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....
Competition structures
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Are we expecting young people to all develop at the same rate?
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....
Are late developers really at a disadvantage?
In this article, Dr Jason Tee discusses how late-developers may be advantaged (as opposed to early-developers) in their development pathways, and ultimately become more successful in sport. David vs Goliath…...
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Youth Development in Rugby with Russell Earnshaw
This video is shared by Player Development Project. This interview features former England U18 Rugby Coach and International 7’s player, Russell Earnshaw. Player Development Project Editor, Dave Wright dives into...
Competitive engineering: Key changes by Harbour Basketball to make competition closer, healthier and more competitive
As Vince Minjares of Harbour Basketball explains competitive engineering is about “designing youth sport structures and competitions so that they facilitate development”. An academic definition A quick google turns up...
How Harbour Basketball determine success in their youth basketball programme
In youth sport, an overly narrow definition of success that is centered around winning can lead to harmful and contrary behaviours and environments that ultimately negatively impact young athletes. This...
How Harbour Basketball embedded a style of play to support better playing and coaching outcomes
Total football, tika-taka, rush defense, motion offense, counterpuncher. What do all of these terms have in common? They are styles of play across an array of sports. Many reading this...
Working with parents and community: Insights from Harbour Basketball
When you’re thinking about parents in youth sports, you need to realise, you’re working with families, not just individual players. Sometimes it’s a sibling, and for many families, they’ve been...
Divisions, even teams and trials: Stratifying structures at Harbour Basketball
How do you decide who plays with (and against) who? In youth sport, this is a core question which underpins many of the quintessential youth sport structures – trials, selections,...