Balance is Better
Swimming New Zealand is committed to living out the Balance is Better approach. We are committed to improving the structures within our sport to support quality sporting experiences, and through the Good Sports program looking to educate our community of how everyone can play their role.
Balance is Better is a Sport NZ-led evidence-based philosophy to support quality sport experiences for all young people, regardless of ability, needs and motivations. It is about young people staying involved in the sport for life and realising their potential at the right time.
Parents & Whanau
Swimming New Zealand is proud to be one of the initial sports to join the Good Sports movement. We are committed to promoting positive sporting experiences to everyone involved in swimming and committed to providing education to support parents, whanau, coaches, sport leaders and administrators to create these positive environments.
Good Sports is all about creating positive sporting experiences for children and young people. It does this by supporting and educating parents, caregivers, coaches, teachers and sport leaders about how they can impact a child’s experience.
Good Sports
Take our quick Good Sports Quiz
- Reviewing the coach education pathway
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Delivering webinars for education about Good Sports to coaches
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Continuing to deliver presentations for community groups via webinar or face-to-face
What we are doing?
What have we done?
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Presented Balance is Better and Good Sports to SNZ board and staff
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Presented Balance is Better and Good Sports to regional staff and boards
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Make every SNZ event a “Good Sports Event”
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Develop a Parents & Whanau webpage to learn more online
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Improve our communications to be more personal
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Introduced Police Vetting for all officials, volunteers, coaches, and staff to receive accreditation at national events for member protection and safety
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Delivered a coach developer course to upskill a group of coaches to be mentors and educators moving forward
- Reviewing the coach education pathway
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Delivering webinars for education about Good Sports to coaches
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Continuing to deliver presentations for community groups via webinar or face-to-face
What we are doing?
What have we done?
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Developed Participation Working Groups to continue looking to provide opportunities for kids to have positive swimming experiences
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Removed 12 & under NZ records
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Adapted the Junior Festivals to celebrate personal bests, removed qualifying times for more opportunities to participate
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Developed PB certificates and PB notifications via the Mytogs app
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Identified barriers to participation through obtaining community feedback from working groups
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Encouraged more fun racing opportunities to be held locally by clubs such as club nights, dual meets and leagues via an Open Letter and provide resources
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Provided more Secondary School racing opportunities on the calendar for rangatahi to participate for their school. This is in the pool with a big focus on relay swimming in a team, and in the open water to enjoy the outdoors
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Implemented a new Inclusive Swimwear Policy to make swimming more accessible and address a barrier to participation