Age group rep teams a dying breed
Representative teams in at least two South Canterbury sports below 14 years are a thing of the past.
A recent decision by the North Harbour Rugby Football Union to pull its representative programme for teams under 14 was described as a first for children’s rugby in New Zealand, but the South Canterbury Rugby Union has confirmed it had such a system in place in 2018.
And they are both behind Netball South Canterbury after it dropped its primary school aged representative teams in 2017.
South Canterbury Rugby chief executive Craig Calder said the union reviewed the primary school age representative programme in 2018.
‘‘Our review was based on the increasing amount of evidence, both factual and anecdotal, that the selection of age grade representative teams can be counterproductive to achieving growth in participation of weight for age teams.’’
The union wanted to provide a clearer direction about how to effectively run programmes for this age group, Calder said.
‘‘In 2018 we scrapped the under-65kg and under-48kg primary school age South Canterbury representative teams.
‘‘We changed the focus to ensure we captured the widest possible player numbers and provided them with a weekend fun participation programme.
‘‘We do not see value in representative programmes at under-14 and below in relation to identifying those players likely to go on to the elite level and encouraging the largest pool of players who may have the ability to play at the elite level and to stay in the game.’’
Netball South Canterbury’s game development convenor Sarah Harvey said they stood by their decision two years on.
Harvey said a lot of the feedback had been positive.
‘‘There’s also been the negative side of it as well, just from parents not looking into it further – it’s more parents, not kids.’’
Harvey said participation numbers had not altered since the move.
‘‘Kids are still playing it, they’re still enjoying it, getting involved in it, and then they get that opportunity at secondary school to make those representative teams.’’
Sport Canterbury South Canterbury regional manager Shaun Campbell agrees with what has been done.
Campbell said there was large evidence suggesting junior representative team selection had a ‘‘negative impact’’ on overall participation levels.
‘‘They [rep programmes] have a place but under-13 is too young. We want to keep people in sport and let them attempt a wide range of activities.’’
However, Timaru’s West End Football Club coach Damian Gawne said removing junior representative sides could be ‘‘detrimental’’ for football.
‘‘Because football’s grown so much, what happens is you’ve got to cater for all levels.
‘‘You’ve got the high-end which is the talent pool . . . but they need a pathway.
‘‘All the satellite provincial towns, they have to have a provision for that and we’ve got to encourage them and give them that pathway as local coaches.’’
Campbell said he was aware most sporting codes had a junior representative programme, starting at various levels and age groups.
‘‘It would be good if there was more of a development emphasis, preferably opening the opportunity to more.
‘‘These types of programmes could be available to all enthusiastic young people regardless of age, size and current talent.’’