1

RUNNING SECONDARY SCHOOL SPORT

The School
Sport Environment

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School sport management is about good organisation,

facilitation and supervision of sports. This means
making sure that students are in the right place, at EXCUSES FOR DROPPING OUT
the right time, playing against the right opposition, OF SCHOOL
using the appropriate uniforms and equipment, and
.. Sport is no longer important anymore
supported by dedicated people.
because I can drop it at school
.. It’s too time consuming
1.1 About Kids .. Sport is boring
.. Sport means I miss out on parties and
To encourage kids to play school sport and to socialising
keep participating after they leave, schools need to
understand young people, their development needs, REAL REASONS FOR DROPPING
and who or what motivates and influences them. OUT OF SPORT
.. Friends have dropped out which
Ages and stages of development breaks up teenagers’ social circles
The sporting needs of children change as they develop
.. Too scared to play because of the
not only physically but also emotionally, socially and
threat of injury
cognitively. While the majority of children pass through
the same developmental phases, each child develops at .. It’s intimidating – being laughed at for
their own pace. Chronological age is a poor indicator lack of ability or making mistakes
of development and progress, especially in sport. .. Sport is too competitive
.. Seeing unfair play or unsporting
There is no magic age at which a child is ready to play
conduct
organised sport. Evidence suggests that success in sport
does not depend on how early a child gets involved in
sport, but is associated with a child participating when
they are optimally ready to participate.1

For more information on ages and stages, see Athlete

development - characteristics and needs from Sport “The main reason [I dropped out] was I
NZ’s Coach Development Framework. wasn’t getting any work done and I decided to
concentrate more on studies…
Participation patterns and trends It was always after school and it went on for
Having fun, quality sport experiences are key factors
two or three hours and I’d get home at
like 7pm and I’d be all dirty and muddy, have
for young people to stay interested and involved in
sport throughout their secondary school years and a shower, eat dinner and then go to sleep.
beyond. Quality experiences include having safe I had no time.”
social and physical environments to play sport in, and
consistency of sport delivery and communication Source: Stay and
Play summary from
among sport providers. Sport NZ Stay & Play
research (2006)

The 2013 NZ Secondary Schools Sports Council

(NZSSSC) School Sport Representation Census shows
that the participation trends established over recent
years continue:2 (continued on following page).

1
Sport New Zealand 2014, Good Practice Principles [online],
available URL: http://www.sportnz.org.nz/managing-sport/guides/ 19 year-old Female,
good-practice-principles-for-the-provision-of-sport-and-recreation- past Touch Player
for-young-people
2
NZ Secondary Schools Sports Council 2013, Representation
Census 2013: Participation & Teacher Involvement in Sport by
Region [online], available URL: http://www.sportsground.co.nz/
nzsssc/71315/1

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.. Fifty-three percent of students (50% girls; .. Traditional sports are still very relevant to our
56% boys) represented their school in sport. schools; rugby and netball had the greatest
.. Teachers still provide the majority of our numbers with almost 30,000 students taking
school sporting leadership but the numbers of part in each, and football (24,000) in third spot.
teachers involved in coaching and managing .. Big sports that have shown rapid growth over
continues a slow decline. In 2013, 34% of the last 5 years include basketball (20,000
teachers were involved in coaching, managing up 15%), volleyball (16,000 up 21%), touch
or officiating school sport, down 1% from the (14,000 up 16%) and badminton (12,000 up
previous year. 13%) Smaller sports that are growing rapidly
.. There are an increasing number of students include Waka Ama, table tennis, adventure
taking on the coaching role in secondary schools. racing, orienteering and futsal.

TOP 10 SPORTS PARTICIPATED IN BY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS2

BY GIRLS BY BOYS ALL STUDENTS

Sport Numbers Sport Numbers Sport Numbers

1. Netball (outdoor) 28,449 Rugby Union 25,946 Netball (outdoor) 28,947

2. Volleyball 9,739 Football 14,936 Rugby Union 28,794

3. Football 8,418 Basketball 12,380 Football 23,354

4. Basketball 7,825 Cricket (outdoor) 8,659 Basketball 20,205

5. Hockey (outdoor) 7,251 Touch 7,162 Volleyball 15,626

6. Touch 6,725 Athletics 6,763 Touch 13,887

7. Badminton 5,480 Hockey (outdoor) 6,485 Hockey (outdoor) 13,736

8. Athletics 5,392 Volleyball 5,887 Athletics 12,155

9. Tennis 3,155 Badminton 4,561 Cricket (outdoor) 10,439

10. Rugby Union 2,848 Tennis 3,779 Badminton 10,041

Source: NZSSSC Representation Census 2013.

