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How much is too much when it comes to youth sport?

How much is too much when it comes to youth sport?

How to coach with a Balance is Better philosophy

How to coach with a Balance is Better philosophy

Balance is Better Principles Poster

Balance is Better Principles Poster

Creating a positive parent culture

Creating a positive parent culture

Unpacking the Balance is Better principles

Unpacking the Balance is Better principles

Running good trials and selections

Running good trials and selections

The Home of Youth Sport
in New Zealand

Balance is Better is about creating quality experiences for all young people to keep them active and in the game.

Featured

Reframing physical activity for and with young women

We need to continue to ask ourselves if the rationale of the action or initiative has been informed by young women. If yes, ka rawe! Awesome! If not, then why are we doing it? We might need to...
Webinars

Webinar replay: Principles of training design

Create quality trainings for athlete learning, development and performance In this webinar replay, we hear from youth sport experts, Dave Wright and Dan Cooke, on effective session design in team sports or invasion games. Dave and Dan share...

Coaches

Developing a Team Identity

Many coaches talk about team identity. But what does ‘identity’ mean? And how does it affect the athletes we coach? In this article, we’ll learn that the significance of identity is far-reaching, for both individuals and teams, and...
Coaches

Peeling the onion – Identity in youth sport 

Rarely do we take a moment to ponder our identity. That is, what are the x’s and o’s that have gone into making us who we are, what we are, and how we label ourselves. Our memories, our...
Coaches

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 a significant part of the youth sport landscape,...
Value of sport

Sweat, graft and toil

An ode to youth sport. Celebrating the unique ways in which youth sport contribute to young people’s lives.  Ah, youth sport!  A world of boundless energy, raw talent, and unbridled enthusiasm. Where the field is your canvas, and...
Coaches

How to Help Athletes With Failure

Responding to failure can be difficult for parents and coaches. Nobody wants to fail, and the sense of vulnerability that often accompanies moments of perceived failure can be incredibly challenging. But these instances are an inevitable part of...
Coaches

Performance is a Behaviour, Not an Outcome

This article is shared by Player Development Project Founder of Changing the Game Project and top Player Development Project contributor, John O’Sullivan shares his ideas about the definition of performance and how to create an environment of autonomy, learning and...
Coaches

The Other Side of Failure

This article is shared by Player Development Project Failure is crucial in human development. Whether as a coach, player, parent or another vocation, embracing failure as part of a journey towards improvement is crucial in the learning process. Reed...

Parents

The Benefits of Non-Traditional Games and Sports

Non-traditional games and sports are enjoying a surge in popularity in New Zealand. Sporting offerings beyond mainstream activities such as rugby, football, netball, and cricket are more accessible than ever, giving children and parents a wealth of options...
Parents

Being a perfectionist in sport

For many people, perfectionism is a concern. It features in lots of different areas of people’s lives. Importantly for sport parents, perfectionism can be rife among athletes at any age. This article is republished with permission from Sport...
Sport Leaders & Administrators

Let’s work together

It’s no secret we’re a fan of collaboration.  In fact, one of the key principles of Balance is Better is about “Working together” We’ve previously outlined in detail what it means to collaborate (including tips for organisations wanting...
Watch
Coaches

There is still a race to win

Have you seen Sebastian Vettel’s retirement announcement?  It is a powerful watch.   In the four-minute video, Seb spends 90% of the time talking about who he is and what he wants to do. Away from the track.  “There...
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 details his thoughts on how coaches should react when players make game-decision mistakes. Let’s get the...

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