Sparc keen to emulate Taranaki sport successes

The successful model used by the Taranaki Secondary School Sports Association to get students active in sport is being looked at by Sparc.

Sparc spokesman David Knowles said a case study was under way to look at the structures used by the association, which consistently has one of the highest participation rates in the country. Knowles said Sparc, the national sports body, would be looking at the links used by the association and schools, clubs and Sport Taranaki. "It's looking at the way they probably work more effectively than they do in other parts of New Zealand, particularly metropolitan New Zealand."

Knowles said the association's success was a "real feather in the cap" for the region and Sparc was keen to publish the reasons behind its success.

Association regional director Steve McKean said the census of students competing in 2009 was again pleasing, with participation rates among female students up two per cent from the previous years.

Overall, 4615 students played sport – the rule is they must play an interschool event to qualify – out of 7236 registered secondary school students in Taranaki.

Of the 3558 registered boys, 2508 played at least one sport, while 2107 out of 3678 girls also participated.

"It's a good census for us and it's pretty accurate," McKean said.

The association has more than doubled the number of sports it runs in the school calender from 20 in 1993 to 42 events this year and includes every secondary school in the region.

There are now 18 directors, head of department or co-ordinators of sport employed by Taranaki secondary schools.

"We're lucky as hell here," McKean said.

"There is a buy-in from everybody, from the volunteers right through, all working together."

Funding for the body continues to grow, with the TSB Community Trust pledging $20,000 for next year's elite athletes programme, while Shell Todd Oil Services will continue to be its major sponsor next year.

- © Fairfax NZ News