportandrecreationfacilitiesorequipment.Logisticalbarrierssuchasalackoftransportoptions,eventsandactivitiesthatareonatthe‘wrong’timeandfinancialconstraintsalsopresentsignificantchallenges.

23 Auckland University of Technology (2006) Best Practice Review of Sport and Physical Activity Interventions for Young People aged 13-18, pg 6224 sportnz.org.nz/managing-sport/search-for-a-resource/research/active-nz-survey-201725 School Sport Futures Project, Discussion document 1: Background Information, pg 6

FIGURE 32

HOW KEY BARRIERS CHANGE BY AGE (AGES 8+).

As a barrier, other commitments taking priority or being too busy is higher between ages aged 15–17 and continues to be higher for adults aged 18–49, peaking between ages 25 and 49. Other commitments, preferring to spend time on other interests, and already doing a good amount of activity are barriers for an equal proportion of those aged 65–74. Twenty-four per cent of those aged 18–24 prefer to spend time on other interests and hobbies. This emerges again as more of a barrier from age 65.

FIGURE 33

HOW KEY BARRIERS CHANGE BY AGE (AGES 8+).

Lack of energy and lack of self-motivation are more prominent barriers for adults than young people, although they do surface between ages 15–17. Among adults, lack of energy and self-motivation peak between ages 18–24 before becoming less of a barrier from age 50.

FIGURES 31 32 & 33Base: All respondents, excluding not answered.

Q32. (18+) For what reasons are you not doing as much physical activity as you would like? For what reasons do you not want to do more physical activity than you are currently doing?

Q23. (8-17) Why are you not doing as much physical activity as you would like? Why do you not want to do more than you are currently doing?

49

SPORT NEW ZEALAND

Other commitments are taking priority (e.g, work, family)/too busyI prefer to spend my time on other interests / hobbiesI already do a good amount of physical activity

8–11 12–14 15–17 18–24 25–34 35–49 50–64 65–74 75+

YOUNG PEOPLE ADULTS

42

%

13

%

17

%

58

%

21

%

17

%

Significantly higher/lower than total

35%23%

15%

55%

12%11%

41%

14%12%

63%

11%

24%

72%

9%17%

73%

12%

14%

56%

30%38%

35%

15%

30%29%

19%

19%

8–11 12–14 15–17 18–24 25–34 35–49 50–64 65–74 75+

YOUNG PEOPLE ADULTS

I struggle to motivate myselfI am too tired or don’t have the energy Significantly higher/lower than total

10%

8%

30%

27%18%

16%

35%

39% 34%31%

26%

24% 11%

7%9%

12%20%

19%

17

%

16

%

24

%

23

%

““I got really sick of it because I missed the tryouts because they didn’t give the notices out for where they were…and it was my first year but others knew because they had been there for like four years...” -YEAR9GIRL

NewZealandhasarelativelywell-structuredsystemtosupportsportandactiverecreationforteenagers.Morethan50percentofsecondaryschoolstudentsparticipateinaschoolsportsteam,andmorethan50percentareengagedinsportoractiverecreationthroughacommunityorganisationsuchasaclub–overallsportandphysicalactivityparticipationforsecondary-agedyoungpeopleis93percent.26

TheNewZealandenvironmentislargelyaccessibletoanyonewhowishestobephysicallyactivethroughactiverecreationandplay–localauthoritiesspendanestimated$800millionperyeardevelopingandmaintainingcommunityfacilitiesandspaces.OurActiveNZSurvey(2017)resultssuggestthatthesearewellutilisedbyyoungpeople–58percentofteenagersuseoutdoorsportsfacilitiesand56percentuseoutdoorrecreationlocations.

SchoolsettingGivenmostyoungpeopleattendschool,thisisthemostequitableandaccessibleenvironmentforphysicalactivityandsport,providingtheschoolcultureenablesandencouragesparticipationandactivitybyensuringaccesstotheseopportunitiesforall.

Almostallsecondaryschoolshaveaccesstoadedicatedsportscoordinator(orcoordinators)–manyalsohaveadirector/headofsportresponsibleforsettingthestrategicdirectionofsportintheirschools,andincreasinglyschoolsareaddingsportsexpertiseandathletedevelopmentprogrammestocaterfortalentedathletes.Around6,000teachers,3,700studentsand8,600communitypersonnelcoachschoolteams.

Sportscoordinators,however,areunderpressuretocatertoanincreasingdemandforvarietyandchoiceinthesportoffering.Theytypically:

� arepart-time(54percent)� havebeenintheroleforlessthan3years(53percent)� haveotherschoolrolessuchasteachingorsupportstaff(65percent)� areover46-years-old(50percent)� arefemale(67percent).27

Increasedresourcingforsportscoordinatorshasbeenregularlyproposedthroughreviews–mostrecentlytheGrahamTaskForceReport(2000)28andtheBestPracticeReview(2006)29–andworkloadpressureisregularlycitedasareasonwhytherangeofoptionsavailableinschoolscannotbeexpanded,norinnovativepracticesintroduced.

Schoolsportisalsosupportedbyanetworkofregionalsportsdirectors,andtheNZSecondarySchoolsSportsCouncil(NZSSSC).Theserolestypicallyareresponsibleforcoordinatinganddeliveringacalendarofinter-schoolsportcompetitions,forsupportingtheschoolsportworkforcewithplanningandprofessionaldevelopmentopportunities,andforadvocatingforthevalueofsporttoseniorleadership.Theyalsobrokertherelationshipbetweenthesport(clubs)andtheeducation(school)sectors.

26 Physical activity at least once in the past 7 days for sport, PE, exercise or fun27 nzsssc.org.nz/NZSSSC-Census-Data/Sports-Coordinator-Survey-Report 28 Getting Set for an Active Nation, Prof R McConnell, 200029 Best Practice Review, 2006

THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ENVIRONMENT

18


Morethan200nationalinter-schoolsportseventsarecoordinatedbytheNZSSSC,whichalsodevelopsandimplementspoliciesandproceduresdesignedtoenhancethequalityoftheexperienceforsecondaryschoolparticipants.

Thesettingsforengagementinsportsthroughthesecondaryyearsaresharedbetweentheschoolandtheclubsystem–insomecasesthereisanagreementbyonesettingoranothertobetheprimaryprovider(e.g.rugbythroughschools,swimmingthroughclubs)whileforothercodesthereiscompetitionbetweensettingsformembersandparticipants,particularlyinfootball.

Schoolscontendtheyarebestplacedtounderstandthepressuresfacingyoungpeopleandcanensuretheirsportprovisiontakesthisintoaccount.Clubsontheotherhandarguethedisruptionfromparticipationinacommunitysettingthroughtheprimaryyearsisasignificantcontributortodrop-offpost-secondaryschool,withyoungpeoplefindingitdifficulttore-integrateintotheclubsystemafterfiveyearsawayfromit.

