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Increasing student participation and opportunities
By Heather Barker Vermeer Industry Reporter
Digital games provide dopamine hit with instant rewards, so perhaps increasing rewards can boost engagement in sports too? Reward and recognition With young people so used to the dopamine hit that comes from activity on their devices, the issue of reward and recognition can prove more of a challenge. If, as some studies suggest, devices are steering kids away from sport, how can school sports look to emulate digital experiences? Think bigger than participation trophies! In junior sports, major fast-food chains are known to jump in with burger and drinks vouchers incorporated into ‘Player
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of the day’ type certificates. So why not think local and link up with food, service, or entertainment providers in your neighbourhood to collaborate with on rewards, prizes, and incentives? It can be a win-win-win for school, students, and local businesses. Choosing exceptional coaches can have a major impact on your school sport department’s credibility and help bring new players on board in different sporting areas, depending on sporting expertise.
Post-COVID participation hit Compliance with social distancing and strict return-to-play protocols has, perhaps, forever changed the way that children and young people engage in organised sport, according to a 2021 BMC Public Health research paper.
Researchers conceptualised the ‘4 Rs’ in their bid to increase understanding about the pandemic’s impact on youth sport:
was emotional struggle. The lost sporting season/year for many participants provoked a sense of disappointment and ‘mourning’.”
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Recognising struggle
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Reconnection
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Re-engaging after restrictions
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Reimagining sport
Reconnection was established and maintained throughout the lockdown period for many youth participants and coaches via online communications. “The opportunity to reconnect with coaches and teammates during the pandemic via social media platforms was perceived as vitally important in place of face-to-face interactions,” say researchers.
A broad geographical sample of youth athletes across a range of sports including soccer, netball, swimming, tennis, BMX bike racing, athletics and basketball were part of the project, as were sports administrators, coaches, executives, and teachers, with online and inperson interviews and focus groups used to collect data. In recognising struggle, findings showed, “a shared experience brought on by the pandemic
SPORTS & RECREATION
Some athletes expressed ‘a hunger’ to re-engage in sport, stating that their passion for playing the sport they loved had been strengthened through its absence during lockdown. “However, the struggle to maintain fitness and skill reported by other junior participants appears to have led to a decrease in confidence and self-efficacy.” P54 Term 2, 2022 | schoolnews.co.nz