Summary data from the census can be found on the .. Schools play an important role in providing
NZSSSC website. sporting opportunities for young people. The
way a school values, organises and resources
Key participation patterns from the 2011 Young sport, and encourages and supports students,
People’s Survey: are important influences on young women’s
.. Most young people like playing sport but as experiences of sport.3
they age young people like playing sport less. .. Sports clubs and school sports teams are
.. Sport participation is higher for boys than girls an important part of many young people’s
in most respects. Most young people spend sporting lives.
3 or more hours a week taking part in sport
and recreation, when we combine the time 3
Burrows L, McCormack J 2011, Sport NZ research summary
spent participating in both formal and informal factsheet series: Young Women’s Views and Experiences of Sport
[online], available URL: http://www.srknowledge.org.nz/research-
settings. completed/sport-and-recreation-in-the-lives-of-teenagers/

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Sources: Sport NZ’s infographic: Are our kids on the sideline or in the game?

.. The majority of girls and boys want to try or do

more of one or more sports/activities. Sports
that interested both boys and girls of all ages
are basketball, football and tennis.

For more information, see the Young People’s Survey

results on Sport NZ’s website.

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Key influencers
Young people are influenced by several factors to play “Don’t tell them they’re wrong, it kills them.
sport. Never abuse your players in your team –
never abuse them. Yell but you’ve got to yell
PARENTS positive. Yell encouragement – don’t yell
Parents are the number one influencer on kids to play because they stuffed up.”
sport and to continue playing sport.

For children aged 10 to 15 years, about half had a Source: Stay and
Play summary from
parent or caregiver that encouraged them to take part Sport NZ Stay & Play
research (2006)
in physical activity almost daily or more often during a
normal week.4

Parents should be involved in their children’s sports;

they can contribute and help to make sport experiences
positive. They can be involved by helping to manage,
administer, coach, or be officials for school sport.
Parents are often role models for their children.
Netball Coach
Around 20% of kids aged 10 to 15 years reported
having a parent or caregiver take part in physical
activity with them almost daily or more often during a
normal week.4
“You want a coach that will take advice
from you as well – he might not know
everything and you might be able to give him
some pointers.”

Source: Stay and

Play summary from
Sport NZ Stay & Play
research (2006)

Sources: Sport NZ’s infographic: Are our kids on the sideline or in the game?

FRIENDS
17 year-old Male,
Friends are the second biggest influencer of kids to Cricket Player
play sport. The opportunity to be social and have fun
with friends is one of the most important reasons for
kids to get involved with school sports.3

Fifty-one percent of boys and 40% of girls aged 10 4

National Institute for Health Innovation, The University of Auckland:
to 15 years reported doing sport or active things with Maddison R, Pfaeffli Dale L, Marsh S, et al. 2014, The New Zealand
their friends almost daily.4 Physical Activity Report Card for Children and Youth [online], available
URL: http://nihi.auckland.ac.nz/sites/nihi.auckland.ac.nz/files/NZ%20
PA%20report%20card_short%20version.pdf
SIBLINGS AND HEROES
Siblings are a big influence on girls to play sport and
for boys, sports heroes are very important.

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COACHES AND INSTRUCTORS .. talk to the whole team rather than singling out
One of the most common reasons young people give one person
for quitting a sport is that they didn’t like the coach. .. match the level of difficulty of the activity to
Good coaches have a participant/athlete-centred the ability of the athletes
approach which focuses on the needs of the kids; they .. provide positive and constructive performance
encourage kids to participate and learn, they listen to
feedback.
their players, understand their needs and then work
with them to help them succeed in their sport. The NZ Coach Approach continuum (fig.1) illustrates
Good community coaches have a huge positive impact two different styles of coaching. Sport NZ advocates
on the development of young people.5 They: for an athlete-centred approach for coaching. In reality
.. communicate honestly
coaches may move between both approaches. For
more information, see the New Zealand Coaching
.. use respectful language
Strategy on Sport NZ’s website.

FIGURE.1 NZ COACH APPROACH CONTINUUM

COACH-CENTRED ATHLETE-CENTRED
Autocratic Empowering
Instructional Participative style
Command style Athlete has knowledge
Coach has the knowledge Questioning based

Understanding kids’ motivations to

participate in sport “A lot of people will play for the fun of it.
You’ll never win every game, but you’ve
COMPETITION
gotta have fun – that’s it. Having fun and
Young people see sport as ‘competitive’ with the
primary goal of winning. Around 20% of students are making new friends.”
motivated by winning.
Source: Stay and
Sport that is seen as ‘non-competitive’ is highly rated Play summary from
Sport NZ Stay & Play
by young people because the primary goals are research (2006)

getting together with friends, doing the best they can,

and ultimately having fun. In non-competitive sport
the rules can be changed to suit the participants and
environment to make sure everyone can play and that
no one is excluded.
FUN
15 year-old Male,
Previous research on why young people participate in
Touch Player
sport shows that they view sport mainly as a vehicle
for fun, enjoyment and socialising.

5
Sport NZ 2012. New Zealand Community Sport Coaching Plan 2012-2020 [online],
available URL: http://www.sportnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/attachments/managing-
sport/coaching/New-Zealand-Community-Sport-Coaching-Plan-20122020.pdf

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“The kids enjoy the social side of it, the

camaraderie you get in sport… and they
develop long-lasting friendships.”
SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES
Socialising and being with friends are primary reasons Source: Stay and
for kids participating in sport. Play summary from
Sport NZ Stay & Play
research (2006)

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Young people see sport as a way to get fit and healthy,
develop skills, establish identity, and balance the
demands of academic work.