PhysicalEducation(PE)isacompulsorysubjectinsecondaryschoolsuntilYear10,afterwhichitbecomesoptionalinmostschools.OurActiveNZSurvey(2017)reportsthat53percentofstudentscontinuewithPEatYear11,butthatthisproportionreducesthroughtheremainderofthesecondaryyears,to33percentinYear12and24percentinYear13.ThosetakingPEbeyondYear10enjoythesubject(89percent),whilethosethatdon’thaveapoorerviewoftheirtimespentinPEuptoYear10(29percent).

PhysicalEducationispartoftheHealthandPhysicalEducation(HPE)curriculumarea,whichiscentredonhauoraandwellbeing.DespitethecommonlyexpressedviewthatsportandPEaresynonymous,theHPEcurriculumismorecomplex,andsportisonlyoneofmanycontextsthatareusedtodeliverfourstrandsofthesubject:PersonalHealthandDevelopment,MovementConceptsandMotorSkills,RelationshipswithOtherPeopleandHealthyCommunitiesandEnvironments.

In2015,theSchoolSportFuturesprojectobservedthecurriculumdeliveryfromYear11toYear13oftenbecomesmoreacademic,andthatthesubjectareacanfightforacademiclegitimacyamongthemanyoptionsthatareofferedinseniorschool.

FIGURE 6FOUR DIMENSIONS OF HAUORA, TE WHARE TAPA WHA, DR MASON DURIE.

19

SPORT NEW ZEALAND

TAHA HINENGARO Mental healthInseparability of mind and body; expressing thoughts and feelings.

TAHA WHANAU Extended family healthWider social systems; belonging, sharing and caring.

TAHA WAIRUA Spiritual healthUnseen and unspoken energies; faith and spiritual awareness.

TAHA TINANA Physical healthGood physical health.

CommunitysettingMorethan50percentofteenagersparticipateoutsidetheschoolsetting,throughclubs,privateproviderssuchashealthandfitnessbusinessesandfacilityproviders,andoutdoors.

SportNZ’sVoiceofParticipantsurvey(VoP)showedrelativelyhigherdisaffectionthanotheragecohortswiththeclubexperienceamongyoungpeopleinselectedsports.Theywereparticularlydissatisfiedwiththeregistrationprocess,andwerelesslikelythanotheragegroupstorecommendtheclubtoothers.Girls,inparticular,arelesssatisfiedthanboys,particularlyintheareasoffairness,facilitiesandinclusiveness.

Secondary-agedyoungpeoplearemorelikelytojoinacommunityclubforcompetition,seekimprovedcoachingthroughthatenvironmentandtohavebeeninjuredinthepast12months,whencomparedwithotheragecohorts.Clubmembersinthisagegrouparesignificantlylesslikelytobemale,(48percentmalecomparedwith64percentacrossallagegroups),European/Pakeha(66percentcf.80percent)andtobeplayingortraininglessthanonceperweek(9percentcf.24percent).30

30 sportnz.org.nz/managing-sport/voice-of-participant/club-member-experience-survey/

20


HomesettingThehomesettingistheprimarylocationforphysicalactivityinthepre-schoolyears–thisshiftstoclubsandcommunityintheprimary/intermediateyearsandtoschoolsinthesecondaryyears.31

Thehomeenvironmentisincreasinglymarkedbysocietalanddemographicshifts.Morefamilieshavetwoworkingparents,18percentofyoungpeopleliveinsingle-parenthomes,andthereisanincreasingnumberofcouple-onlyfamilies(41percentofallfamilyhouseholds).Theaveragenumberofchildrenperfamilyistwo,andtheageatwhichwomenaregivingbirthtotheirfirstchildisincreasing(29years).32

Theincreasingethnicallydiversepopulationhasanimpactonsupportforsportandphysicalactivity,asparents’valuesdetermineparentalsupportfor,andfamilyprioritisationof,sportandactivity.Increasingproportionsofourpopulationdidnotgrowupwithaheritageofsportandoutdooractivity.Further,someculturesexpectthatyoungpeopleworkinthefamilybusiness,carefortheirsiblingsandwiderwha-nau,orobservereligiouspracticesthatmayconflictwithweekendgames,practicesessionsandactiverecreation/sportopportunitiesoutsidetheschoolsetting.

Parentalinfluenceplaysanimportantroleindeterminingyoungpeople’sactivitybehaviour,eitherdirectlythroughmodelling,orindirectly(Kohl&Hobbs,1998;Sallis,2000a),andhasbeenshowntohavebothpositiveandnegativeeffectsonyoungpeople’ssportandphysicalactivitybehaviour.33The2011YoungPeople’sSurveyshowedthatparentsaretheprimaryinfluencersforboysandgirlsaged10-14years.

Thenumberofactivitiespresentedinthehomesettinginearlierchildhoodhasbeenshowntohaveaneffectonpersistentactivity,persistentinactivity,anddecliningparticipationinadolescence34andpsychologicalfactorsarealsowidelyacceptedasdeterminantsofphysicalactivitybehaviourinyoungpeople(Sallisetal.,2000;Strauss,Rodzilsky,Burack,&Colin,2001).

Parentsarethefunders,transportersandsupportersofsportandactiverecreationforyoungpeopleandassucharemajordeterminantsinthefrequency,timeandlocationofthatactivity.Inadditiontothepositivecontributiontheymake,theirvaluesandattitudescandrivenegativebehaviourssuchasanemphasisonearlyspecialisation,afocusonwinningoverdevelopment,poorsidelinebehaviour,andpursuitoftalentdevelopmentopportunitiesatyoungagesthroughacademiesandcamps.

31 sportnz.org.nz/managing-sport/search-for-a-resource/research/young-peoples-survey-201132 Statistics NZ, 2013 Census33 As cited in Best Practice Review of Sport and Physical Activity Interventions for Young People aged 13-18, (2006) pg 5934 Richards, R., Poulton, R., Reeder, A.I., Williams, S.M. (2009).Childhood and contemporaneous correlates of adolescent physical inactivity: a longitudinal study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2009, 44(44), 260-267.

21

SPORT NEW ZEALAND

GenerationZToday’ssecondary-agedyoungpeoplearepartoftheGenZgeneration(oriGen,orFoundersorCentennials,bornafter1996)comprising25percentoftheUSpopulation(morethanBabyBoomersandMillennials).

GenZarehighlyeducated,wanttomakeadifferenceintheworldandaremorediversethanMillennials.Theyareincreasinglyself-aware,self-reliant,innovativeandgoal-oriented.

GenZarethefirstgenerationnottohaveknownlifewithoutsocialmedia–42percentfeelthatsocialmediahasadirectimpactonhowtheyfeelaboutthemselves,andthesamepercentagesaysocialmediaaffectshowpeopleseethem(comparedto28percentofthepreviousgeneration).Socialmediaalsoimpactsontheirhappiness(37percent)andself-esteem(39percent).

