Intro
A major objective for junior sport is the development of life-long participation in sport. As lifestyles becomes less physically active, sporting habits and values formed in the growing years are essential in helping people remain active and healthy.
Sport has many benefits including contributing to health and wellness by providing increased activity levels, reducing stress and helping to build a positive self-image.
An enjoyable and challenging junior sports experience can provide the entry to a life-long involvement in sport for:
Sport must be planned around what young people look for to make it a positive experience. In their words:
Young people over 12 years identify the essence of sport as centered around: Self-discovery and self-improvement
Young people want a safe and supportive environment which encourages them to do their best. They do not enjoy sport when:
The number of young people leaving sport as teenagers, especially girls, and particularly after finishing school is a major concern.
To encourage ongoing participation for teenagers, sports providers need to offer activities in a varied and interesting way. Modify sport to reduce competitiveness and emphasise the social and fun aspects (see Forming links – Junior sport policy).
Parents can help young people to balance the demands on their time if this is a problem (e.g. manage school work, part-time jobs, family and peers, entertainment etc).
The early sports experience is important. Sports providers need to ask themselves if they are providing lots of opportunities for young people to learn, experience success and have fun.
Above all, young people need to feel they are getting a fair go in their sporting opportunities. It is important that sport be made to fit kids, and not the reverse. Modified rules, games and equipment assist in doing this and help young people to experience success (see Booklet 22 of this series, Sport pathways – Junior sport policy).
Development programs and modified versions of sport (see Forming links – junior sport policy) offer young people:
Early sport experiences impact greatly on continued participation. All providers must:
Young people’s motivations for sport are influenced by:
This means people involved in junior sport must watch the things they say and do as they reveal their attitudes about sport and how they see their young people progress. Adults must remember that ‘being wanted’ is as strong a motivator for young people as pride, improvement and having fun. Adults must also be careful not to impose their philosophy of elitism onto young people as this is a common cause of drop-out if they do not want to pursue the elite pathway.
Sport has many benefits for young people that contribute to their holistic development, and continue to advantage them as adults.
Experiences within junior sport are important for continued participation. To motivate young people to make a lifetime commitment to sport, we must:
Above all, young people must be treated with respect regardless of their capabilities, and experience a safe and accountable environment led by caring sport providers.
This information is part of a series covering the nine guidelines outlined in the Junior Sport Framework (JSF) as developed by Sport Australia.
The information in this booklet has been reproduced with the permission of Sport Australia.
The guidelines cover topics to address the needs of young people in sport and include:
These booklets outline the main points of the guidelines to assist in the delivery of best practice in junior sport and to encourage young people to make a life-long commitment to sport.
A complete copy of the JSF is available on the Sport Australia website.