Soccer Coach

WORD CLOUD ILLUSTRATING YOUNG PEOPLES’ FEELINGS ABOUT SPORT

The most commonly cited responses appear as larger words and phrases.

Barriers to participating in sport .. co-ed PE classes can make young women

anxious about how boys will respond to their
Among secondary school students, 15% reported
sporting abilities and bodies
not participating in organised sport outside of school
because there were no sports facilities in their area,
.. the influence of friends can be an enabler and
14% reported it costs too much, and 12% reported a barrier. For some, the opportunity to have
not being able to get to sports facilities.4 fun with friends is a motivator, while others
drop out of sport because their friends do
Barriers to participation in sport are numerous and .. lack of time due to work and family
complex, and include: commitments
.. the competitive nature of sport in secondary .. costs associated with sport, for example,
schools registration fees, and the cost of uniforms,
.. self-perception of sport competence equipment and transport are significant barriers.

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Continuing sport participation after About Kids summary

leaving school Tips on what you can do to get kids playing sport,
For some teenagers, sport is seen as ‘something you as well as staying involved in sport when they leave
do while at school’. It can also be difficult for some school:
young people to find a place to play sport once they .. adopt a participant-centred approach to
leave school. To help with this, schools can foster getting kids into sport
relationships between students and local sports
organisations and clubs before they leave school, and
.. increase the use of social leagues among
maintain regular contact with these organisations to young people, especially 15- to 19-year-olds
encourage them to contact school leavers. .. create intra-school opportunities
.. encourage parents to get involved in their kids’
sport
WHAT WOULD ENCOURAGE .. recognise and support young people who
YOU TO PLAY SPORT AT don’t want to be in the top team but still want
UNIVERSITY? to participate
.. Meeting new people, and other .. develop databases of players and share them
social activities [both females and
with sports organisations, codes and clubs to
males]
create an easy transition from school sport to
club sport
WHAT WOULD DISCOURAGE
YOU FROM PLAYING SPORT AT .. use websites, social media and the latest
UNIVERSITY? available technology to encourage students
.. Timing (e.g. commitment, to get involved with and ‘own’ their school
sport. For example, encourage text messaging,
flexibility of training and games,
blogging, posting photos on the school
etc.) [both females and males]
website, etc., and regularly update school
sports websites with results
TOP 3 SPORTS INTERESTED IN
PLAYING AT UNIVERSITY .. keep mates together – for most young people,
.. Netball, badminton and dance sport is social rather than a means of achieving
[females] success
.. Football, badminton and .. be innovative with payment methods for
basketball [males] parents to ‘pay off’ sports fees
.. keep students well informed of competition
Source: 2012 Sport beyond school: School leaver survey6 and training dates and times so they can plan
their schedules appropriately
.. work with local RSTs or clubs to get equipment
for those who can’t afford it.

6
Sport Beyond School 2012, School leaver survey [online], available URL: https://
cdn.auckland.ac.nz/assets/recreation/documents/2012%20School%20Leaver%20
Survey%20Report%20and%20Key%20Findings.pdf

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.. repetitive drills are avoided as these are likely

1.2 About Sport to cause injury and boredom
.. young people are encouraged to treat each
other with respect and fairness
Sport provides many benefits for young people such
.. safe and appropriate equipment is available,
as opportunities to be social, and to improve health,
including protective gear where necessary
wellbeing and social skills.7
.. being consistent – making sure there are
To encourage children and young people to participate consistent messages and approaches to sport
in sports, they need to feel physically and socially safe. delivery across providers.
Sport providers have a responsibility for protecting
children and young people from physical, social and These quality experiences come from a participant-
emotional harm. centred approach. This approach requires sport
providers to listen to and consider the needs, wants
and perspectives of children and young people when
planning and implementing programmes. It means
recognising and catering for individual differences in
SAFE terms of development, ability and other factors that
CHA may impact on participation.1
E
LLE
UR
SEC

NGIN
G

FROM A CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON’S

PERSPECTIVE, QUALITY MEANS:
.. fun and enjoyment
ION

ENJOYABLE

.. social opportunities and friendships

INCLUS

.. lots of activity
.. appropriate learning and development
opportunities
CHO
ICES NERSHIP .. feeling good about yourself
OW .. feelings of confidence/sense of achievement.

