Introduction
Sports are essential for the development and mental health of children and adolescents. The iSPORT Foundation (n.d.) asserts that all youngsters, irrespective of their circumstances, have the right to be fit and healthy, receive access to exceptional role models, and become the best versions of themselves. Some Kiwi children have never been a part of a sports team (iSPORT Foundation, n.d.). Sport contributes to the formation of who people are as individuals and the sense of community development. Significant data from both national and international sources demonstrates the need for improvements in youth sports (The evidence, 2022). For instance, secondary school sports statistics suggest that inter-school sport participation has decreased while school enrollment has grown over the previous three years. (The evidence, 2022). This fact is concerning since attitudes acquired in adolescence transfer to adulthood; in essence, inactive adolescents become inactive adults. Thus, the paper discusses a new and practical Sport-For-Development initiative for New Zealand youth aged fourteen-eighteen aligned with the iSPORT Foundation.
Sport-For-Development Initiative
Overview
The Sport-For-Development initiative is the IronTeen, which will be designed for both individuals and teams. It includes running for 300 meters and two kilometers, a long jump competition, basketball, and rugby. New Zealand’s five most significant athletic codes have pledged to be less competitive and more entertaining to combat an increasing number of young dropouts (McKewen, 2019). Thus, this initiative will promote participation for anyone aged fourteen to sixteen. The tournament will be held in a pleasant environment under the supervision of coaches. The IronTeen competition’s duration is three hours, including introduction and greetings, individual sports, namely running and long jumps, followed by team games, namely basketball and rugby. instance, a running and jumping competition will take approximately an hour. Whereas basketball and rugby games will be divided into four quarters of ten minutes each: rugby will be forty minutes, and the same time will be dedicated to a basketball game. The IronTeen can be conducted in any school; thus, each school needs to submit the desired date, specifically March-April 2023, to receive assistance, additional staff, and equipment.
To make the games less competitive and emphasize fun, every participant will get a T-Shirt ‘IronTeen,’ a sports water bottle, and a certificate of participation. The name ‘IronTeen’ specifies that only teenagers can participate, and the idea behind the initiative is to spark interest in individual and team sports among young people. The IronTeen may be held in any school; hence, the location is not limited to one area.
One manager is needed to discuss tournament conditions with schools, including all organizational aspects, and four professional coaches for each sport to support student participation. Though some parents may be tempted to allow their children to engage in one sport, maybe pushed by a coach or club administration, statistics suggest this is usually a terrible choice (McKewen, 2019). Additionally, forcing students to early specialization and a heavy emphasis on winning are two causes of poor sports participation among New Zealand teenagers. Sporting organizations are aware of the issue, and some are already implementing solutions (McKewen, 2019). Adolescents’ motivation to participate in sports will strengthen if they are introduced to various activities in an entertaining way. Because each participant is an IronTeen, the initiative focuses on arranging an enjoyable competition with no winner. The school break may be the only chance for some children to be physically active daily. Thus, schools should achieve change when youngsters are inspired and grasp the value of sports.
Goals and Objectives
The three key Sport-For-Development goals should encourage participation, emphasize the sports’ importance, and have relevance to well-being. The first goal is empowering each younger to be physically active. According to New Zealand Government (2019), teenagers are particularly prone to developing long-term habits and a lifelong passion for sports and physical exercise. The objective for this goal is to offer non-competitive, friendly sports that focus on leisure, spending time with friends, and having fun.
The second goal is to explain the young people the importance of being active to maintain physical and mental health. This aim can be achieved by incorporating professional coaches that will facilitate running, jumping, rugby, and basketball games and address how each benefits well-being. Schools must have access to professional coaches who understand and offer a strong sports curriculum (New Zealand Government, 2019). The initiative will assist in engaging school-based personnel in aligning sports and physical activity possibilities with the curriculum and connecting schools and community programs.
The final goal is to combine entertainment and competition, so students will enjoy the activities without the pressure of winning. The New Zealand Government (2019) states that the critical motivators for teenagers to be physically active revolve around the themes of entertainment, body image, friends, a sense of accomplishment, and improved sports performance. Physical activity has to be enjoyable to reduce worries and perceptions of being physically active connected with ‘not being fat.’ Peer acceptance and communication also encourage young people to lead an active lifestyle. The majority, precisely 76% of young people, engage in physical exercise for fun, 45% to socialize with friends, 31% for health and wellness, and 31% to develop new skills (The New Zealand Government, 2019). Thus, the objective for the third goal is to offer each participant little gifts, such as T-shirts, sports water bottles, and participation certificates, and ensure a pleasant, fun, and non-competitive atmosphere for everyone.
The three goals and their objective align with the iSPORT Foundation’s mission and aims. According to the iSPORT Foundation (n.d.), sports and personality development have the potential to positively impact the lives of individuals and communities by offering a connection and feeling of belonging to a greater purpose. The primary objective is to instill in young people the principles of self-awareness, compassion, responsibility, discipline, self-belief, confidence, and self-forgiveness (iSPORT Foundation, n.d.). As a result, it is vital to minimize obstacles to physical activity for young people by attending schools and community organizations to assist and instruct young people and their facilitators about the benefits of physical activity in maintaining well-being.
Justification of Outcomes
Essentially, the IronTeen initiative is supported by peer-reviewed literature to enhance its benefits. Adolescent participation in sports is linked to a variety of well-being domains. For instance, Wilson et al. (2022a) acknowledge that great sports experiences might provide well-being advantages in addition to those linked with general physical activity involvement. Participating in various sports and settings enables young people to meet their needs for independence, competence, and connectedness in various ways (Wilson et al., 2022a). Additionally, evidence demonstrates that involvement in a range of sports reduces the risk of injuries and burnout compared to teenagers with a restricted athletic concentration. Hence, the IronTeen initiative includes individual sports activities, such as running and jumping, and team games, such as rugby and basketball. There is a need to guarantee that the sports sector’s management, funding, and structures are coordinated so that young people can access different physical activity options throughout adolescence (Wilson et al., 2022a). Furthermore, the breadth of sport involvement might have immediate well-being benefits that legislators who have traditionally concentrated on adolescent participation may be interested in because of its link with future levels of physical activity during adulthood.
