It’s an end-to-end sport pathway view for the New Zealand sport system. It has been developed to make sure all New Zealanders can have a great experience in sport by aligning people, programmes and environments.

The framework is for all sport system partners and stakeholders to understand different participant motivations and their respective roles in providing safe, supportive and inspiring programmes and environments.

The Sport Pathways Framework was developed to optimise the wellbeing and potential of all New Zealanders through the approach of sport for all, sport for life. It works to provide clarity and a common reference point which aligns language, messaging and roles.

The framework was developed by Sport NZ and High Performance Sport NZ alongside other key stakeholders such as sport organisations, coaches, officials, schools and communities across New Zealand.

The Sport Pathways Framework principles should be applied when planning, delivering and reviewing sport experiences at any level – from foundation to performance. The critical success factors of good people, good programmes and good environments should be reflected in all sport plans to bring the Sport Pathways Framework to life.

Success in sport looks different for everyone as each participant has different motivations.

For some people it is having fun with friends, for others it is getting better and learning new skills, and for others it is reaching their potential and winning on the world stage.

Success in applying the framework means all participants can enjoy quality experiences at all levels, regardless of their motivations. A quality experience will always include three key factors: good people, good programmes and good environments.

To help create great sport experiences in each domain, the Sport Pathways Framework is based on the following six key principles:

• Quality Sport - quality, safe, and inclusive sport experiences for all New Zealanders.
• Collaboration - a sport system working together, with clarity of roles and responsibilities.
• Hauora - sport experiences which support all dimensions of people’s wellbeing.
• Individual flexibility - enabling participants to develop at different rates, ages, and stages.
• Participant-Centred - Transitions in, out, and through sport are driven by a participant’s motivation, skills, ability, commitment, and desired outcomes from their sport experience.
• Locally Led - Enabling and empowering local decision making to support responsiveness for different motivations.

Foundation sport is where we all start with our first sport experiences. It's all about having fun and learning skills.

Social sport is where formats are flexible and less formal. The focus is still on having fun with friends.

Competitive sport is where you'll find structured competitive formats and programmes at local, regional and national levels.

Note: Sport can be naturally competitive so there is an element of competition (and development) across all four domains. However, the main motivation of the participant is not always competition and can change across the domains.

Performance sport is where there is a small number of nationally identified athletes who represent New Zealand or play sport professionally (are paid).

There are three key phases within the performance pathway: pre-high performance, high performance and post-performance.

Pre-high performance is where athletes develop while they decide if high performance is for them and national sport organisations can assess if they are ready to transition to high performance.

High performance is when an athlete has the potential to either compete or medal at a pinnacle event.

An athlete can transition to Post Performance at any stage of the pathway where they can re-enter another domain of the Sport Pathway and continue with their aspirations in sport and life.

It is possible for a person to participate across multiple domains at the same time through different activities.

For example, a 14-year-old girl may have just started learning how to play basketball (foundation), is already playing football for fun with friends (social) and is playing netball in a junior school team (competitive).

Or a parent may be coaching their six-year-olds school hockey team (foundation), plays social netball with friends (social), is secretary of the local netball club (competitive) and competes in Masters athletics (competitive).

Please email info@sportnz.org.nz with Sport Pathways Framework in the subject if you have a question about the Sport Pathways Framework.

If you would like to know more about sport pathways in your region, you can get in touch with your Regional Sports Trust. Find your local contact here.