GREATER AUCKLAND COACHING UNIT (GACU), FIRST STEPS IN

COACHING: COMMUNITY GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY COACHES, 2011.
What to look for in a sports provider
For kids to continue playing sport, the sport sector
Schools should be able to recognise the sports that
needs to provide them with quality experiences. In
can provide quality experiences for their students, and
practise, this can mean: 1,7
the coaches who are appropriate and can provide
.. sport opportunities are appropriate for the age these experiences.
and stage of development of the participants,
When engaging community organisations to assist
meet their social and development needs, and
with sport programmes, schools should consider the
are supported by caring and knowledgeable
following questions: 8
coaches, parents, organisers and officials
.. plans and procedures are in place to make sure 7
Sport NZ 2010, Community Sport Strategy: Phase 1: 2010-2015
that potential risks are minimised, removed or [online], available URL: http://www.sportnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/
attachments/About-us/Community-Sport-Strategy.pdf
managed effectively to protect kids from harm
8
Ministry of Education 2007, Physical Activity for Healthy, Confident
.. suitable facilities are available, accessible and Kids: Guidelines for Sustainable Physical Activity in School
Communities [Online], available URL: http://health.tki.org.nz/
in good order for young people’s sport Teaching-in-HPE/Policy-guidelines

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.. What is the purpose of the organisation’s .. Have the personnel been police checked, and
programme or resource? Who benefits from do they have the knowledge and expertise to
the purchase of these programmes – the work within an educational setting? Are they
students or the organisation? willing to collaborate with relevant people
.. Is the organisation’s programme or resource and, if necessary, to adapt the programme to
relevant to New Zealand students and schools? meet the needs of individuals or the school?
Is the programme inclusive? Does it meet the .. Is the material feasible? Can it be previewed?
needs and interests of the targeted group? Is it time- and cost-effective? Is there
Are the aims and objectives of the programme evidence of the programme’s or provider’s
clearly defined, and can they be evaluated? effectiveness? Does any of the content have
.. Does the organisation’s philosophy align ethical implications for the school? Will
with the school’s physical education (PE) and materials be available when needed?
sport philosophy? Does it support the current
learning programme and complement Health For more information, see the Guidelines for using
and Physical Education in the New Zealand external providers for physical education and school
Curriculum? sport.9

How schools fit into the sport sector

ELEMENTS OF NEW ZEALAND’S SPORT DELIVERY SYSTEM

.. Sport NZ .. Local Government NZ

Policy Makers .. Ministry of Education .. Ministry of Social Development
.. Department of Conservation

.. ..
Funders ..
NSOs
Gaming/Community Trusts Supporters ..
NSOs/NROs
RSTs
.. Government .. TAs
.. TAs .. NZSSSC

.. ..
Providers ..
..
Schools
Clubs ..
..
Churches
Private/Commercial
TAs Event Organisers
.. Marae .. Other Community e.g YMCA

..
Settings ..
..
School
Home
Community
.. Events

Opportunities .... Proximity

Cost Influencers ..
..
Parents
Peers
.. Transport .. Teachers
.. Safety .. Coaches
.. Access to places .. Role models

9
Premier’s Council for Active Living NSW 2008, Guidelines for using contracted external providers for physical education and school sport [Online], available URL:
http://www.pcal.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/36393/Guidelines_for_using_contracted_external_providers_for_physical_education_and_school_sport.pdf

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 Roles and responsibilities
SPORT NEW ZEALAND
Sport NZ is the national agency for sport in New
Zealand. It works in partnership with national sport
organisations (NSOs), regional sports trusts (RSTs),
territorial authorities (TAs) and other sector groups as
required. Sport NZ’s role is to lead, invest and enable
the sport sector to create a sport environment in which
more New Zealanders participate, support and win.

NATIONAL RECREATION ORGANISATIONS (NROs)

Provide recreational opportunities that encourage
REGIONAL SPORT ORGANISATIONS (RSOs)
more New Zealanders to be more active, more often.
Responsible for, and support the delivery of, sport in a
Some examples of NROs are the YMCA, Sir Edmund
geographical region. They are often a provincial sport
Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre and Outward Bound
association that is closely aligned to its NSO and whose
Trust of NZ. Sport NZ works closely with selected NROs
members are local sports clubs. The size, role and
to help get more young people involved in recreation,
boundaries of RSOs vary among sports. Some of their
and participation is required for some students to
responsibilities include:
complete their national achievement standards at
school. .. the strategic direction of the sport in their
region
See a list of NROs on Sport NZ’s website.
.. organising local competitions

NATIONAL SPORT ORGANISATIONS (NSOs)

.. management of coach, referee and volunteer
programmes
Responsible for the capability of their regional sport
providers. They help to increase participation in sport .. support and development of their sports clubs
at regional and community levels by:7 .. support and administration of school sports’
.. competitions and programmes.
developing whole-of-sport plans that include
strategies for improving the delivery of sport at
the community level REGIONAL SPORTS TRUSTS (RSTs)
.. advocating for the importance and value of RSTs are independent not-for-profit organisations
community sport to funders and others governed by a Board of Trustees drawn from the local
.. establishing partnerships with key providers to
community. They have strong working relationships
with sports organisations, local councils, health
benefit community sport
agencies, education institutions, local businesses
.. providing expertise and other support to
and the media. As ‘umbrella’ organisations, RSTs
regional sport providers and clubs
work across the broad sport sector, assisting RSOs,
.. developing programmes and/or disseminating schools and clubs as well as supporting individuals
appropriate support resources, tools and and community groups participating in less structured
guidelines sport. They provide a regional voice for their sport and
.. encouraging best practice delivery of recreation communities.
community sport at local and regional levels.
The 14 Regional Sports Trusts are: Sport Northland,
They are involved in getting more young people Auckland Sport, Sport Waikato, Sport Taranaki, Sport
participating in organised sport through primary Wanganui, Sport Manawatu, Sport Gisborne, Sport
and secondary schools, and their strategic plans also Bay of Plenty, Sport Hawke’s Bay, Sport Wellington,
include a school sport component. Sport Tasman, Sport Canterbury, Sport Otago, Sport
Southland.
For a list of NSOs, see Sport NZ’s website.