ResearchersintheUShaveshownGenZyouthhavelowerteenpregnancyrates,lesssubstanceabuse,andhigheron-timesecondaryschoolgraduationratescomparedwithMillennials.Theycomparedteensfrom2008and2014andfounda40percentdropinteenpregnancy,a38percentdropindrugandalcoholabuse,anda28percentdropinthepercentageofteenswhodidnotgraduateontimefromsecondaryschool.35

Theyprefertobecommunicatedwithviasocialmedia,prefer‘coolproducts’over‘coolexperiences’andrespondto‘edgy’campaigns(preferablythroughvideo).Seventy-fivepercentwanttoconverttheirhobbiestofulltimejobs,and61percentwouldratherbeanentrepreneurthananemployeeaftertheyfinishschool.36

WellbeingandhealthAlthoughmostteenagersarerelativelywellandhappy,thereisanincreasingprevalenceofthosewithmentalhealthconcerns,particularlyforgirls.Thirty-sevenpercentofsecondary-agedstudentsreportedsleepproblemsthathadlastedmorethanonemonth,19percentreporteddepressionand17percentanxiety.37Ratesofyouthsuicideinthisagegrouparethehighestintheworldforboys,andfourthhighestforgirls.Highdeprivationcommunitiespresentelevatedmentalandphysicalhealthissues.

Screentimeandsocialmediausehavebeenshowntocorrelatetoincreasedfeelingsoflonelinessandfeelingleftout,andincreasedlikelihoodofdepression.38Anti-depressantuseamong14-18-year-oldsinNewZealandhasincreased102percentsince2006.39

Weightandbodyimageissuesaresignificantforthisagegroup,andyoungpeopleincreasinglycitephysicalwellbeingastheprimarymotivatorfortheirengagementinsportandphysicalactivity.Pressuretoconformtoabodyshapeandsizeiswelldocumentedandhasbeenexacerbatedbypublicmedia,advertisingandsocialmediacampaignswhichportrayimagesthatfewyoungpeoplecanidentifywith,butneverthelessaspireto.

OurActiveNZSurvey(2017)showsapositivecorrelationbetweentheamountoftimespentbeingactive,andaseriesofwellbeingindicators:emotionalwellbeing,healthyeating,sleepandreducedscreentime.

THE WORLD YOUNG PEOPLE LIVE IN

35 aecf.org/blog/who-is-generation-z 36 VisionCritical 201537 Youth 2000 Survey Series – The Health & Wellbeing of NZ Secondary School Students 201238 Jean M. Twenge: iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy..”39 Amy Wiggins: NZ Herald 7 June 2017

22


Wellbeingisalsoanincreasinglyimportantpoliticaldrivergivenitscontributiontothehealthsystem,workforceproductivityandeducation.Initialfindingsfromtheeducationreformconsultationssuggestwellbeingwillbeacentralplankoftheeducationsystemofthefuture,andgovernmentagenciesareincreasinglyincorporatingwellbeingoutcomesintheirplanning.

TechnologyandthefutureTechnologyisnowanintegralpartofyoungpeople’slives,anditsimpactandconsequencesforsportandphysicalactivityissignificant.Sincethewidespreadadoptionofthesmartphonein2012,youngpeoplehaveunlimitedaccesstoknowledgeandinformation,acommunicationsandsocialnetworkingtool,apersonaltrainer,andawayofcapturing,recordingandcommentingontheirandtheirpeers’lives.

Technologyissignificantlychangingyoungpeople’sexpectations,andthequalityoftheirexperiences.Wearabletechnologyprovidesinstantfeedbackonperformanceandactivity–hapticsensorsinclothingandequipmentarenotonlyacentralpartofthegamingexperience,butarewidelyusedtoenhancetheactiverecreationandsportexperienceaswell.Feedbackondistancetravelled,heartrates,calorieexpenditureandsleeppatternsarewidelyaccessedviaFitbitsandwatches,andthephonehasbecomeatrackingandrecord-keepingtoolthatshowsprogressagainstselforcoach-imposedprogrammesandregimes.

Thedatacollatedthroughthesetoolscanbeusedbyalgorithmsto‘push’productsandmessagestoyoungpeople,andwilleventuallybeusedasawayofpersonalisingandtargetingtherecreationandsportopportunitiesavailabletothem.ArtificialIntelligence(AI)willalsoprocessdatastreamstoenablereal-timeadjustmentstodecisionmakingandgamestrategies–theNBAhasalreadycommencedworkinthisarea.

Theabilitytoenhanceandmodifyaperson’smakeup,byeditinggenesresponsibleformusclemass,bonedensity,oxygendeliveryandpain,forexample,isbecomingmoreaccessibleandwidespreadandwillfundamentallychangethelevelplayingfieldofperformance.Itmayalsorenderthecurrenteffortstodetectandpunishathleteswhouseexternallyappliedperformanceenhancementproducts–includingdoping–redundant.

23

SPORT NEW ZEALAND

Themostcommonlogisticalbarrierstoparticipation–transport,equipmentandtime–willalsobeimpactedbyadvancesintechnology.Self-drivingcarsareinthefinalstagesofdevelopmentandtesting,3Dprintingisnowsoadvancedthatitcanreliablyproducesportandrecreationgearandclothingcustomisedfortheparticipant’sneeds,andvirtualandaugmentedrealityadvances,coupledwithsocialnetworking,meansmanysportandrecreationexperienceswillbeabletobeaccessedfromhomeratherthaninaphysicalspaceorplace.

Thenextgenerationwirelesscoverage(5G)willbeabletorenderimagerythatisalmostindistinguishablefromreality,enablingVRandARactivityenvironmentstobeaccessiblethroughphonesandwearables.Themergingoftechnologyandthedeliveryofsportwillbeasignificanttrendthesectorwillneedtoaccommodateifsportandrecreationaretoremainrelevantinyoungpeople’slives.

DiversityandinclusionNewZealand’sincreasingethnicdiversityrequiresanincreasedrangeofoptionstoensuremigrantcommunities’needs,experiencesandskillsetsarerecognisedandmet.Oftenthereisnooneavailableinschoolsorthecommunitywhohasexperienceorknowledgeoftherelevantcodes(e.g.kabaddi,sepaktakraw,variousmartialarts),andthesportandrecreationsectorisrelativelyslowatrespondingtochangingmarketneeds.

