NZ Sport

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NZ Sport Recreation Pathway

• www.sparc.org.nz

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NZ Sport Recreation PathwayGeneral Principles

• Models the lifelong pathway in sport and
  recreation for active participants in a 5 stage,
  3 phase model.
• Recognises that all New Zealanders have a right
  to access quality sport and recreational
  experiences.
• Promotes the concept that an individuals
  transition through the pathway occurs when they
  are ready rather than at any predetermined age.
• Identifies the dual outcomes of the sport and
  recreational pathway lifelong participation and
  high performance and that these two outcomes are
  achieved as part of one integrated sport and
  recreational system.

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NZ Sport and Recreation PathwayThe Stages
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NZ Sport and Recreation PathwayThe Phases
Talented Athlete Phase (TAP)
Community sport recreation phase
Talent Identification
Foundation Phase
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Foundation Phase

• Progression through explore and learn stages.
• Recognises that early childhood movement
  experiences (pre-sport and recreation) are
  critical in the development of the skills,
  attitudes and confidence required to become an
  active participant in sport and recreation.
• Recognises that early sport and recreational
  experiences need to be structured to meet the
  needs of children within a planned pathway
  targeting sequential development and retention in
  sport and recreation through youth and adult life.

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Foundation PhaseExplore Stage

• The majority of children will transition through
  this stage at some time in the first seven years
  of life.
• Development is fostered through an environment
  around the child that is caring, safe and
  supportive and encourages movement exploration,
  play and fun.
• Critical to being able to enter sport and
  recreation (learn stage) is the development at
  this stage of
• basic movement patterns and skills
• confidence in movement and a willingness to
  attempt new activities
• Children at this stage need many and varied
  movement experiences every day.

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Foundation PhaseLearn Stage

• Entry level to sport and physical recreation
  activities.
• Most children will transition through this stage
  by age twelve.
• Development is fostered through providing
  playful, fun and supportive environments where
  children can experience success, develop skills
  and learn positive attitudes towards sport and
  recreation.
• A long term approach from coaches, parents and
  clubs is critical, the development of skills and
  positive attitudes in every child is more
  important than winning every week (does not imply
  that children should not strive to win).
• Specialisation should be avoided.
• Multiple sport / recreational experiences
  important.
• Multiple positional / roles within sports
  important.
• Talent identification and representative
  programmes are not required.

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Community Sport and Recreation Phase

• Sport and physical recreation for youth / adult
  life (beyond childhood).
• Very diverse and complex set of requirements.
• Enjoyment and fun are the key drivers for
  participation.
• Need to provide for dual aspirations
• social participation
• factors other than performance are the key
  objective
• e.g. social interaction, experiencing the
  physical environment
• competitive participation
• Performance, challenge and improvement are the
  key objectives
• Need to provide for wide age range.
• Availability of multiple formats and options that
  cater for the diverse needs of this stage.
• Most participants will change activities of
  choice through this stage and need to retrain.
• The pathway through this stage is not linear and
  changes in direction and aspiration are common.

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Community Sport and Recreation PhaseParticipate
Stage
Excel
Participate Stage
Social Participation
Competitive Participation
Perform
Learn
Retrain to participate in new sports and physical
recreations
Explore
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Talented Athlete Phase

• This phase is all about realising performance
  potential of athletes.
• Athletes in the participation stage are
  identified with the potential to perform to a
  very high level in the future (talent
  identification).
• These athletes then transition through the
  perform stage with the ultimate goal of reaching
  the excel stage and maximising their performance
  level.

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Talented Athlete PhaseTalent Identification

• When to start the process of identification is
  sport specific but should be based around the
  following principles
• should be inclusive rather than exclusive
• conducted at multiple stages throughout the
  participate stage as individuals will develop at
  varying rates (long-term process)
• early specialisation should be avoided even with
  identified athletes as this will lead to athlete
  burnout / drop out
• clear development programmes need to be
  implemented around identified individuals with
  development rather than competition success as
  the key outcome

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Talented Athlete PhasePerform Stage

• Open age
• Involvement in multiple sports but only one (or
  perhaps two) pursued seriously.
• Higher frequency of deliberate practice with a
  focus on skill development.
• Position / roles identified within chosen sports.
• Success and failure both viewed as valuable
  experiences.
• Long term vision around development of individual
  is key.

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Talented Athlete PhaseExcel Stage

• Open age.
• Athletes who are able to translate their training
  and technical skills into competing at a
  world-class level and achieving excellence in one
  sport.
• Focus of stage is on optimisation of performance.
• Athletes need to be integrated into the
  decision-making process.
• Need for specialised support to deal with
  stresses associated with elite competition.