How Team and Game Structure Impacts Rangatahi Participation

8 May 2023

We’ve all heard about the importance of fun to keep rangatahi involved. Here are some practical tips which if you implement, contribute to creating a fun/enjoyable experience.

1. Rangatahi enjoy turning up to the game with other teammates as it helps them to combat pre and post-game nerves.  

"Going to games together [as a team] rather than separately is also really good because then you can hype each other up before the game... Afterwards, just bonding and getting to know each other... I've experienced people on teams not liking each other... they didn't pass the ball to each other during the game, which would impact how the game turned out," female, 17-18 years. 

2. Rangatahi appreciate bonding opportunities with teammates as it helps them to form connections and feel comfortable.  

"If I was new [to a sport], I'd like to start playing with friends, because it would be a lot more comforting. And if that wasn't the case, making everyone on the team comes to training a bit earlier just to learn about each other beforehand, rather than playing a game with strangers because it's just not as fun but also causes quite a bit more anxiety when you're not sure what's going to happen, and you don't really know who anyone is," female, 17-18 years.

3. Rangatahi value sharing sport experiences with their friends, or otherwise befriending teammates.  

"I'd want my friends playing with me, as well. So, it doesn't feel as lonely and isolating, not knowing anyone else. Or actually getting to know everyone else when your team already knows each other," female, 17-18 years. 

As a coach, team manager, or School Sports Coordinator, knowing the above insights, what can you do to help enable this? 

Participants in the research also had ideas regarding “the ideal game structure”.  

• Not in the morning 
• Don’t hold competitive sport at lunchtime at school (it increases the pressure as everyone comes to watch)
• Parents and whanau watching, but encouragement only from the sidelines 
• It’s good to have some flexibility about playing and training e.g. it’s ok if you need to miss a session 
• Have shorter games  
• Keep the teams at similar levels – e.g. all people who are new to the sport are in the same team  
• Equipment is provided at games so you don’t have to carry it around during the day at school (or no equipment is needed) 
• Emphasis is on fun and fitness (rather than competition and winning) 
• Have more social events 
• Turning up to the game with your teammates  
• Training should be interesting and about getting better  

"I haven't played football for a while, but I just filled in for one of my friend's team last weekend. I thought a 90-minute game was so long... We also had people coming late and leaving early because they had work, which didn't happen when we were younger but is happening now. So, it would be better to have an hour to slot into your day," female, 17-18 years.