ResearchsuggestsPacificIslandgirlsaretheleastactive(52percentactive)amongdifferentethnicgroupsstudied.Thismaybeexplainedbytheresultsofaqualitativestudyonthevalueofsportin11-14-year-oldswhichreportedthatsomePacificIslandparentswerefoundtobeveryprotectiveoftheirdaughtersandwouldnotallowthemtoassociatewithboysorparticipateinmale-dominatedsports.Additionally,somePacificIslandfemalesbelievedtheywereexpectedtorestricttheirfocusonsportandconcentrateonacademicormusicalactivities.40

Youngpeoplearelookingformeaningfulexperiencestheycanuseasawayofhavingfun,developingsocialandphysicalskills,anddevelopingtheirfitness.GillandOverdorfstatethatapsychosocialfactorinfluencingexerciseparticipationisthemeaningoftheexerciseexperienceforthatperson.41Whenthatexperienceisviewedasmeaningful,apersonwillbemoremotivatedtoparticipateinthatactivity.Inaddition,thepositivephysicalchangesthatcanresultfromincreasedphysicalactivitywillonlyservetoempowerteenagegirls(WrightandDewar,1997).42Thisconceptofmeaningfulnessneedstobeunderstoodinthecontextofdifferentgenders,ethnicities,sexualorientations,agesandevenacrosstime–whatmightbemeaningfultodaymaynotbetomorrow.

BiddleandMurtriestatethat,“experiencingpreviousachievementandhavingabilityatsportsleadkidstocontinue,butitisthelevelofself-efficacy(theconfidenceanindividualhasinbeingabletoperformabehaviour),inparticular,thathasbeenwidelylinkedwithphysicalactivitybehaviourinadults.”43Self-efficacyenablesyoungpeopletoaccessopportunitiesbutreliesonthedevelopmentoftheirconfidenceinearlieryears.

40 Sport NZ (2005): The Value of Sport: attitudes, barriers and motivations for participation in sport by 11 to 14-year-olds41 Gill and Overdorf (1994): Incentives for exercise in younger and older women, Journal of Sport Behaviour42 Wright and Dewar (1997): On Prejudice and Pain: Women Speak Out About Physical Activity43 Biddle and Mutrie (2001): Psychology of Physical Activity: Determinants, well-being and interventions

24


Disabledyoungpeopleareregularlyexcludedfromsportandactiverecreationopportunities,eitherthroughalackofopportunities(particularlysportcompetitions),oralackofsupport.Therearefewrelatabledisabledrolemodels,andschoolsoftendonotplaceahighvalueontheachievementsofdisabledathletesthroughpromotion,opportunitycustomisation,orrecognition.

Similarly,theLGBTQIcommunityregularlyexperiencesexclusionfromactivityonthebasisoftheirgenderidentity–thiscanrangefromlogisticalissuessuchasaccesstochangingfacilitiesandexclusionaryteameligibilitycriteria,toconsciousandunconsciousbiasincoachingandothersupportsystems,andpeerexclusionpractices.Arecentsurveyof17,00013-17-year-oldsintheUSidentifiedthatonly24percentofLGBTQyouthplayaschoolsport,comparedto68percentofnon-LGBTQyouth.Andthenumbersgetworsewhenyoubreakthemdown:only14percentoftransgenderboysandnonbinaryyouth,and12percentoftransgendergirls,participateinschoolsports.44

RiskandadventureAdventureandactionsportsandactivitiesarenowchallengingtraditionalcodesforviewershipandengagement,andunlikemoretraditionalcodes,thenumbersinvolvedaregrowing.Theseactivitiesincludefreestyleversionsofcycling(e.g.MTBandBMX),skate,snowandsurfsports,climbingandskydiving,andmotorsports.Aconsequenceoftheriseinpopularityofadventureandactionsportsistheplethoraofnationalandinternationalevents,typifiedthroughhighlymonetisedandpromotedeventssuchastheX-Games.

Manyoftheseeventsandaction/adventureactivitiesaredrivenbysocialmedia–GoProcamerasalesintheUSwereexpectedtoreach9millionin2018andgrowingatnearly50percentannually.AdventuresportslendthemselveswelltovideoandareoneofthemostpopularcategoriesonYouTube–morethan400hoursofvideoisuploadedeveryminuteworldwideanditisthemostpopularsocialmediaplatforminNewZealand,justaheadofFacebook.

PersonalisationandchoiceYoungpeopleareincreasinglyseekingacustomised,personalisedexperienceinsportandactiverecreation.Theprovisionofopportunitiesneedstoaccommodateworkloadsatschool(increasing),theneedtoremainconnectedto(anddevelopnew)peergroups,after-schoolresponsibilities,andtoprovideapositive,reinforcingexperiencefromtheirinvolvement.Theabilityandtendencytooptinandoutofactivitydependingonthe‘fit’withyoungpeople’sliveshasimplicationsforthecurrentsportdeliverymodel.

Youngpeoplewilldeterminewhattheyneedandwhentheyneedit–theincreasinguseofonlinemediasuchasNetflixandYouTuberatherthanTV,pay-for-playaccesstogymsatanytimeofthedayornight,onlineshopping,accesstocloud-basedcoachingandpersonaltrainingprogrammes,andtheriseofthe‘virtualclub’thatisorganisedbytextorsocialmediaareexamplesofthismovetoindividualismandpersonalisation.

SummarySecondary-agedyoungpeoplearecharacterisedbyadesireforconnectivity,relevanceandchoice.Increasinglyitistechnologythatisprovidingthesethingsratherthanthesportandactiverecreationexperience.Ratherthanadiscretesetofopportunitiesdeliveredbymultiple,unconnectedproviders,thedemandfromyoungpeopleistobeabletoaccessanopportunityatalevel,time,costandlocationthatsuitsthem,irrespectiveoftheprovider.

44 Play to Win: Improving the Lives of LGBTQ Youth in Sports 2018

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SPORT NEW ZEALAND

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Howdoweknow?InNewZealand,andglobally,itisrecognisedthatphysicalactivityisreducing,andthereisadeclineintheimportanceplacedon,andpracticeof,qualityPE.SchoolsettingsprioritisesubjectsotherthanPE(intermsofsupportforteachers,teachertraining,andqualityandquantityofdelivery),infavourofafocusonnumeracy,literacyandcoursesthatequipyoungpeopleforcareersorfurthereducation.ThereispoorunderstandingoftherolethatqualityPE,sportandactiverecreationplayinestablishingemployabilityskills,self-management,confidence,andyoungpeople’sdevelopment.

Parentsareoftenfocusedonthewin/loseoutcomesofsport,ratherthanyoungpeople’sdevelopmentthroughsport.Theyareregularlycapturedbyargumentsputforwardbythesportsectortospecialiseearly,eitherovertly,orthroughpracticessuchaslengtheningseasons,punitiveselectionprocesses,and/oryear-roundofferings.Atthesametime,talentedathletesareincreasinglyseentobedevelopingasenseofentitlement,particularlythosewithhighmediaattentionandfinancialrewards.45Andthereareregular,andwidelyreported,incidencesofpoorsidelinebehaviour.

Thereisdisparityinthesportsystemforgirls,particularlyinthehighperformancesystem.Fewerresourcesareallocated,therearefewercareerpathways,lessprofile,andlowerfinancialrewards.Mediacoverageofgirlsandwomen’ssportispoor–fewrolemodelsareportrayeddespitehighlevelsofsuccess.Similarly,thevoiceofwomenandgirlsisnotheardatthegovernancelevelofsport.

