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Balance is Better is an evidence-based philosophy to support quality sport experiences for all young people, regardless of ability, needs and motivations. It is about young people staying involved in sport for life and realising their potential at the right time.
The Balance is Better philosophy has been developed by the NZ sport system (e.g. sport organisations, leaders and administrators, schools, clubs, coaches, parents and volunteers) to support the culture change needed to provide quality sport opportunities for tamariki (5-11) and rangatahi (12-18). Sport NZ’s current focus is on rangatahi, given the decline we are seeing in teenage participation.
We're losing young people from sport, and they are missing out on the opportunity to be physically active and reach their full potential.
If we're going to change this, we need to improve what's happening at the grass roots and for those involved in delivering youth sport to think differently.
We need to think about how we can put the fun and skill development back into kids sport.
Nine principles underpinning the Balance is Better philosophy have been developed to guide the NZ sport system to provide improved sport experiences for all young people.
All New Zealanders have the right to participate in sport in a safe, fair and inclusive environment.
All young people should receive a quality sport experience, irrespective of the level at which they are involved.
Bold and courageous leadership at national, regional and local levels is required to design and deliver quality youth sport participation and development opportunities.
Aotearoa’s sport sector must work collaboratively to encourage the widest possible change for the wellbeing and sport participation of young New Zealanders.
Sport leaders, coaches, administrators, parents, and caregivers involved in youth sport must collectively lead attitudinal change.
All young people should be offered participation and skill development opportunities.
All young people should be supported to participate in a range of activities and play multiple sports.
Talent Identification should occur later in young people’s development; reviewing the role and nature of national and regional representative selections and tournaments is an important step in ensuring elite sport attitudes and practices are introduced at developmentally appropriate times.
Adults need to proactively monitor and manage the workload (intensity and volume) of motivated young people to mitigate the risks of overtraining and overloading.
Active NZ, Sport New Zealand’s nationwide survey, has demonstrated decline in youth sport participation since 2017.
16-year Adult Participation Trends Report 1998-2014 (Trends Report) showed that weekly adult participation in sport dropped 7.7% (from 73.3 percent to 65.6 percent). This was most pronounced in younger adult’s participation (18-24 year olds fell 13.9%, from 79.4% to 65.5%; and 25-34 year olds fell 10.4%, from 75.3% to 64.9%).
National census data collected by School Sport NZ indicated that there has been a decline in rates of students with a meaningful involvement with a school sport programme from 56% to 51%.
Analysis of 2017 and 2018 Active NZ Survey data sets showed that 66% of young people who do not meet recommended physical activity guideline levels and 61% of young people who do meet recommended physical activity guideline levels, want to do more physical activity (including sport).
Voice of the participant data shows indicates young people aged 13 to 18 years old would like to see improved player development offerings at clubs.
Voice of the rangatahi data shows general dissatisfaction by young people with all aspects of school sport experience, especially among girls.
Secondary school age review (2020), outlined the following significant issues that impact the quality of young people’s experiences:
Secondary school age review (2020), outlined key issues and constraints in the sport and education system that inhibit participation in sport being sustained, or non-participants re-entering into sport.
Sport New Zealand’s Talent plan (2015), outline core issues and myths undermining good talent id and development practice in New Zealand. In order to rectify this, the plan proposed that Sport NZ, Sport NZ's partners, coaches, teachers and parents need to align around the core beliefs of athlete’s needs come first, working together for collective impact, effective pathways, continuous learning, quality coaching.
A study (Hodge et al., 2012) on NZ international athletes found most played a range of different sports as a teenager with some not taking up the sport they excel in until their teenage years.
Walters et al. (2011) outlined how adult behaviors affect children’s enjoyment of sport – with a focus on winning and competition – appearing to serve the needs of adults more than the needs of children.
Some young people have become overrepresented in reports of acute and chronic injury due to excessive training and competition loads in sport.
There is growing evidence that coaches and young people are not managing sport injuries by with the young person’s long-term wellbeing at the forefront of decision-making.
Crane & Temple (2015) and Balish et al. (2014) conducted systematic evidence reviews and identified the following key factors were strongly evidenced as being correlated with youth sport attrition (drop-out)
Several systemic reviews have been conducted on early speciation and early diversification/sampling (Carder et al., 2020; DiSanti & Erickson, 2019; Baily et al, 2010; Hecimovich, 2004) and found that early specialisation increased physiological (injury) and psycho-social burnout, drop-out) risk factors. Early diversification/sampling also supported long term talent and participant development outcomes.
A summary of evidenced-based policy guidance on participant development, athlete development and talent development programmes (Till & Baker, 2020; Côté & Hancock, 2016; LaPrade et al., 2016; Côté et al, 2009; Vaeyens, 2008)), including the IOC’s consensus statement on youth athletic development (Bergeron et al., 2015), positions the following: