On this page
Sport New Zealand aims to get more kids into sport and recreation. But we'll only know if we're making a difference if we know what young people are doing now. How do we find out? Simple, we ask them.
We want to understand how and why Kiwi kids get involved in sport and recreation. Is it at school, at home, or in their local area? Are they players, volunteers, or supporters?
It is 10 years since we've surveyed young people and an update is well overdue. In 2011 Sport NZ invited some schools to be part of the nationwide Young People's Survey (YPS) on Kiwi kids' participation in sport and recreation. We plan to repeat the survey in 2014 to stay in touch with what’s happening in young people’s lives and in schools.
General information
What's this all about?
In 2011 Sport NZ invited selected primary, intermediate and secondary schools across New Zealand to take part in the YPS.
Schools from all across the country were invited so we have information from a nationally representative cross-section of boys, girls and young people of all ages. We wanted to survey more than 15,000 students and school is the best place to contact this large number of young people.
Why is Sport New Zealand doing this?
One of Sport NZ’s main goals is to get more kids in sport and recreation. We want young New Zealanders to develop a love of sport and recreation, and benefit from lifelong participation. But we'll only know if we're making a difference if we know what young people are doing now. And the best way to find out is to ask them.
Kiwisport is already providing new opportunities for young people to get involved in sport in schools and their local communities. We want to know the impact of this and other initiatives and to understand how and why kiwi kids get involved in sport and recreation. Is it at school, at home, in their local area, and are they players, volunteers, or supporters.
What will the survey tell us?
We’ve collected information about young people's sport and recreation activities that are organised by schools, clubs, and groups like Scouts and Guides, as well as about how much time young people spend doing these types of activities.
We’ve asked them about what activities they do more informally, as well as what activities they'd like to try or do more.
Other questions asked young people whether they take part in sports events, belong to clubs, get coaching or get involved as volunteers.
Who carried out the survey?
Trained survey staff and professional researchers helped Sport NZ with the survey. We chose the research company Ipsos NZ (formerly Synovate) to work with us, as they have experience in running school-based surveys. Ipsos NZ partnered with Reid Research to run the survey in schools throughout New Zealand.
When will the results be available?
We expect the results to be available in the first half of 2012.
How will the results be used?
Sport NZ will use the results to let the public, the Government and other government agencies know how young New Zealanders currently take part in sport and recreation, as well as what can be done to get more kids enjoying sport and recreation.
We'll also share the information with our partners - regional sports trusts, national sports organisations and local councils - so they can provide more and better opportunities for young people.
Schools taking part in the survey will receive the results for their school, but we won't be making individual schools' results public.
Information for schools
When will my school receive our survey results?
We are preparing the information that we have received from more than 500 schools and 15,000 students. We aim to get results out to schools in Term 2 of 2012.
Information for the sector
What will the survey tell us?
The main purpose of the survey is to monitor Sport New Zealand's strategic target: 80% of school-aged children participating in organised sport and recreation for at least three hours a week - delivered through schools, after-school programmes, clubs and organised activities.
The survey won't be able to answer all our questions about young people's sport and recreation, but it will give us some key data and important insights.
The YPS is designed as a national survey and will not provide widespread regional information. However, Auckland Council worked with us to provide more localised results and Wellington City Council added in some questions to meet its information needs.
Can my RST/ Council carry out the survey in schools?
If you are interested in carrying out the survey in schools in your area, Sport New Zealand is keen to hear from you. As well as tips for carrying out the survey, we have a limited number of paper-based surveys that you may be able to use.
Please note that we plan to repeat the YPS in 2014, so we’d like to know about any survey work in the interim.
For enquiries, please email YPS@sportnz.org.nz.
Survey forms
Six survey forms were designed for the 2011 YPS. Four were designed for students (or their parents) to complete, allowing us to ask age-appropriate questions. Two were designed for staff to complete to provide further insights into sport and recreation in schools.
The six survey forms can be downloaded below.
Age-appropriate student forms
Staff survey forms
You are welcome to use all or part of these forms. If you do, we’d appreciate you letting us know (please email YPS@sportnz.org.nz). We also ask you acknowledge Sport New Zealand and the other contributing studies listed below.
Acknowledgements
Sport NZ, in collaboration with our research partners (Ipsos NZ and Reid Research), designed the YPS. Survey forms were tested with young people and schools (cognitive and pilot testing).
Sport NZ would also like to thank PENZ (Physical Education New Zealand) for their advice through the design stages.
We acknowledge the following studies (in alphabetical order), which helped shape to varying degrees the design and content of the YPS survey forms:
- New South Wales Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS)
- New Zealand Sport and Physical Activity Survey
- New Zealand Youth Tobacco Monitor – Youth In-depth Survey
- Outdoor Foundation – Outdoor Recreation Participation Survey
- Physical Self-Description Survey (PSDP)
- San Diego State University - 2001 PACE: Physical Activity Stages
- Scottish Government Social Research – Children’s Participation in Culture and Sport
- Social Support for Exercise Survey
- Sports Council Wales – Primary School Children Sport Survey
- Sports Council Wales – Sports, Games and Other Physical Activities Survey
- Sports Council Wales – Survey of PE Provision in Welsh Primary Schools
- Sports Council Wales – Survey of PE Provision in Welsh Secondary Schools
- The Irish Sports Council – Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity Study (CSPPA)
- UK Government Department for Education – PE and Sport Survey 2009/10
- Youth2000. New Zealand Youth: A Profile of their Health and Wellbeing.