Finally,therearemedium-highdensityhousingpressuresalongsidearelativelylowprioritygivenbyCouncilstoplanningforbothoutdoorandindoorsportandrecreationplacesandspaces.Overall,moreyoungpeopleunderstandthevalueofsportandphysicalactivitythanreportpersonalbenefitfromit.46Clearlythevalueascribedtobeingactivesitsbelowotherchoices.

KEY THEMES, RISKS AND APPROACHES

45 Respect & Responsibility Review, NZ Rugby 201746 sportnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/Angus-Associates-Value-of-Sport-FINAL.pdf

Thevalueofbeingactiveisn’talwaysrecognised,realisedorpromotedbyschools,parentsandcommunityorganisations.

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Whataretheimplications?Unlessyoungpeopleunderstandthevaluethatsportofferstothempersonally,theywillnotprioritisephysicalactivityandsportintheirlivesevenwhenthebarrierstoparticipatingarereduced.

Severalsignificantrisksexistinthepresentenvironment:

� AnylossofPEasacurriculumsubject,oritscontinuedmarginalisationinschools,willbecatastrophicforthesportsystemandforthevaluethatyoungpeopleplaceonbeingactive.ThefoundationskillsandknowledgedevelopedthroughtheHPEcurriculumcannotbereplacedbytheprivatesector.

� Parentswilldriveschoolsandsportstonarrowtheirfocustocaterforconfident,talentedathletes,andtoseesportasacareeropportunityratherthanasaworthypursuitinitsownright.

� Thesportsystemwillincreasinglyfocusonpracticesassociatedwithhighperformanceandprofessionalism,andreducetheirresourcingandsupportforsportforall.

� Continuedpoorsidelinebehaviourwillleadtothelossofparticipants,coachesandofficials.

� Thepositiveimpactofaphysicallyactivelifestyleonteenagers’mentalandphysicalhealthwillbereduced(throughouttheirlives).

� Agrowingsenseofentitlementamongyoungpeopleandexitfromthesportsystemif/whentheirexpectationsarenotmet.

� Anincreasednumberof‘remedial’programmeswillbedesignedtoequipyouthwithskillsforlife,ratherthanmaximisingtheestablishmentofthesethroughsportandphysicalactivity.

� Urbandesigndoesnotenableorprovidesafeopportunitiesforpeopletobeactive.

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Whatmightwedoaboutit?Firstandforemost,weneedtoprovideeducationaboutyoungpeople’sneeds,developmentalstages,theimportanceofplayandactiverecreationinteenagers’lives,andtherealitiesoftalentdevelopmentandtransfer.Thisshouldbedirectedtoadultswhoprovideopportunitiesandsupportforyoungpeople,particularlyparentsandcoaches.

Oursuggestedapproachesinclude:

� Improvetheprofileandarticulationofthevalueofsportandactiverecreationwithnationalandlocalgovernmentagencies,educationandhealthprovidersandinstitutions,andyoungpeople.

� Establishyouthsportchampionswithappropriatemessagesthathighlightthevalueofsportwiththeirpeers.

� Establishandsupportarolemodellingprogrammeensuringcoverageofgirls,disabledyoungpeople,youngpeoplefromvariousethnicgroupsandotherlowparticipatingcommunities,andparticipantsfromsmallersportsorrecreationactivities.

� Dedicatesecondary-ageexpertiseinsideRSTs,NSOsandotherprovidersthatusesinsightsandthevoiceofparticipanttoadviseonappropriatedesignanddeliveryofopportunitiestosecondary-agedyoungpeople.

� Developandusemarketsegmentationtotargetcustomisedofferings,valuepropositionsandpromotions.

� Supportteacherengagement,confidenceandcompetenceinusingtheconceptsofsportandactiverecreationasateachingandlearningcontext.

� Inputintotheeducationreforms–wellbeinghasbeenidentifiedasthetoppriorityforeducationandtheconsultationunderwayisanopportunitytolinksportandrecreationmorecloselytotheeducationsystemofthefuture.

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Howdoweknow?Youngpeopletellussportandphysicalactivitybecomelessenjoyableastheyprogressthroughtheirteens–theyareamongtheleastsatisfiedwiththeirclubsportexperiences.

Whilethesportsystemgenerallyaccommodatesdisparityinsizeandskilllevelthroughcustomisedcompetitions,theretendstobeaconsistentdeliverymodel(e.g.16-weekcompetitions,selectionandtrials,standardandinflexibleteamsizes,formalisedcoaching)thatdoesnotfitthechanginglifestylesofyouthnoraccommodatetheirchangingmotivationstobeinvolved.Year9competitionstructurestendtomirrorthoseinYear13,buttheaudienceisdifferent.

AfterYear10,participationdecreasesyear-on-yearinbothsportandactiverecreationinthisagegroup.47Youngpeopletellustheywouldplaymoresportiftheycouldtrydifferentcodesbeforetheycommittedtoplaying,couldplayfriendlygameswheretheresultwasnotafocus,andiftheywerebetteratthesportsavailable.Oneofthemostregularlyreporteddisincentivestoparticipationisthecompetitivenatureoftheavailableofferings,particularlyforgirls.

Choiceisincreasinglyimpactedbylengthenedandclashingsportsseasons,andadrivebysportsorganisationstodeliveryear-roundofferings.Thismeansyoungpeopledonothaveabreakbetweenseasons,andincreasinglyarebeingforcedtochooseeitherawinterorsummersport–butnotboth.

Thereisanincreasingprevalenceofoveruseinjuriesinteenagersmorecommonlyseeninolderathletes,includingACLreconstructions,patellartendonitis,shinsplintsandtenniselbow.

Whataretheimplications?Establishingandmaintainingactivelifestylesinyouthisapredictorofparticipationasanadult.48Failuretoaccommodateteenagers’activerecreationandsportneedswillresultinreducedadultparticipationandincreaseassociatedhealthandproductivitydownsides.

Highdeprivationareaswillbeparticularlyimpactedbybarrierssuchastransportandcost.Aslifebecomesmorecomplexandbusy(employment,studypressures,sociallives)thesegroupswouldbenefitsignificantlyfromadoptingahealthyactivelifestyle–conversely,failuretodosocompoundsmanyoftheotherchallengesfacedinthesecommunities,includingmentalandphysicalhealth.

Activerecreationandsportofferingsarenotmeetingtheneedsofallteenagers.

47 YPS 201148 Sports Participation Among Females from Adolescence to Adulthood – A Longitudinal Study, International Review of the Sociology of Sport, Dec 2006. Sport participation by youth as a predictor of physical activity – A longitudinal study, Murphy, Rowe, Woods 2015

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Severalsignificantrisksexistinthepresentsituation:

� Failuretomeettheneedsofdiversecommunitieswillresultinoverrepresentationofthesegroupsinsedentary/inactive/disengagedyoungpeople–thecurrentlowparticipatinggroupssuchasdisabled,certainethnicities,andsociallydisadvantagedwillcontinuetomissoutonthebenefitsofaphysicallyactivelifestyle.

