Skill development for all

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Balance is Better in Action

2 Min

What helps young people stay in sport

What keeps young people in sport? Ken Martel shared a clear message: when young people enjoy their experience, they are more likely to keep playing. When they don’t, many stop....

Parents

2 Min

How to support your child to enjoy sport, whatever their ability

A parent asks: Kia ora,  I need some advice about supporting one of our kids in sport.  We have three children (11, 10 and 9). Our oldest is friendly and...

Balance is Better Approach

2 Min

Play their way: approaches to movement and sport for young people 

Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa (Sport NZ) and Te Hau Kori held a seminar on how play-based, child-first approaches can change young people’s experiences of movement and sport.  Experts shared what the...

Parents

< 1 Min

Are we doing our kids a disservice if they don’t play sports?

Sport can help young people learn new skills, connect and build confidence. But when it becomes too serious too soon, it can create pressure, burnout and drop‑out. That’s why the...

Coaches

2 Min

Are we only supporting the kids in the top team?

In this series of Balance is Better articles, Sport NZ explores the myths surrounding youth sport and the shift in thinking needed to halt declining participation levels in kiwi teens....

Coaches

11 Min

A Guide to Running Good Trials and Selection Processes

We know that trials and selection processes in youth sport can be a hot topic for many sports administrators, coaches, parents and athletes. And despite trials and selection processes being...

Coaches

6 Min

The CPR Method: How to Support Players When They Make a Mistake*

* Important clarification: we are not talking about poor skill execution, but more about poor game-decisions. In this article, Dr Sergio Lara-Bercial details his thoughts on how coaches should react...

Coaches

3 Min

Skill Development for All

All young people should be offered participation and skill development opportunities. In this article, Sport Development Consultant, Hamish Rogers, discusses why and how. Talent programmes. Skill centres. Academies. Extension coaching.  ...

Coaches

11 Min

How to Coach Different Skill Levels in the Same Team

A key challenge youth coaches will face is working with athletes with varying skill levels within the same team. It’s easy to just focus on the ‘good’ athletes, but great...