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REGIONAL SPORTS DIRECTORS (RSDs) SPORTS CLUBS

Regional Sports Directors are personnel dedicated to Sports clubs are the face of sports in a community;
supporting secondary school sport, employed in most they have an important role to play in making sport
areas through Regional Sports Trusts but also including available in communities. They create opportunities
dedicated College Sport offices in some areas (College for participation and deliver key sporting services such
Sport Auckland, College Sport Wellington, School as coaching and access to competition directly to
Sport Canterbury, Otago Secondary School Sports participants.
Association, Southland Secondary School Sport).
COMMERCIAL/EXTERNAL SPORT PROVIDERS
Typically the RSD positions and College Sport offices:
External sports providers offer and/or facilitate sport
.. are jointly funded by Sport NZ and secondary opportunities with a cost associated.
schools.
.. are connected to regional sports trusts (RSTs)
and the sport resources and personnel they
house
.. advocate for sport with principals and boards
of trustees in their regions.
.. coordinate and deliver a regional calendar of
inter-school events.
.. support the sport coordinator and provides
professional learning opportunities.
.. report to local secondary school principals.

See a list of RSDs on Sport NZ’s website.

THE NEW ZEALAND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

SPORTS COUNCIL (NZSSSC)
.. Coordinates National and North and South
Island secondary school sports events.
.. Operates a judicial function on behalf of its
member schools to ensure a level playing
field in inter-school competition, particularly
developing and applying eligibility criteria.
.. Provides professional learning and support
to Regional Sports Directors and sport
coordinators.

For more information see the NZSSSC website.

TERRITORIAL AUTHORITIES (TAs)

TAs are district and city councils, the second tier of
local government in New Zealand, below regional
councils. They play a critical role in the sport sector by
providing and managing community facilities, such as
playing fields and swimming pools, that allow sport
and recreation participation to happen; quality facility
management results in high levels of community
access and participation. They invest hundreds of
millions of dollars annually in sport and recreation
partnerships, facilities, programmes and major events.

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FIGURE.2
GENERIC MODEL OF
PARTICIPANT AND ATHLETE Excel
DEVELOPMENT
Participate
(Lifelong) Talented
Perform Athlete
Pathway

Talent Development

Talent
Development

Foundation Pathway
Learn • Detection
• Selection
• KiwiSport • Identification
• Fundamental movement skills • Development
• School sport
• NSO community sport plans Explore

Pathways Participate stage

Having a planned approach to sports provides a This phase is the critical time for developing lifelong
pathway for young people to journey through their participation and involvement attributes. It includes
sport experiences. This will help guide their learning young people from the later years of primary school
and development. who’ve continued with organised sport, secondary school
students in both the school and club setting, and adults
who play organised sport in a non-elite environment.
SPORT AND RECREATION PATHWAY This is where secondary school and community sport
Sport NZ’s sport and recreation pathway (fig. 2) and recreation providers play an important role in
provides a generic model of participant and athlete encouraging and maintaining participation.
development. Many providers of sport-specific
opportunities for children and young people have Throughout the ‘participate stage’ people with
used this to develop their own sport’s pathway, as it outstanding talents and abilities are identified and
helps to guide the learning and development of young placed in programmes aimed at allowing them to reach
participants. their performance potential. The ‘talented athlete phase’
is the responsibility of national sport and recreation
Sport NZ aligns its programmes and services within a organisations.
sport pathway. This approach models the nature of the
See more information about Sport NZ’s Sport and
lifelong journey through both community sport and
Recreation Pathway on Sport NZ’s website.
high performance sport.

The pathway illustrates that school and community

About Sport summary
sport and high performance sport are in fact part of .. Children and young people need to feel physically
one system and depend on each other to flourish. and socially safe in a sports environment.
.. Sport providers have a responsibility for
Explore and learn stages protecting children and young people from
In these stages participants develop basic fundamental physical, social and emotional harm.
movement patterns and skills, and form positive .. Sports organisations need to provide kids with
attitudes and confidence. Development of these
quality experiences in order for them to continue
attributes underpins future participation and
participating.
achievement. Most of the participants in this stage are
primary school children.
.. Sport pathways help young people develop
and improve in a structured and supportive
environment.