� Reducedoptionsfortraditional,team,organisedsportsandincreaseinpay-for-play,smallerandself-selectedteams,andsocialmedia-drivenactivityoptionshaveimplicationsforthecurrentsportssystem.Inparticular,thevolunteerinfrastructurethatisdriventhroughthetraditionalsportsystem,andtheconnectednessandcontributionthatthesportsystemoffers,couldbelost.

� Astherelevanceofexistingsportstructuresandsystemstoteensdecreases,theresultingreducedmembershipwillreducethetraditionalsportssystem’srevenueandcapacity.

� A‘lostgeneration’nolongerfamiliarwithandengagedinacultureofactivelifestyleshassignificantconsequences.Ourpatternsofbehaviour,attitudesandvaluesaretransferredtoourchildren–itishighlyunlikelythatwewillbeabletorecreatethiscultureonceitislost.

Whatmightwedoaboutit?Asthemajorityofsecondary-agedyoungpeopleparticipateinsportandphysicalactivityatschool,itstartswiththeschoolcontext.Werecommendreviewingthecompetitivesportstructureandofferingsavailabletosecondary-agedpeopleandcustomisefortheirneeds–particularlytheneedsofthosecurrentlydisengagedorinactive.Inparticular,distinguishbetweenYear9-10,andYear11-13cohortsandpresentawiderrangeofoffersintheolderagegroup.

Somefurthersuggestedapproachesinclude:

� Make‘choice’afundamentalprinciple;enforceseasonality,discourageearlyspecialisationandyear-roundofferingstoyoungpeople,andincentivisevarietyinofferingstoyoungpeople.

� Establishclearprinciplesandpracticesacrossthesectoraboutrepresentativeteams,ensuringchoiceanddevelopmentforallarekeyunderpinningprinciples.

� Sportsandschoolsshouldreviewtheirselectionprocessestobetterunderstandthepathwaysandopportunitiesavailableforthosewhoare‘deselected’.Opportunitiesforself-selectedteamsshouldbewidelyavailableandaccommodated.

� Maximisetimeontaskbycustomisingtraditionalsportformats.SomeNSOsarealreadyresearchingtheeffectsofdifferentcompetitionformats,forexample,onnumberoftouchesorgoalshootingopportunities.

� Thesportsystemshouldadoptmoreagileapproachestosportdesignanddeliveryandbepreparedtoregularlychangetheirofferingsasyoungpeople’smotivationsandpersonalcircumstanceschange.

� Establishandmakeavailableamenuofoptionsthatmeetyoungpeople’sconfidenceandcompetencelevels,ratherthantechnicalandtacticalsportskillsandknowledge.Theseoptionsshouldrangefromplay,tohealthandfitnessactivities,tooutdoorrecreation,tosportskilldevelopmentopportunities–andshouldaccommodateyoungpeople’ssocialneeds.

� Specificinitiativesandsupportstructuresshouldbedevelopedforthosewiththemostsignificantbarrierstoparticipation–particularlydisabledyoungpeopleorthosefromhighdeprivationcommunities.

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49 sportnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/attachments/Sport-New-Zealand-Play-Principles-Nov-2017.pdf

� ApplySportNZ’sPlayPrinciples49tothesecondarysetting,andworktoprovideplayasalegitimateactivityoptionforteenagers.

� Clarify,negotiateandagreerolesandresponsibilitiesbetweencommunityproviders,clubsandschoolsinprovidingandsupportingactiverecreationandsportatalocallevel.Ensuretherearenopenaltiesforthepathwaychoicesmadebyyoungpeople.

� Proactivelyusetechnologytoenhanceyoungpeople’sactiverecreationandsportexperience.Considerestablishinglinkswithe-gamingorganisationsandindustrywithaviewtogainingabetterunderstandingoftheopportunitiespresentedbyincorporatingvirtualandaugmentedrealityintothesportandrecreationoffering.

� Bettercommunicateopportunitiestoyoungpeople,throughappsandsocialmedia.Smartphonesshouldbetheprimarysourceofinformation,enrolmentorregistrationforopportunities.Sectororganisationsshouldpushmessagestothemthroughthesechannels,ratherthanexpectingthemtofindthemamongtheplethoraofplatformsandsitesavailabletothem.

� Usesegmentationtocustomisethesportandrecreationopportunitiesandsupportofferedtoyoungpeople.Ensurethesportandrecreationofferingisinformed,designedanddeliveredbygroupswhoincorporatemeaningfulparticipationforyoungpeople–empowerandresourceyoungpeopletoimplementactivitiesforthemselves,theirpeersandcommunities.

� Incorporate(andvalue)eventsintotheschoolsetting,ratherthanlonger-termsportcompetitionleagues.Initiatepop-upeventsdeliveredbystudents.

� Makegender-exclusivehealthandfitnessopportunitiesavailableinschoolstoaddresscostandjudgementbarriers.

� Bemoreovertaboutourroleandfocusonphysicalactivity,includingactivetransport,astheseopportunitiesbettermeettheneedsofyoungpeopleinthesecondaryyearsandmaintainaleveloffitnessandconfidencethatwillequipthemtore-enterthesportsystemwhentheyareable.

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Howdoweknow?Thereisnocommon,agreedunderstandingoftheoutcomesweareseekingforyoungpeopleinNewZealandacrossagencies–governmentorcommunity.Noristhereacommonapproachtoplacingyoungpeopleatthecentreofourdecision-making,ortheroletheyshouldplayindesigninganddeliveringthesportandrecreationexperienceforthemselvesandtheirpeers.

Similarly,thereisnocommonunderstandingofteenagers’lives–theirneedsanddesires–andnocommonplantoensuretheseneedsanddesiresaremet.

Theincreasingrelevanceandintegrationoftechnologyandsocialmediainteenagers’livesisoftennotappreciatedbypreviousgenerationswhoarelargelyresponsiblefortheprovision(anddesign)ofopportunitiesforthisagegroup.Insomecases,theyareactivelyopposingitsadoptionratherthanworkingtounderstandhowitcanbeusedtoenhancethequalityoftheexperienceforyoungpeople.

Althoughsomeschools,clubsandregionsreachagreementsonscheduling(e.g.weekdayvsweekendcompetitions)andselection,thereisstillcompetitioninmanyregionsbetweenschoolsandclubsforplayers,timeandfacilities.Relativelyfewformalisedschool-clubagreementsareinplace,eventhoughschool-clublinkshavebeenidentifiedasasolutiontoreducedparticipationsincethe1980s.

