Ensuring the wellbeing of Rangatahi is everyones responsibility. A significant element of a quality experience is ensuring that the environement in which young people are particpating in is safe, welcoming, and fun. As such, understanding the rules and expectations of participation in school sport events is extremely important. Having knowledge of the processes to call out behaviours that impact on the quality of experience are therefore fundamental to tackle some of these negative issues.

As we approach the pinnacle of the summer season in school sport it is a timely reminder for everyone attending Summer Tournament Week events of those expectations. The School Sport NZ Integrity Framework outlines the expected behaviours of not just participants, but anyone attending our sanctioned events, including coaches, volunteers, and spectators. Our integrity framework is based upon a simple values framework that we believe sits at the heart of quality school sport

                                                  RESPECT              HONESTY           FAIRPLAY

Sport is an emotional rollercaoster where passion and anger can sometimes be blurred. However, this is not an excuse to let your emotions get the better of you. Simply put it is an expectation that the everyone attending sanctioned events is respectful to one another, that honesty is modelled, and that the principles of fairplay are adhered to. Where this is at the forefront of peoples minds, school sport is place that can be enjoyed and Rangatahi are safe to strive to reach their goals, whatever they might be.

If you believe that these values are being brought into disrepute, speak up! Please in the first instance try to deal with the issue by displaying these values yourself and expecting that of others. Report these behaviours to the event organiser at the time of the event. They will ensure that the behaviour is addressed and if appropriate, raise the issue with School Sport NZ under its Integrity Framework. In special circumstances, Principals of schools may also raise a dispute under the Integrity Framework and the process for this is outlined within the document.

Have a safe and enjoyable Tournament Week!

Mike Summerell

CEO School Sport NZ

Article added: Thursday 23 March 2023