Sport Development Programs - Australian Cricket Analysis - Research Paper Example

Sport Development Programs: Australian Cricket Analysis Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Introduction Sport development initiative is a distinctive process that allows for an effective set of chances, procedures; systems as well as imminent frameworks that are established for the purpose of enabling individuals in specific or all areas of sport take part in the activity of sport and thus, improve on their immediate performances to the levels they so desire (Ziemainz & Gulbin, 2001). Prior efforts made to portray the aspect of sport development framework resulted to sport development symbolism; the participation pyramid. In this participation pyramid, the very base represents mass participation that is fundamentally related to primary-aged children while the top-level of the pyramid represents elite participation (Ziemainz & Gulbin, 2001). In the Australian cricket context, this participation pyramid has continued to be used for the purpose of formulating; conceptualising; and conducting plans for sport development initiatives in both national and state levels. This research paper focuses on discussing different sets of sport development programs in regards to cricket in Australian sporting environment. It discusses the commitments of NSOs and SSOs in this particular sport and how they have ensured to develop different social agendas and elite participation. Cricket in Australia Cricket is a unique sport that continues to garner enough attention amongst the Australians in so many ways. In fact, the sport has been a crucial part of the Australian fraternity way of life for more than a century now and it is enclosed in the country’s national psyche and incorporated within the Australian cultural perspective (Tregaskis, 2003). Research indicates that cricket is the country’s major summer sport in regards to the terms of participants; spectators as well as media coverage. However, it is sometimes perceived to be an exclusive game that is reserved for specific groups within the overall Australian society. Cricket Australia is the current governing body of the game in the country and it is made up of six members that are divided in accordance with the states of the country including; Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland among others (Cricket Australia, 2005). Just until recently, Cricket Australia came up with strategic plan; “From Backyard to Baggy Green” at both national and state levels to foster the popularity of the game. In essence, this initiative is focused on embracing the current ever-changing population and thus, promotes aspects related to the participation and involvement from the conventional models and formulates strategies to foster extensive level of participation as well as inclusion of the entire Australian population (Cricket Australia, 2005). Of particular interest to note; one of the most crucial mandates of Cricket Australia lies in the Game Development Department that is accountable for the supervision of all cricket-related developmental activities and specifically to improve its overall participation within the national level. Most notably, the annual Australian Cricket Census is a crucial tool that has been used to assess the overall support and information on systems that is later adopted for purposes of developing the game even further; setting targets as well as monitoring possible success and trends for the future enhancement of the sport as a whole. To establish the number of participants and programs related to cricket in Australia, Cricket Australia ensures to incorporate state/territorial associations in order to postulate the demographics of participants of the game. Statistically, in the period between 2005 and 2006, the census indicates that there were more than 4,094 cricket clubs, 35,189 club and school cricket teams and 543,433 overall number of participation in both programs and competitions (Cricket Australia, 2005). It is crucial to comprehend that the authority is not involved with State Sporting Organisations model or even collect data that relates to socio-economic strata; disability and indigenous or even cultural diverse people. Just recently, the authority appointed a senior officer to the indigenous section; with the objective of improving participation amongst this special set of people (Cricket Australia, 2005). The initiative of the program rest with the development and implementation of services aimed at increasing existing participation rate. Consequently, the initiative will aim at conducting significant level of duties within the federal and Northern Territory cricket system so that the indigenous people can be integrated within cricket programs at both national and state levels. The following section of the report seeks to outline different programs that Cricket Australia, NSOs and SSOs under cricket clubs, have developed and implemented for the purpose of attaining greater participation outcomes. Youth & Cricket This a junior cricket program that has been devised and implemented by Cricket Australia while involving both state and territorial cricket clubs. Some of these initiatives include; Milo Have-A-Go, Milo Have-A-Game, Milo Kanga Cricket and Milo Super 8s (Cricket Australia, 2005). These initiatives have managed to secure more than a half-a-million young Australians who participate in the sport development programs on an annual basis. The program is conducted within a safe and favourable environment and aims at educating young children of the importance of the game; help in formulating intense co-ordination and balls skills; and, also maximise on cricket participation for both boys and girls in the nation. For this initiative, the authority has managed to