For Parents
Collaborating for (better) impact
One of the key principles of the Balance is Better philosophy states: Aotearoa’s sport sector must work collaboratively to encourage the widest...
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Balance is Better is an evidence-based philosophy about keeping young people in sport – regardless of their motivation for playing sport. Sport leaders & administrators are a key audience for the philosophy, given they play a really important role in delivering youth sport. That’s because whether they are a paid administrator in a national or regional sport organisation; a principle at a school; a school sport coordinator; or a volunteer club administrator; the decisions that these people make can have a vast impact on the experiences of many participants.
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 leaders & administrators should use the Balance is Better philosophy to guide their thinking when leading, supporting and enabling the provision of sport.
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.
Recently, lots of guidance and advice has been aimed at coaches, parents, and sports leaders & administrators about how much sport young people should do, and whether young people should participate in one sport or many.