RACQUET PACKET PROGRAMME

INTRODUCTION In my role as RSD (Regional Sports Director) one of my roles is to identify sporting opportunities for secondary school students and working towards making these viable and available. After reading extensive research provided by the current Sport NZ Young Persons survey I was able to identify two sports in particular that young people have nominated as preferences for social sports that they would like to participate in with friends on a social basis. Badminton statistically rated the highest with 27% indicating it is a sport they have been involved with at some point while students indicated tennis at 24.2%. These statistics show there was the potential to increase the popularity of these traditionally social sports, while perhaps providing alternatives to increase students physical activity.

There seemed to be a number of factors however that had been identified as being barriers to students participating in these sports – they were identified as the following 1.Lack of equipment 2.Cost of Playing the sport 3.No resources to travel to training, competitions etc 4.Opportunities to play their chosen sport After looking at four South Invercargill Secondary School NZ Census figures from 2013 Figures showed low to no participation in these three sports.

So the Racquet Packet has been introduced– a programme developed alongside the three RSO’s (Regional Sporting Organisations) Badminton, Squash and Tennis to get students participating in these sports. Each sport provides at no cost to students the necessary equipment, coaching and human resources to run the programmes for a 6 week block. Each session consists of coaching and then social games..

The advantage of running each sport for the 6 week block also means schools are able to count the numbers of students participating in their NZ Secondary Schools census, but more importantly giving students a significant period of time to develop skills and enjoy a social competition. The overall objective being that with students playing and developing skills in these sports, it will lead onto them continuing along the sports pathway and entering future competitions. Each sport has a regular weekly competition that the students can then register for so their involvement can be on going.

Funding was sourced -from the Kiwisport fund and the Invercargill City Council, which enables us to ensure if students need transport to the venue from school we are able to have a bus waiting to transport them to the venue. To date we have run Tennis in Term 4 of 2014 and Term 1 of Students who registered were more than the maximum number set as being manageable. Tennis Southland has picked up over 50 new players to tennis. Badminton ran in Term 2 and the registrations were significantly less but Badminton runs a very successful after school programme which we believe impacted on the take up of this particular opportunity. Squash started this termand was at capacity quickly with 22 students – one of whom is in a wheelchair and is thoroughly enjoying the new skills he is learning!!

THE FUTURE We are looking to expand the geographical area by offering these programmes in the Gore area and Central Southland Areas in term 4 and moving into The value of the programme will hopefully encourage local funders to support it.