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“I’ve learnt how

1.3 About Schools to concentrate on the
field and off the field.
I’m applying myself
New Zealand secondary schools are a significant in school”
part of the national sport infrastructure. Schools
understand the contribution that sport and PE
can make to wider academic, social and sporting Source: What’s the real value of sport?

outcomes.

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY

Strong school sport environment
An effective school sport programme provides
A strong school sport environment provides quality pathways for students to realise their aspirations as
experiences for all students, accommodates their participants, coaches, officials and administrators inside
aspirations, and gives them the confidence to continue and outside the school, establishes strong working
participating when they leave school. The components relationships with community sports organisations and
of a strong school sport environment include:10 personnel, and provides and shares equipment and
facilities that meet the needs of all students. It also
connects the school to parents and whanau who are a
critical part of the school and community sport system.

School Ethos SPORT OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES

& Culture Schools need to ensure sport experiences meet the
needs and aspirations of all students, and that they are
developed with input from them. Sport opportunities
Sport Strong
Strong School & are provided in curricular, co-curricular and extra-
Opportunities Schhol Sport
School Community curricular settings, supported by competent and
& Services Environment
Environment informed personnel who understand and cater for the
development, sporting, emotional and social needs of
a diverse range of young people.
Curriculum
CURRICULUM
One of the most significant contributions to the
development of a lifelong love of sport is a rich,
rewarding and high quality PE curriculum in schools.
This programme needs to be well planned and
SCHOOL ETHOS AND CULTURE resourced, reflect the Health and PE curriculum, and
A strong school sport environment starts with the develop and enhance skills and attitudes in young
culture and ethos established by the leaders of people across a wide range of settings and activities.
the school, and exhibited across all aspects of the
school operation. It includes the establishment and How does sport fit into the curriculum?
propagation of a vision and philosophy for sport Under the Education Act schools’ Boards of Trustees
and PE, evidence-based planning and consequent are required to implement a school curriculum in
resourcing and support, and includes formal accordance with the New Zealand Curriculum and
documentation of this vision in plans and policies and the priorities set out in the National Education Goals
procedures. (NEGs) and the National Administration Guidelines
(NAGs) (see fig. 3 over page).

Sport NZ 2014, School sport planning online tool [online], available

10

URL: http://www.sportnz.org.nz/SSPT

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FIGURE 3: THE EDUCATION ACT AND THE CURRICULUM11

The Education Act 1989

and amendments

National Education Guidelines

Foundation National
Curriculum Policy Curriculum
Statements Statements
Statements of policy Statements specifying
concerning teaching, knowledge, understanding,
National learning and assessment and skills to be learned National
Education Administration
Goals Guidelines
Desirable achievements Directions to board
and policy objectives of trustees relating
particularly to
The New Zealand Curriculum management, planning
and reporting

Principles Learning Area

Statements
Values
Key Competencies Achievable
Objectives

The School Curriculum

The New Zealand Curriculum sets the direction and In addition to PE in the HPE, a focus on physical activity
provides guidance for schools as they design and is also provided for through the NEGs and NAGs:
review their curriculum. .. NEG 5 refers to physical activity: “A broad
Health and PE (HPE) is one of eight learning areas. education through a balanced curriculum
Within HPE, physical education is one of three different covering essential learning areas. Priority
but related subjects: health education, physical should be given to the development of high
education, and home economics. These include a wide levels of competence (knowledge and skills) in
range of subjects: mental health; sexuality education; literacy and numeracy, science and technology
food and nutrition; body care and physical safety; and physical activity”.
physical activity; sport studies; outdoor education. .. NAG 1 refers to physical activity: “Giving
priority to regular quality physical activity that
develops movement skills for all students,
Ministry of Education, Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI), The Education Act and
11

the curriculum [online], available URL: http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/ especially in years 1-6” (NAG 1 (i) (c).
The-New-Zealand-Curriculum/The-Education-Act-and-the-curriculum

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Example of the structure of sport within and outside a school

The Sports Sector The School Sector

National Sport Sport Governance School Governance

Organisations E.g. Sports Council, E.g. Board of Trustees
Student Sport Committee

Regional
Sports Trust
Staff
Regional Sport Sport Management School Management
E.g. Sport Coordinator, E.g. Principal,
Organisations Sport Administrator Senior Leadership

Regional Sports
Directors
Clubs School/Sport School Teachers
Coaches, Officials, Management and Staff
Event Managers E.g. Director of Sport, TIC

Roles and responsibilities DIRECTOR OF SPORT/HOD SPORT/TEACHER IN

CHARGE (TIC) OF SPORT
SPORT COORDINATOR/ADMINISTRATOR .. increases the participation and performance
.. helps to establish and maintain a strong school levels of students in sport
sport environment .. directs and manages the school’s
.. manages and coordinates school and inter- sport programme through leadership,
school sports teams communication, administration, and
.. manages and coordinates coaching professional support and training
programmes in school sports .. gives input into the strategic direction of sport.
.. manages sports resources and facilities.
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT (HOD) PE
See example position descriptions for a sport .. focuses primarily on providing leadership to
coordinator and sport administrator. put in place the PE curriculum
.. develops and monitors a school-wide PE
STUDENT LEADER
programme
.. coordinates activities outside class time. .. ensures resources are provided for the
.. coaches junior teams teaching and learning programme of PE
.. supervises equipment distribution and .. keeps up-to-date with current practice through
collection ongoing professional development and
.. administers and officiates at sports events. membership of relevant subject organisations.

