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NEW ZEALAND SECONDARY SCHOOLS SPORTS COUNCIL INCORPORATED
Executive Director: Peter Sharp, PO Box 36005, Merivale, CHRISTCHURCH Phone 0274 332 438; Fax 03 355 9656; e-mail nzsssc@xtra.co.nz |
| During Term 3 this year New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council surveyed all schools that attended secondary schools sports events in Hamilton, Palmerston North and Blenheim during Winter Tournament Week. The intention, as always, was to obtain feedback from those who participated so that NZSSSC could monitor the conduct of the event in relation to the quality standards that were expected and so that national sports organisations could be advised how successfully their events were being presented by organising committees acting on their behalf. The events were picked because there had been suggestions that the holding of the events in these towns would tax the provision of accommodation and travel. More on this later. All schools were sent a survey form that asked for a rating on each of 11 items. They rated each event from 1 (excellent) to 5 (very disappointing). A summary of some of the results and, at the end, the winning ratings follow. [Note: 1. We will make full details, including comments, available to the national body for the sport on all of the events so that the national body can look at ways of improving those areas that need attention.] 1. Overall rating for the event. Schools were asked to provide an overall assessment of how successful the event had been. The average rating was 1.61. The range of scores was from 1.30 > 2.17. The top ratings were:- (schools responding in brackets) - Netball – Upper North Island [HLZ] Rating 1.30 (56) - Hockey – India Shield [HLZ] Rating 1.38 (8) - Hockey – Federation Cup [PMR] Rating 1.50 (15) 2. Was the event ‘Fun’? This received a very positive average rating of 1.50 and a range from 1.31 to 2.12. Top scores here for:- - Soccer – Premier Girls [PMR] Rating 1.31 (18) - Netball – South Island [BLE] Rating 1.34 (56) - Netball – Upper North Island [HLZ] Rating 1.38 (56) - Hockey – India Shield [HLZ] Rating 1.38 (8) 3. Student behaviour This also received a terrific overall rating of 1.42. Top scores here for:- - Netball – South Island [BLE] Rating 1.32 (56) - Netball – Upper North Island [HLZ] Rating 1.33 (56) - Hockey – Federation Cup [PMR] Rating 1.40 (15) Two features: a) The best scoring events were those with the greatest number of schools participating. b) And the worst average score! It was a very pleasing figure of 1.60, hardly suggesting anything but a very high standard of student behaviour throughout. 4. Quality of competition This was another element that rated highly with an average of 1.47, the best score in the 3 years we have been conducting these surveys. The range of scores was from 1.28 > 1.75. Top ratings for:- - Soccer – Premier Girls [PMR] Rating 1.28 (18) - Hockey – Federation Cup [PMR] Rating 1.30 (15) - Netball – South Island [BLE] Rating 1.39 (56) 5. The work of the organising committee This vital work has been recognised by the participating schools with a very big ‘thumbs up’. An average score of 1.58 with the best being:- - Soccer – Premier Girls [PMR] Rating 1.11 (18) - Hockey – India Shield [HLZ] Rating 1.25 (8) - Hockey – Federation Cup [PMR] Rating 1.30 (15) 6. Safety and Welfare It is pleasing to report a satisfactory average rating of 1.71, identical to the score of 1.73 in 2001. This must be interpreted as positive given the increased awareness of risk management issues in 2003. Best scores:- - Netball – Upper North Island [HLZ] Rating 1.20 (56) a fantastic score - Hockey – Federation Cup [PMR] Rating 1.40 (15) - Soccer – Premier Girls [PMR] Rating 1.42 (18) Two events scored 2.7 & 2.28, the worst scores. Some sensible, and addressable, concerns were raised that have been passed on to the national bodies and, through them, to the event organisers. 7. Venue An average score, at 1.77, is significantly improved on the previous surveys. [Previous were 1.97 & 1.99] The range of scores was from 1.38 > 2.28. Best:- - Hockey – India Shield [HLZ] Rating 1.38 (8) - Netball – Upper North Island [HLZ] Rating 1.43 (56) - Netball – Lower North Island [PMR] Rating 1.43 (37) 8. Communications This brought a relatively pleasing average score [1.80 c.f. 1.99 previously] and range [1.50 > 2.25]. Best were: - Hockey – Federation Cup [PMR] Rating 1.50 (15) - Netball – Upper North Island [HLZ] Rating 1.58 (56) - Soccer – Premier Girls [PMR] Rating 1.65 (18) 9. Quality of officiating Here the scores continue to be a concern with an overall average of 2.04, the lowest of any of the measures of tournament presentation, a position that is repeated for the third year in a row. The range of scores was from 1.60 > 2.88. The best scores were:- - Hockey – Federation Cup [PMR] Rating 1.60 (15) - Netball – Upper North Island [HLZ] Rating 1.78 (56) - Netball – Lower North Island [PMR] Rating 1.89 (37) Four of the seven events rated an average of 2.00 or worse. But there is good news. In 2001, a survey of Winter Tournament Week events reported four events with average scores worse than 3.00! 10. And the winner is, the best event, the most consistent performer, the champion for Winter 2003, counting all elements, as judged by those schools attending the events that were surveyed: 1. Netball – Upper North Island [HLZ] Average rating = 1.43 2. Hockey – Federation Cup [PMR] Average rating = 1.50 3. Soccer – Premier Girls [PMR] Average rating = 1.55 4. Hockey – India Shield [HLZ] Average rating = 1.58 Congratulations to all of those involved in these outstanding successes and to all who work hard to offer such high quality sporting opportunities for young people. Many thanks also to the sports co-ordinators in all the schools that provided the reports. We know you are busy and that Term 3 was not easy but the information is both heartening to all of us involved in secondary school sport and informative to the national bodies that have a responsibility to present their codes in the best possible manner. There is good stuff happening and we need to work hard to maintain this. And, I almost forgot the conclusions re. the accommodation and travel. It was clear that Blenheim [and surrounding areas] was full as a result of the netball players, support staff and supporters. In Palmerston North and Hamilton, some teams, mostly those who were late[r] in their bookings, had difficulty in obtaining suitable accommodation. Both of these cities and their neighbours were at full stretch. It seems clear that 3 major tournaments are too many for these locations if one of the events is Netball, where there is huge demand from a large number of schools that, because of the nature of entry, have the benefit of being able to book a year in advance. People should note that there are 3 major events in Napier in WTW 2004, but no Netball. We have checked to confirm that accommodation in Napier and Hastings is able to cope; it is and they are looking forward to the week and promoting it as a major part of their tourism calendar. Travel, apart from cost, did not appear to be a problem although some schools commented that it might have been cheaper to get to Hamilton through Auckland. A charter flight from Invercargill to Blenheim and return may also point towards possible savings. I should also report a Survey undertaken by UCOL on behalf of Sport Manawatu. UCOL students interviewed 142 participants in Palmerston North, largely at two events, Federation Cup Hockey and Lower North Island Netball. [There were only 5 respondents from the Basketball] Among their results: a) 83% considered the overall success of the event as Excellent or Very Good; b) 85% considered the organisation as Excellent or Very Good; c) 84% considered the venues as Excellent or Very Good; d) 55% considered the officiating as Excellent or Very Good, 35% said it was OK and 10% regarded it as below average or poor. Thanks to Sport Manawatu and UCOL. Your findings from the student athletes are not dissimilar to those that we get from the coaches and managers. Peter Sharp Executive Director 10 October 2003 |