Disadvantagedgroups–suchasthosewhoaredisabled,indeprivedcommunitiesorgeographicallyisolated–reportdifficultyinunderstandinghoworganisationsintheircommunityworktogethertoprovideanexperienceforthem.The‘entryandre-entrypoints’toanactiverecreationorsportopportunityarenotclearandconsistent.OurDisabilitySportandActiveRecreationReviewhasidentifiedunclearrolesandresponsibilities,andconfusedpathwaysfordisabledyoungpeople.50

Thetimeframesforteamselectionandcompetitiondeliveryinschoolsareoftendrivenbyanationalorregionalqualificationmodelthatdoesnotalwaysmeettheworkload,familiarisationandsocialisingneedsofsecondary-agedyoungpeople,particularlyinYear9.Earlyselectionprocessesandpre-seasongamesforwinterteams,andexistingYear8clubcommitmentsforsummercodesareparticularlyproblematic.

Thereislittletransferofsportandactivityinformation(includingleadershipdevelopment)tosecondaryschoolsfromfeederintermediateschools.Increasinglyacademiesandtalentdevelopmentprogrammesarebeingestablishedinschoolswithlittlereferenceto,orintegrationwith,thesportsinvolved.

TheconsultationsthatinformedourTalentPlanandSportDevelopmentApproachidentifiedsignificantissueswithpoorplayermanagementandwelfarearisingfrompoorschool-clubrelationships.51Overuseinjuriesandheavyworkloads,particularlyfortalentedathletes,areprevalent.

Overall,theValueofSporttogovernmentagendas(particularlyeducationandhealth)isnotwellunderstoodoractivated.52Governmentdriversandaccountabilitiesaretypicallyshortterm,notwelljoinedupandofteninconsistent.

Organisationsaren’tworkingeffectivelytogethertoprovidequalityexperiencesforyoungpeople.

50 sportnz.org.nz/about-us/who-we-are/what-were-working-towards/disability-sport-and-recreation-review/ 51 sportnz.org.nz/about-us/our-publications/our-plans-and-programmes/talent-plan/ 52 sportnz.org.nz/news-and-events/media-releases-and-updates/articles/value-of-sport

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Whataretheimplications?Severalsignificantrisksexist:

� Disjointed,inconsistentandduplicatedprovisionofsportandrecreationopportunitiesforyoungpeople.

� LeadershipdevelopmentinprimaryandintermediateschoolisnotrecognisedatYear9–weare‘missing’asignificantcohortofpotentialcoaches,managers,officialsandeventorganisersinthesecondaryenvironmentbyonlyrecognisingleadersinthesenioryears.

� Newentrantstosecondaryschoolsarebeingaskedtotrialforsportsteamsbeforetheyhavedevelopedthesocialandothernetworksthatwillsupporttheirexperience.Studentslackingconfidence,inparticular,willoptoutoftrialsandmayfinditdifficulttore-enterthesportsystem.

� Alackofunderstandingacrossgovernmentoftherolethatsportandactiverecreationmightplayintheiroutcomesandaccountabilities,andSportNZ’srole.

� Competitionforplayers,officialsandcoachesbetweenschoolsandcommunityorganisations.

� Entryandre-entrytosportandactivitybecomestoohard,andyoungpeopleoptout.

Whatmightwedoaboutit?Aswearealldealingwiththesameissues,wecanstartwithestablishingbestpracticeinitiatives,insightsandknowledgeavailableandsharedonaplatform.Sportagencies,suchasRSTsandNSOs,shouldincorporate(oraccess)expertiseandfocusonsecondary-agedyoungpeople,withthemandatetodevelopcross-organisationunderstandingandactiontoaccommodateyoungpeople’sneeds.

Somesuggestedapproachesinclude:

� Puttheprinciplesofyouthdevelopmentandmeaningfulengagementandempowermentfrontandcentreintheapproachofanydeliveryagencythatcatersforthisagegroup.

� Align,collaborateandensurequalityexperiencesinfacilitysharinganddevelopment.� Improvenationalandregionalleadership–incentivisecollaborationthroughaligned

outcomesandinvestment.� Betterclarifyandpossiblyredefinetherolesofsomesportsectoragencies,and

othersthatprovideactiverecreationopportunitiesforteenagers.OrganisationssuchasHalbergFoundation,SpecialOlympicsNewZealand,NZSSSC,PhysicalEducationNewZealandandregionalMinistryofEducationofficeshaveanadvisoryroletoplaywithNSOs(andtheiraffiliates)andRSTs.

� Long-term,cross-partyandcross-agencygovernmentcommitmenttotheplaceofsportandphysicalactivityinyoungpeople’slives.

� Clearlyidentifycommunityassets,programmesandpeople,aswellaslocalisedplansestablishedwithmandates,definedroles,responsibilitiesandaccountabilities.

� Localauthoritiesestablishcommunityalliancesinvolvingacross-sectionofthesportandrecreationprovidernetworkthatareresponsibleforparticipant-centricdesignapproachesforsport,recreation,urbandesign,transport,education,etc.

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Howdoweknow?Selectionprocessesareexclusionaryandarehappeningatyoungerandyoungerages.Inthesecondaryschoolenvironment,competitionandwinningareoftenastrongerfocusthandevelopment.Competition,coaching,resourcesanddevelopmentopportunitiesareconcentratedinfewerandfewerplayersassportsseektominetalent.Secondaryschoolsportisincreasinglynotprovidingasport-for-allenvironment.

Despitepracticesandpoliciestodissuadeit,schoolsarestillincentivisingyoungpeopletotransferschoolsonthebasisoftheirsportingability,inordertoenhanceaschool’sprospectsofwinningcompetitionsandtrophies.Thisisdrivenpartlybyaneedtoincreaseschoolrollsandthereforefunding–schoolsuccessandtheestablishmentofspecialisedacademiesisoftenmoreaboutprovidingacompetitiveedgethangenuineconcernsforplayerwelfareandeducationalbenefits.

Fairnessisasignificantenablerofthesportexperienceforyoungpeople.

Therewardsinsport–financial,publicprofile,positionsofresponsibility–arenowdrivingincreasinglysophisticatedwaysofenhancingperformance.Theuseoftechnologyinparticularpresentsarisktothelevelplayingfieldthatplayersexpect.

Evidenceofsupplementuseinsecondary-agedyoungpeopleisbeingdrivenbydesire/pressuretoenteraprofessionalsportpathwayandtoreceivetherewardsthatcomewithit.Thereappearstoberelativelylittleattentionpaidtotheunevenplayingfieldthiscreates,orthehealthrisksthatgowithit.

Playeragentsaresigningyoungathletestocontractsatatimewhentheyshouldbefocusingontheireducation–despiteguidelines,NewZealandandoverseasagentsarenowactiveonthesidelinesofintermediatecompetitionssuchastheAIMSGames.

Unsafeandunethicalpracticesareinadvertentlyincentivisedinthehighperformancesystem–resultsaretiedtofunding,andthedrivetoretainthisrevenuecanleadtoalackofdeclarationandactionaboutanythingthatmayjeopardisethissupport.

Beyondthesportsystem,theincreasingdiversityofNewZealand’spopulationmeansamoresignificantproportionhavenotgrownupwithaheritageofactivelifestyles.ThecultureofsportandphysicalactivityinNewZealandischanging.