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SPORTS ADVISORY COUNCIL .. set realistic and relevant school goals and school
May include representation from teachers, senior targets in relation to sport
management, students, Board of Trustees, parents and .. provide clear direction and strong leadership for
community sport organisations. Ideally, the Council will: sport within the school
.. advise and support sport coordinators .. implement a professional development policy that
.. develop sport policies provides opportunities for teachers to maintain their
ability to provide sport
.. set sports targets in the strategic and annual
plans
.. plan and provide professional development
opportunities for teachers and sport staff to ensure
.. manage funding applications
they are competent and up to date with current
.. provide financial reporting practice
.. liaise with the community. .. ensure that sport opportunities are offered
within the school and that there is a process for
See a proposed structure for a Sports Advisory Council
monitoring and reviewing these
and ideas for setting their targets.
.. make sure that everyone in the school is informed
STUDENT SPORT COMMITTEE about sport opportunities and PE.
Gives students the opportunity to have a say about
how sport is run in their schools.12 The role of BOARD OF TRUSTEES
committee members may include: .. establishes a school charter: the Board’s mission,
.. aim, objectives, direction and targets so that their
providing leadership
school will be governed and managed in line with
.. being role models for their peers the Education Act 1989
.. promoting specific activities within the school .. approves the school’s strategic and annual plans
.. speaking at events, such as school exchanges, and ensures that the school complies with NEG 5
prizegivings, sports assemblies. and NAG 1
.. develops policies and procedures to support sport
PRINCIPAL AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
and PE programmes within the school as well as
.. alongside the sports director, develop and
policies around safe sport for children
implement sport within the strategic and
annual plans
.. allocates adequate funding to purchase and
maintain appropriate facilities, equipment, and
.. ensure sufficient sports resources are available
other resources that are needed to enable students
to achieve their curriculum learning outcomes and
access appropriate sport opportunities.

About Schools summary

.. A strong school sport environment provides quality
experiences for all students, accommodates their
aspirations, and gives them the confidence to continue
participating in sport when they leave school.
.. The key components of a school’s strong sport
environment are:
– ethos and culture
– school and community relationships
– sport opportunities
– curriculum.
.. A rich, rewarding and high quality PE curriculum
in schools contributes to students’ confidence to
Ministry of Youth Affairs 2002. Youth Development Strategy
12
participate in sport for life.
Aotearoa [online], available URL: http://www.myd.govt.nz/resources-
and-reports/publications/youth-development-strategy-aotearoa.html .. Schools that interact with their community can provide
a broad range of sport opportunities for their students.

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1.4 How is Sport in Schools Funded?

The provision of sport in schools is a significant

investment. The main organisations that provide
funding to support school sport are Sport NZ, the
Ministry of Education, community trusts and the
gaming sector, and parents.

KiwiSport
KiwiSport is a government fund for the promotion of
sport for school-aged children. The funding is through
the Ministry of Education, and Sport New Zealand
via regional sports trusts (RSTs). The intention of the
fund is to increase the number of organised sport
opportunities, increase the number of participants in
those opportunities and to improve their skills.

The KiwiSport fund is made up of two parts:

1. The Direct Fund

The Direct Fund is a grant paid quarterly to schools
by the Ministry of Education and incorporated in
Other funding opportunities
schools’ operations grants. Typically, this is used in
secondary schools to support the employment of sport Crowd funding is another growing way of sourcing
coordinators. funding for all sorts of projects including sport. For
more information, see the Funding Information
For more information, see the KiwiSport section on Service’s website.
the Ministry of Education’s website.

2. Regional Partnership Fund Parent contribution/user pays

A Regional Partnership Fund is allocated to the 14 A significant cost of school sport is contributed by
RSTs by Sport NZ for distribution to their communities. parents, participants and the community. Schools
RSTs establish priorities and mechanisms for fund endeavour to reduce costs by accessing the funding
applications that reflect the needs of their communities. sources described above.
See the KiwiSport sections on each RST’s website.

Sponsorship
Funding opportunities
To help with the costs of running sport, many schools
Refer to Sport NZ’s website for a directory of potential have corporate sponsorship or benefit from a national
funding sources. campaign by agreeing to be part of a programme or
accepting services/products. The reasons for sponsors
Community and gaming trusts to come on board may include to:

New Zealand is one of the few countries that operate .. enhance their public image or public
a community gaming model13 in which charitable awareness
gaming societies aim to return a percentage of their .. improve customer relationships and reach
funds back into their communities. Examples include .. be seen to be socially responsible
the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT), Lion
.. gain publicity through increased exposure.
Foundation, Pub Charity and Southern Trust. Refer to
the Department of Internal Affairs website for a list of
all gaming society websites. The Lion Foundation website: http://www.lionfoundation.org.nz
13

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1.5 Communication

Effective communication in managing sport at your

school is crucial for keeping students, teachers,
parents/family and the community informed and
involved, and to promote and celebrate sports
achievements and events.