The initiative incorporates professional coaches who will focus on entertainment and physical and mental health promotion through sports. Walters et al. (2022) argue that sport offers well-documented potential advantages for adolescent participants, including higher physical activity levels, socialization experiences, leadership and collaboration skills development, enhanced self-esteem, and enjoyment. Nonetheless, access to such advantages primarily depends on the sports environment produced by adults, who are affected by prevalent socio-cultural attitudes that prioritize success in sports above development and, fun, continued engagement.
In New Zealand, the intensification of youth athletic experiences is not new; it has grown steadily through time. For instance, children’s leisure time has gradually been devoted to highly organized, restricted, adult-controlled sports since the 1950s; parents have steadily committed more time and resources to encourage their children’s interests (Walters et al., 2022). The difference in the well-being value of sport involvement across contexts clearly illustrates the need to incorporate competent coaches who deliver positive experiences through youth sport provision (Wilson et al., 2022a). Currently, a youth sports system prioritizes achievements for the few above-developing chances for the many. This method has resulted in several challenges, ranging from minor concerns affecting young participants’ enjoyment of the sport to more significant issues when young people refuse to participate. Therefore, the IronTeen program will create a pleasant, friendly, and non-competitive atmosphere to enhance students’ motivation.
It is recommended to continue developing a knowledge of the potential and complex impact of physical exercise and sport on youth well-being. Wilson et al. (2022b) claim that enjoyable physical exercise may provide extra benefits to well-being in addition to other types of physical activity. Even after accounting for an overall time of recreational physical activity involvement, results indicate that participation in organized sports, such as rugby and basketball, is even more significantly connected with positive outcomes for young people in New Zealand (Wilson et al., 2022b). Batty et al. (2018) assert that rugby is frequently referred to as New Zealand’s national sport. The newest participation data for school-aged adolescents and children in New Zealand also indicate that rugby’s dominance is under threat, with other sports like basketball challenging the privileged position rugby has had for so long (Batty et al., 2018). As a result, the initiative provides two alternatives to the most popular sports for young people: rugby and basketball, allowing them to experience both and decide which one they prefer. Faigenbaum et al. (2020) emphasize that muscular health is necessary for continued engagement in sports activities and current national and worldwide youth physical activity. Running and broad jumps are thus included in the initiative to enhance adolescents’ development.
Grant Funding Eligibility
I would apply for NZCT because my initiative IronTeen meets their funding criteria. Sports funds will only be granted to amateur sports; around seventy-five percent of their funding is for sports reasons, and IronTeen welcomes 14-16-year-olds (NZCT, n.d.). Aside from personal expenses, most of the costs associated with participating in a sport will be examined. Uniforms, grounds upkeep, sporting equipment, emergency aid kits, and training are all included. I will also seek compensation increases for coaches and the manager and submit employment contracts and work descriptions. I will submit a resolution from my committee that is signed and dated by an authorized signatory of my organization. Additionally, I will mention that my organization is applying to NZCT for a specified purpose, and a certain sum is needed for the IronTeen organization.
Travel and lodging expenses for the team visiting schools in New Zealand will be considered, providing the expenses are actual and appropriate and an official invitation or itinerary confirmed by the recipient’s national authority is submitted. Grants for advertising will be regarded if the promoted activity or event is entirely non-commercial and helps the larger community (NZCT, n.d.). The financing includes marketing to promote amateur sports participation, whereas commercial advertising without a demonstrated community benefit will not be financed. The IronTeen is eligible for the grant application because it supports youth development through sports. The NPC of NZCT is composed of at least three trustees from NZCT. The committee usually meets monthly to review proposed submissions and make award decisions. As a result, funding applications should be submitted as soon as possible to obtain the appropriate equipment, purchase gifts, and agree on a date with schools for the IronTeen in March-April 2023. Thus, I am eligible to apply for NZCT funds because the Sports-For-Development initiative benefits the community, promotes amateur sports, emphasizes the significance of well-being, and is not for profit.
Conclusion
The IronTeen Sport-For-Development initiative will be tailored for both individuals and teams. The IronTeen may be held in any school; therefore, the location is not limited to one area. It comprises 300-meter and 2-kilometer runs, a long jump competition, basketball, and rugby. To make the activities less competitive and more pleasant, each player will get an ‘IronTeen’ T-shirt, a sports water bottle, and a participation certificate. Adolescents’ enthusiasm to participate in sports will increase if they are introduced to various activities in a fun way. The primary aims of Sport-For-Development are similar to iSPORT because they include encouraging youth to be physically active, highlighting the value of sports in maintaining physical and mental health, and integrating entertainment and competition.
References
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Walters, S. R., Minjares, V., Bradbury, T., Lucas, P., Lenton, A., Spencer, K., & Spencer, S. (2022). Promoting a culture change in junior and youth sport in New Zealand. Front Sports Act Living, 12.
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Faigenbaum, A. D., MacDonald, J. P., Stracciolini, A., & Rebullido, T. R. (2020). Making a strong case for prioritizing muscular fitness in youth physical activity guidelines. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 19(12), 530-536.
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McKewen, T. (2019). If NZ really wants to revive youth sport, there’s one obvious nation to emulate. The Spinoff. Web.
The evidence. (2022). Sport New Zealand. Web.
NZCT. (n.d.). Our grants criteria. NZCT. Web.