Editorial: Cost, time biggest issues for sports

Only time will tell but anyone who thinks the success of the Black Caps in the Cricket World Cup is going to lead to a jump in the number of people playing cricket is talking through a hole ... in the number of people who will coach and manage them.

Or won't, as the case is, because New Zealand is in an era where government and its agencies (people who get paid) want more and more of us to offer our services as volunteers (people who don't get paid).

There are obvious elements of not being able to see the wood for the trees, another consequence of which is that government and agencies do nothing to make sure we are able to answer the call, unless we're well-heeled with truckloads of spare time on our hands.

According to a Sport New Zealand review of participation in sport, which puts a positive spin on just about everything it can - it is, after all, a government agency - the cost of taking part in sport and the time available are the two factors which most affect the amount of time people put into sport, or how they use it.

Participation in sport is up, they say, and so is volunteer input, which seems to cover everyone from the lonely football team coach to the hundreds marshalling the fun run/walk on Sunday (because another government agency says the event won't be allowed to happen if they don't).

Government and agency spin puts the accent on the positive, but the proof is on the other side of the coin. A good example is the revelation that 22 per cent of participants in sports and recreation take part in a regular club competition. Which also means, 78 per cent don't. We are also told 20.9 per cent have paid membership of a "sports" club, which also means that 79.1 per cent don't. We are also told 42.4 per cent receive instruction in their sport (presumably coaching), which also mean 57.6 per cent are not coached.

The big push has been towards event-based participation ($5 to enter a fun run or to do the swim leg in a triathlon) or simply homing in on fad-based fitness kicks.

Sports/activities with increases in participation were cycling, jogging/running, fishing, pilates/yoga, tramping, aerobics, canoeing/kayaking and hunting. Those with decreases were walking, swimming, equipment-based exercise, dance, golf, tennis, football, touch rugby, cricket and basketball.

One statement in the Sport and Active Recreation in the Lives of New Zealand Adults report clearly needs more examination. It says: "Since 2007/08 there has been a small growth in participation in sport and active recreation and a more substantial growth in volunteering." Elsewhere, it does mention increases in participation are evident in areas of "low-deprivation" and decreases in areas of "high-deprivation", which seem to be roundabout ways of not saying what it means.