Understanding youth sport

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...

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Coaches

2 Min

Coaching for community, not just competition

“It’s not just about winning anymore. It’s about becoming better people and then better players.” Every Friday night in Palmerston North, over 1300 young people gather not just to play...

Coaches

9 Min

Relative Age Effect

This article is shared by Player Development Project Steve Lawrence is a consultant to Cruyff Football and Ajax in the Netherlands. With a Masters in International Sports Management, Steve founded the...

Parents

3 Min

What is a good youth sport experience?

In this article, Sport Waikato shares insights into how adults can create a great sporting experience for our young people. So you get it. Youth sport is about fun. Competition...

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....

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Coaches

4 Min

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....

Sport Leaders & Administrators

4 Min

Meeting the needs of all your participants: 6 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...

Sport Leaders & Administrators

2 Min

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...

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Coaches

3 Min

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....