Our Role

Sport Canterbury has a vision of getting more people, more active, more often, and believe that positive sport experiences, which meet the needs of both tamariki and rangatahi significantly contribute to this. To support and promote positive youth sport experiences, we work with regional sport and education organisations to increase their understanding of and capability to deliver quality sport participation opportunities. These align to the national Balance is Better philosophy, and are informed by Aktive’s Good Sports initiative, the Mana Taiohi principles and our own Let’s Keep it Positive campaign. This largely involves work behind the scenes with influential sports leaders, but also includes community education initiatives.

LET'S KEEP IT POSITIVE

Let’s Keep It Positive is a regional community education initiative that aims to promote the importance of positive sideline and supporter behaviour.

Targeted at parents, caregivers, and coaches, it promotes the creation of safe, enjoyable, and positive sport environments, that both youth participants and officials want to be apart of now, and in the future.

As a regional campaign, it enables sports organisations from throughout Waitaha Canterbury to share common language and unified messaging in community sport 

BALANCE IS BETTER

Balance is Better is an evidence-based philosophy that promotes quality sport experiences for all young people, regardless of ability, needs and motivations.

It is about young people getting and staying involved in sport for life and realising their potential at the right time.

The philosophy has been developed by the New Zealand sport system (sport organisations, leaders, schools, clubs, coaches, parents, and volunteers) and focuses on nine principles to support the culture changes needed to provide quality sport opportunities for all tamariki (5-11) and rangatahi (12-18).​​​​​​​

GOOD SPORTS

Good Sports is a culture change initiative aiming to create positive sporting experiences for children and young people by educating and supporting the key adult influencers in youth sport – in particular, parents.  

Well aligned to Balance is Better, it recognises that supporting and educating adults is crucial to ensure Kiwi kids have the best chance of having positive sporting experiences and ultimately growing a lifelong love of sport. 

Good Sports is a well-established and highly regarded initiative, that was initially designed by Aktive as a Sport NZ funded Active Communities Project and then further developed over the last three years.