Socialmedia,andmediaingeneral,isportrayingmessagesthatareatoddswithreality:mostyoungpeopledonothavethebodyshapeandsize,speedandaccuracy,andsocialskillsthatareidealisedinsportandactivitythroughthemedia.Thisleadstodisaffectionwiththerealityoftheirexperience,orthepursuitoftheideal–weightlossandbodyimageissues,performanceenhancementoptions,anxiety,embarrassmentandmentalhealthissuesareconsequencesofthewidespreadportrayalofthese‘ideals’.

Thecultureandethosofouractivelifestylesisunderthreat.

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Whataretheimplications?Severalsignificantrisksexistundercurrentcircumstances:

� Youngpeopleareseenasamarkettotap,aspotentialhighperformanceathletes,andasrevenuestreams.

� Theincreasingdevelopmentofgeneticmodificationtechniques,bionicadvancements,andfeedbackmechanismsdirecttotheathletewillmeanperformanceenhancementwillbecomealmostimpossibletodetectand/orprove.Itispossiblethattheresourcescurrentlydirectedatdrugcheatswillbemisplacedasthecostsofmaintainingalevelplayingfieldwillbetoohigh.

� Increasingprevalenceofeatingdisordersandmentalhealthissues,particularlyforgirls.

� Continuedlossofresilienceandsoftskillsthataredevelopedthroughsport.� Dropout–theacademy/talentdevelopmentsystemraisesexpectationsthatcannot

befulfilledgiventhelimitednumberofhighperformanceopportunitiesinNewZealand.SeriousmentalhealthissuesarebeingreportedintheUKfootballsystemasyoungpeoplearerecruitedearlytocamps,andprogressivelyexcludedthroughde-selectionatvariouspointsofthetalentdevelopmentpathway.

Whatmightwedoaboutit?Weknowthatfairnessisimportanttothesportexperience,andwemustproactivelyhighlightthedownsidesofperformanceenhancement,particularlytoyoungpeopleandparentsaskeyinfluencers.

Somesuggestedapproachesinclude:

� Watchingbriefoninternationaltrendsanddevelopresponsesasappropriate.� Exploretheimplicationsofcompetitionformatsthatlegitimiseperformance

enhancedathletes,whilemaintainingnon-enhancedcompetitions–re-establishalevelplayingfieldthatrecognisestherealityofthefuture.

� Promotesafesportpracticesandmonitortheirapplicationandimplementation.� ImplementthefindingsofourSportIntegrityReview.53

� Promotethebenefitsofactivelifestyleswidely–establishrolemodellingprogrammes,andprovideinformationtoparentsandotherkeyinfluencersaboutyoungpeople’sexperiencese.g.throughsocialmediacampaigns.

� Understandandmeetthesportandrecreationneedsoflowerparticipatinggroups,particularlynewmigrants,certainethnicgroupsanddisabledyoungpeople.

� Workwithplayers’associationstoensureappropriatemessagingandinformationisprovidedtoplayers,andagreewithagentsonappropriaterecruitmentpractices.

53 sportnz.org.nz/managing-sport/search-for-a-resource/research/have-your-say-sport-integrity-review

Giventheincreasinglydiversepopulationinthisagerange,andtheneedforyoungpeopletoreceivemeaningful,personalisedexperiencesthattheyvalue,solutionstothesechallengesneedtobehighlycustomised,local,andinformedanddesigned(andinsomecasesdelivered)byyoungpeople.

Developingthesesolutionsmustthereforebeaniterativeprocessimplementedinthecommunity,ratherthannationally.Whilethispaperhasmadesomehighlevelrecommendationsaboutpotentialsolutions,theimplementationwillbecustomisedandtargetedthroughfurtherconsultationandempowerment.

Establishingsolutionstothesefourchallengesneedstoincorporatethefollowingprinciples:

�� Solutions�must�be�local–anynationalapproachesshouldbetheresultofcommonalitiesoreconomiesarisingfromlocalsolutions.

�� A�youth�development�and�empowerment�approachshouldbeadopted.�� Flexible�and�agile�design�and�delivery�modelsshouldbeused.�� Choice�and�inclusionareparamount-multipleoptions,pathwaysandsteppingstones

areneeded.� Agreedandclear�roles�and�responsibilities,promotedandmandated.�� Technology�should�be�embracedwhereitenhancesthequalityoftheexperience.

SportNZwillexploresolutionstothefourchallengesidentifiedby:

a. collatingexistinggoodpracticeandsharingthiswithschoolsandthecommunity

b. resourcingaseriesofdesign-ledinitiativesusingyoungpeopletodevelopand testsolutions

c. socialisingthefindingsofthisreview,andanyresultingsolutions,withall organisationsprovidingsportandphysicalactivityopportunitiesfor secondary-agedyoungpeople

d. usingtheresultsofexistingandnewprototypestoinformourfuturestrategiesfor thesportsector,inparticulartoclarifyorganisationalrolesandresponsibilities.

ACTIVATING THIS REVIEW

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Theteenagelifestageisoneofthemostat-riskforestablishingandmaintainingongoinghabitsandalife-longloveofparticipatinginsportandphysicalactivity.Thecostsofdecliningparticipationandenjoymentofbeingactivearehigh–toindividuals,educationinstitutions,wha-nau/families,andsociety.

Solutionstoaddressthedeclineinparticipationthroughtheteenageyearsarecomplex.Ifwearetocontinuetomeetthesportandphysicalactivityneedsofsecondary-agedyoungpeopleoverthenext10years,whichimportantlyincludesensuringtheirexperiencesarehighquality,wellsupportedandaccessible,weneedtoaddressthefourthemesdevelopedthroughthisreview:

� Thevalueofbeingactiveisn’talwaysrecognised,realisedorpromotedbyparents,schoolsandcommunityorganisations

� Activerecreationandsportofferingsarenotmeetingtheneedsofallteenagers� Organisationsarenotworkingeffectivelytogethertoprovidequalityexperiencesfor

youngpeople� Thecultureandethosofouractivelifestylesisunderthreat.

Thisreviewconsiderstheevidencethathasledtothesefindings,observessometrendsthatmayworkagainstareversalofthecurrentparticipationdeclinesinthe13-18-yearagegroup,andproposesthatsolutionstothesechallengesmustcomefromyoungpeoplethemselves.

SUMMARY

SPORT NEW ZEALAND

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Level 1, Harbour City Centre 29 Brandon Street Wellington 6011, New Zealand PO Box 2251 Wellington 6140 Phone: +64 4 472 8058 SPORTNZ.ORG.NZ

SPNZ00016ISBN 978-0-947502-89-8

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?Forfurtherinformationpleasecontact:

RogerWoodYoungPeopleConsultant–SecondarySportNewZealandPhone:[email protected]

SECONDARY AGE REVIEW - Sport New Zealand...The secondary age group is at risk in New Zealand. We...

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