Ideally, a school will establish a communications plan

that might include some or all of the channels listed
below. Think about who you want to communicate
with and what the best channel might be. It’s
important to talk to your community (kids, coaches,
teachers) about what the communication plan is; this
ensures all the stakeholders are aware of it and how it
operates.
A number of newsletters are developed through
The technology and tools used for communication applications such as MailChimp, which create, email
are always evolving and changing. If you have any and track newsletters. People subscribe to the
problems, check with your school administrator first as newsletters they’re interested in and then receive them
they may have a solution; any technical functionality automatically into their inbox. By using this method,
required may already be available but it isn’t used or parents don’t have to search for a newsletter through
hasn’t been enabled. a school website or at the bottom of their kid’s school
bag. You also develop a subscriber database with
Some of the ways to communicate and provide all their contact details stored in one place, and the
sporting information include: ability to track their activity e.g. whether or not they’ve
opened the newsletter.
FACE-TO-FACE
Speaking with and listening carefully to young people,
MOBILE PHONES
parents and families are important ways to engage
Texting sports updates and reminders to students is an
them and to find out if there are any issues or problems.
easy way to get practical information out to students
quickly. There are many sport-related apps that can
EMAIL
be used to help with such things as nutrition and
Quick and easy and often used to follow-up motivation, managing teams and training; for example,
conversations to confirm information. Some school check out teamer.net.
data management systems have email and text
message functionality (e.g. KAMAR has the option Some schools have designed their own mobile app that
of text notifications built into it). You may need pulls together information such as notices, newsletters,
permission from your school systems administrator to photo galleries and sports updates for easy access on
use these functions. smartphones. For examples, see the School Apps NZ
website and Pukekohe High School’s website which
NEWSLETTERS includes a link to download their school app.
These can be placed on the school’s website or
emailed out through the student management system.
Electronic newsletters need to be up-to-date and must
be easy to open and download. Some families don’t
own a computer, or parents are not computer literate,
so a hardcopy newsletter is essential to provide in
these situations.

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WEBSITES using Facebook’s scheduling options or third party

Often there’s a section dedicated to sport on applications such as Hootsuit.
school websites where you can upload sport news,
Ensure social media does not add unrealistic time
photos, newsletters, events, and other sports-related
demands, for example you can set up Facebook posts
information. For some examples see the websites for:
to be automatically tweeted, thus requiring only one
.. Pakuranga College
action rather than two; a simple link like this makes
.. St Patrick’s College Silverstream sure that you’re in the ‘twitter space’, but does not
.. Waikato Diocesan. require any additional work.

You can place links to the school’s social media pages

on their website, and also link to your RSD’s site.

Some RSDs run websites that include sport news,

calendars of events, cancellations, draws and results
of all college sports in their region. For example, see
the websites for College Sport Wellington and College
Sport Auckland.

Remember to keep RSDs informed about what’s

happening in your school. Some are also able to offer
help and advice about implementing websites and
social media.
Social media should be managed and monitored so
SOCIAL MEDIA that information posted is appropriate and reflects the
Can be linked from the school’s website but may also school’s positive sport environment; one way to do
standalone and can include: this is to set up profanity filters to block bad language.
.. Twitter and blogs – for example: Be aware that some blogs and websites may pose
risks due to people leaving comments under random
– Paraparaumu College Sport @Pcolsport
names. Even if you never post a single comment,
– Waiheke High School @waihekehigh social media tools can still be useful in monitoring and
listening to conversations and comments about your
.. Facebook – for example:
school, sport and other relevant subjects.
– Rongotai College Sport
– Hutt Valley High School Sport For an introduction to social media and how to
implement it, see Sport NZ’s Social media game plan:
– Auckland Girls’ Grammar School (AGGS Sport).
A nine-step introduction to social media for New
.. YouTube. Zealand sports bodies.

Some schools have set up Facebook groups for every PRINT MEDIA
single sport team; they are closed groups and people Promotions and press releases, for example, to
can be removed or added every new season. It enables celebrate achievements and successes in the local
messages to be sent out and you can see how many newspaper. You could contact the editor of the local
people have seen the posts. newspaper to give them details of your school sports
programme and the types of events that are coming
Good content drives much of a social network’s
up during the year. Some regions have regular college
conversation and engagement. Sport lends itself to
sport pages in their local newspaper – for example,
great content; you can post links to stories, photos
College Sport Wellington has a weekly secondary
and videos from various sources including other
school sport page in the Dominion Post.
schools and the media. You can schedule posts to
appear at appropriate times to maximise reach, for
example when users are online. This can be done Resources and templates are available online
at: www.sportnz.org.nz/rsss

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