In 1938, Bert Kyle, Member of Parliament for Riccarton observed that the £4,000 allocated from the Government’s budget to support the newly formed 16-member National Council of Physical Welfare and Recreation Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs “seemed large”.

With the successor entity to Bill Parry's "National Council of Sport" now receiving nearly $100 million a year in Crown (taxpayer) funding, in the wake of COVID-19 and its impact on community sport is it now time for a review of where and how this money is spent? 

According to figures released by New Zealand Police (and recently reported in the media), at least 900 people joined gangs in 2020, a 13 per cent year-on-year increase.

It was reported that the majority of recruits are young men, with Canterbury University sociologist, Jarrod Gilbert noting that “there were a number of reasons why young people joined gangs, but the main factors were they wanted a sense of family or brotherhood”. Sport clubs can (and should) provide a positive alternative.

There are six-steps immediately needed to help volunteer organisations bridge the current capability gap between “best endeavours” and “best practice” when administering and promoting sport for their communities. 

Volunteers tasked with the management and administration of their chosen sport are typically passionate supporters of their game, but are they not necessarily skilled in undertaking governance, financial or other roles requiring certain knowledge, skills and experience, which can expose their organisation (and potentially themselves, if their organisation is not incorporated, or becomes unincorporated), to potential risk and liability.

As reported by TVNZ's "1 News" on Wednesday, 21 October, the appointment of an independent commissioner to review the administration, participation, facilities and funding of sport in the Auckland region over the next ten weeks is timely, given the challenges created by the on-set of COVID-19 and its impact on New Zealand communities. However, the review should cover sport nationally, given two-thirds of sport-loving Kiwis live outside Auckland.

Data from the 2020 NSCS which revealed that only a minority of sport clubs have received COVID-19 financial relief, with an increasing number of clubs also reporting that they are losing money and membership, may be surprising to government and its crown agency for sport, given the COVID-19 support packages made available this year.

It's perhaps less of an indication that financial support is not required by New Zealand’s sport club community, and more likely an indication that there are barriers to that support being accessed by those who need it most. COVID-19 may have exposed a dangerous disconnect between the organisations strategising for sport and the organisations largely responsible for delivering it to local communities.

The timing of this evening’s COVID announcement is not optimal for those involved in weekend community sport. Many organisations and their volunteers are planning for delivering opportunities for community participation in sport under the national requirements for Alert Level 2, but with uncertainty as to whether or not this will be possible. 

As part of its consideration of the physical impacts and costs of COVID-19, the cost to the mental health and social well-being of Kiwis arising from possible national cancellation of community sport must also be considered by Cabinet as part of its deliberations of current COVID status levels.

New Zealand Amateur Sport Association President, Andy Leslie MNZM, is sending an open-letter to all New Zealand local authorities, requesting financial relief from all council levies for local community sport organisations and clubs, arising from COVID-19.

The letter will be sent to the 78 City, District and Regional Councils in New Zealand, which provide facilities and services, at a cost, to local community sport clubs and organisations. A waiver of these costs for 12 months is proposed.

New Zealand's community sports clubs could lose at least half of their annual income as a result of COVID-19. Without grant-funding and membership-fees, their very survival may rely on their reserves, or Government support. 

A review of the financial statements of a sample of 10 leading incorporated sports clubs with a combined annual income of over $2 million, representing 10 different sporting codes in the Wellington region, shows that on average, 25% of their total annual revenue is derived from grant-funding. When combined with membership subscriptions, on average around half of the annual income of the sample is generated from these two income sources alone.

While sportspeople and sporting communities across the country eagerly await the lifting of restrictions on community sporting activities, both on-field and off-field, there is a challenge for all sporting codes to describe what will constitute a “safe” environment for playing sport and socialising around sport, in the future. 

To move community sport “from crisis to confidence”, an open and honest discussion by all community sport stakeholders with government and health-authorities will be required, with the Association willing to support this process through its comprehensive network and database of New Zealand community sport clubs.

How will communities overcome their fear of COVID-19 when contact sport resumes? Sports' administrators need to focus on defining what a “safe” playing environment looks like, to be able to reassure the community that “it’s O.K. to play”, when the current crisis ends.

Whether (or not) “social-distancing” or actual incidences of illness arising from COVID-19 give rise to a symmetrical stigma concerning physical contact with strangers in community sport, should be of urgent and careful consideration by administrators of sporting codes which require random (and often uncontrolled) physical contact.

Following the implementation of a Relief Package to support community sport organisations, there is an equally urgent need to develop a Recovery Plan which returns confidence to New Zealand’s sporting communities.

The Recovery Plan will need to involve a nationwide “It’s O.K. To Play” publicity campaign, together with a joint-funding approach from Central Government and the business community, supported by a comprehensive review of National Sport Organisation governance.

The Final Report for the 2019 National Sport Club Survey (NSCS) has been released and is available for download. The (NSCS) aims to generate insights that can be used to improve sport for all New Zealanders. While other sport industry data exists at individual level this survey provides a unique snapshot of the sport sector at club level.

If you visit any Secondary School or Club, upon entering you will more than likely be greeted by a cabinet of gleaming trophies, representing the success of the various teams that the School or Club supports. Signs of success such as these are important in establishing the value of the sporting community (or "tribe"), as it seeks to differentiate itself from others with similar goals.

Historically, the pride in the display was intended to demonstrate the values of the community through sport. More often than not, trophies on display will be named after a person (or persons), whose contribution to the sporting community has resulted in their values and success being idealised in the trophy being competed for. 

One of the biggest obstacles to the growth and well-being of amateur sporting clubs nationally may be the increasing insistence of high-schools to charge students who want to join school teams which play in local sporting competitions.

While the cost of participation varies by sporting code, it’s not uncommon for families to be asked to stump up over $100 per child, before the costs of clothing and equipment.