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Balance is Better in Action
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Balance is Better in Action
Q&A with Balance is Better Champion, Stacey McKerchar
Coaches
What Is a Coaching Philosophy?
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Sport Leaders & Administrators
Meeting the Needs of Youth
Featured
“It’s about doing your best and enjoying it”: Dame Lisa Carrington’s Balance is Better story
There’s so much more to sport than winning or losing. For young people in particular, the value of sport is wide-reaching, from the social connections and bonds that are formed through to developing important skills, both on and...
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Coaches
How do I help develop a physically mature young player?
This video is shared by Player Development Project The question this week comes from David, via the Player Development Project Facebook Page: “How can I help develop a physically mature young player?” Image Credit: Sport NZ
Parents
Key Ways Parents Can Use Sport to Develop a Growth Mindset in Their Child
Our mindset determines the way we learn, what motivates us, our approach to adversity, and has a huge impact on our development as human beings. Understandably, as parents, we want our children to form positive, productive mindsets that...
Coaches
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. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the first...
Balance is Better Philosophy
Research: Wellbeing benefits of a balanced approach to sport
Variety brings better benefits We know through the Balance is Better approach, that quality sport experiences can offer wellbeing benefits for young people above and beyond just moving their bodies. Playing a variety of sports helps with skill...
Parents
Parents: Time to talk about your child’s why
Parents’ motivations for supporting their children to play sport and children’s motivations for playing sport don’t always line up. We hear from Kelly Curr about why it’s important that parents ask themselves “why does my child play sport?“ Sport and active recreation...
Balance is Better in Action
Letters from Rangatahi: What I wish sport knew?
In this open letter, we hear from Halberg Youth Adviser Support, Kiran Dixon. Kiran’s letter sheds light on some of the challenges young people with disabilities face growing up in New Zealand when it comes to sport, and draws some powerful lessons for...
Balance is Better in Action
Fighting for balance and inclusion – three-time gold medallist, Cameron Leslie
Swimmer Cameron Leslie may be a three-time Paralympic gold medallist and world record holder but he’s quick to point out that champions aren’t made at young age. N.b. In July 2021, Cameron Leslie announced the “hard decision” to...
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Coaches
Are we forgetting why young people play sport?
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. Why do people play sports? To win, to move...
Sport Leaders & Administrators
Meeting the Needs Of All Your Participants: Six Ways to Understand Them Better
Young people are THE key stakeholders in youth sports, and gathering their input and feedback is crucial for the success of any programme. Additionally, some young people experience more barriers than others when it comes to being able...
Case studies
Empowering Rangatahi Through Active Southland’s Innovative Leadership Programme
Active Southland’s commitment to fostering youth development is shown through its innovative Rangatahi Leadership Group. This programme, designed to address the needs of Māori, Pasifika and disabled youth facing barriers to participation, has emerged as a transformative force...
Sport Leaders & Administrators
Multi-sport upbringing sets foundation for good physical activity habits later in life
New Canadian research has found multi-sport participation may act as a protective factor against non-participation in sport and physical activity later in life. The Monitoring Activities of Teenagers to Comprehend their Habits (MATCH) study examined the sport participation...
Editor's Picks
A collection of articles curated by the Balance is Better team.
Coaches
How to coach with a Balance is Better Philosophy?
How can coaches bring the Balance is Better philosophy to life? In this article, Andy Rogers, National Coaching Consultant at Sport NZ,...
Coaches
Creating an Environment for Youth to Flourish
In this article, Sport Development Consultant, Charissa Barham shares some valuable ideas on creating positive sporting environments and understanding our purpose as...
Coaches
Book Club with Dr. Ralph Pim
Following on previous Book Club features (see the recommendations from Andy Rogers and Tammy Mehrtens), we hear from Dr. Ralph Pim. Dr Ralph Pim...
Coaches
No Coach is an Island: Coaching in Competition
This article is republished with permission from iCoachKids In this article, Simon Toole discusses coaching feedback and intervention from the sideline. The...
Coaches
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...
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Coaches
How to be a great secondary school sport coach?: Defining success, mistakes verses outcomes, and the importance of self-awareness
In this Q&A, we hear from Dan Stamp, mental skills coach and Unitec lecturer, about his observations of New Zealand secondary school coaches. Dan,...
Parents
What makes an expert sports parent?
In 2015, Chris Harwood and Camilla Knight, published an academic paper titled, Parenting in youth sport — a positioning paper on sport parents and parenting...
Parents
A parent guide to child growth and development in sport
In this guide we discuss the key considerations relating to children’s growth and development that may influence their sport experience. This guide...
Balance is Better in Action
Fun without pressure – Ex-New Zealand footballer Wendi Henderson talks youth sport
Former New Zealand footballer Wendi Henderson wants young people to enjoy their sports without any pressure, just as she did in her youth. ...
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Coaches
How to be a great secondary school sport coach?: Defining success, mistakes verses outcomes, and the importance of self-awareness
In this Q&A, we hear from Dan Stamp, mental skills coach and Unitec lecturer, about his observations of New Zealand secondary school coaches. Dan, talks to Nicole Youman, Community Coaching Manager at Hockey New Zealand, about the issues these coaches...
Coaches
Coaching Your Own Child – 5 Tips for the Parent-Coach
Being a parent-coach presents a unique set of challenges. Coaching is all about relationships, but sometimes the relationship between a parent and child poses different demands to that of an athlete and their coach. Balancing both can be...
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Coaches
Helping Children Build Mental Resilience Through Sport
In this Q&A video, Sport Development Consultant Kelly Curr talks to Neuroscience Trainer Kathryn Berkett to unpack the topic of resilience in sport and education, building resilience in children, and how youth sport can be such a great place for young people to develop...
Parents
How do I support my child to maintain a love of sport, regardless of ability?
In this article is a response to the following question, submitted to the Balance is Better team: Help, my boy is not as talented as other players (including his siblings) and he now knows it. How do I help...
Coaches
How many times should I tell you?
This article is shared by Player Development Project Communication is a crucial element of effective coaching. In this article, Professor Stephen Rollnick challenges traditional methods of coach communication and offers some practical solutions for coaches to improve player relationships. I...
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Coaches
Are there too many practices a week?
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. It is well known that when young people...