Hidden cost of getting college teams to game

Graeme Phillips with Papatoetoe High sports team captains (from left) Greg Foe, Renin Yousif and Zaid Mohammed. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

It costs a small fortune in taxi fares to get some of New Zealand's best young athletes on to the sports field every week.

"We got a bill this morning," says Papatoetoe High School sports co-ordinator Graeme Phillips, reaching across the cluttered desk of his tiny office in the corner of a prefab.

"It's $600 from July 1 to July 30 for one company. We would probably use three. That's where a majority of our money goes."

Papatoetoe High has spent $5000 so far on taxis this year and it is not alone. Most schools in the area - including top private school King's College - use hire vans to get students to games and practice sessions.

"Every school's got the same issues so if you don't get in early you miss out," says Mr Phillips.

The practice has become widespread across Auckland schools as sports activities spread across the weekend and after school on weekdays.

Many parents are unable to drive their children to games, especially at poorer schools such as Papatoetoe High, which is decile 3 on the 1-10 scale.

Mr Phillips says the school has tried hiring buses to drop teams off at different games but there were too many teams at different times and venues. For the same reason it could not solve the problem by buying its own minivans.

The South Auckland school also takes on other jobs traditionally done by parents, such as washing the team uniforms. Mr Phillips says they can't send them home with students. "It doesn't work - they don't come back."

Then there are the basics, which are still expensive. For instance, soccer teams use eight balls a team, plus a match ball.

The Auckland under-18 rugby coach also uses Gamebreaker video analysis software - which costs $1500 plus $500 a year in licence fees - which he rates highly, especially for rugby, basketball and athletics.

Despite the obstacles, he is ambitious for the school whose former pupils include Blues rugby player Tasesa Lavea, All Whites coach and former player Ricki Herbert and basketballer Dillon Boucher.

The 1st XV reached the semifinal of the B competition last weekend and 1st XI soccer team won promotion to a higher league. Four new soccer and netball teams have started and Mr Phillips is keen to introduce softball, lacrosse and Australian Rules football.

His enthusiasm seems to rub off on the students. First XI girls captain Renin Yousif says sport is on the way up at the school, which gives students a lot of confidence. First XV rugby captain Greg Foe agrees but adds that teams see the difference money can make when they visit other schools.

"We notice it straight away. Grammar and MAGS [Mt Albert Grammar] all have sponsors."

Sports captain Zaid Mohammed, a New Zealand athletics rep at 400m and 1st XI boys captain, says some of the school's top teams have gained a sponsor but there are always extra challenges.

He is trying to raise $340 to go to a week-long tournament in Whangarei and is asking local businesses for help.