come up with education strategy that has come up with three notable goals and objectives; First, it seeks to formulate and implement a National Schools Cricket Strategy; that focuses on accumulating resources and initiatives aimed at making cricket Australia’s favourite sport; secondly, it seeks to develop initiatives and resources for purposes of launching and maintaining Australians in the confinements of the game through developing skills; participation levels as well as cricket platforms (Cricket Australia, 2005). Finally, the program aims at successful retention of participants through the provision of a favourable first-time experience of the game regardless of the shape or form. In a recent partnership with the federal government, Cricket Australia’s focus on DIMA’s Harmony Day program established fundamental connections with National Schools Cricket Strategy and thereafter; developed the CricKids Playing in Harmony; a notable cricket-promotion resource base (Cricket Australia, 2005). The program has been tested in different nation-based schools in the country with more than 7,500 participation rate as at the end of 2006. The fundamental aim of this program lies in introducing children to cricket as an enjoyable and social savvy activity while deploying imminent tools that are availed through the education sector as a whole. Implementation of the program is through fundamental learning resources; technological and differentiated curriculum aspect. The initiative seeks to involve more than 13,000 Australian schools at both the national and state levels (Cricket Australia, 2005). It seeks to be inclusive and avail a distinct meaning of engaging all student participants regardless of such aspects as their age; ability and culture. Some of the sub-initiative of this program includes; CricKids Ashes Challenge; CricKids School Cricket and CricKids Playing in Harmony with extensive set of research being conducted for the purpose of developing and building National Schools Cricket programs (Cricket Australia, 2005). Indigenous-Focused Cricket Programs Recent research studies indicate that sports forms a crucial part for the current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander way of living (Cricket Australia, 2005). It forms a platform for which this special group of people can develop their immediate health conditions and has the immediate potential to develop positive people and community progress for the Indigenous society. Most notably, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have; over a long period, managed to portray a distinct capacity to play in a diverse set of sporting events. For instance, it is established that despite the community constituting more than 3% of the total Australian population; they make up to 8% of the overall football players within the local league (Cricket Australia, 2005). However, their participation in mainstream cricket is still way below the expectations with fewer of them having competed in first class and international platforms. Taking account of the recent appeals made in relation to the cricket sport within the Indigenous community, “From Backyard to Baggy Green” remains one of the top most strategic plan that is set to involve more than 25,000 players and a further 550,000 participation rate by the end of 2014(Cricket Australia, 2005). In 2001, Cricket Australia developed the National Indigenous Cricket Advisory Committee to assist with the growth and development of cricket within the Indigenous communities and it is composed of a representative from each Australian state and territory. The Committee was involved with the formulation of “Two Cultures: Australia’s New Cricket Tradition” that seeks to ascertain the major restrictions to extensive participation; fundamental ways of coming up with programs that avail chances to engage in cricket-related activities (Cricket Australia, 2005). It is noted that the program has continued to be successful in its mandate especially since it has received lots of assistance from Australian Sport’s Commission Indigenous Sport Program; state and territory cricket bodies representatives as well as Indigenous cricket representation. Though NSOs and SSOs, other programs set to trigger Indigenous-based cricket participation include; direct employment of personnel that set to promote the sport within the group; intensive implementation of Indigenous cricket training and umpire-based courses within the national level as well as immediate provision of equipment within the Indigenous special group. The Imparja Cup, which falls under the Indigenous cricket program; was conducted in Northern Territory community-based event that occurred between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek (Atherley, 2003). The initiative has since developed and grew and attained a national tournament and forms one of the most important fixtures in Australian sports calendar. Imparja has been established in a distinctive manner that has allowed for the encouragement of efforts to reach both urban and rural-based Aboriginal community. Another Indigenous Cricket Carnival has been developed in Darwin under the reference name: Larrakia Cup for the purpose of increasing overall participation of the sport (Atherley, 2003). Recently, Cricket Australia focused on the formulation and improving participation among females as well as Indigenous people. These efforts have been widened to involve programs that embrace the wider community. In fact, such SSOs as Cricket Victoria have continued to share in Cricket Australia mission and vision plans that seek to even farther the agenda of future long term participation regardless of the involved participant’s age; gender and abilities. All-Embracing Program is Cricket Australia’s recent initiative that has been formulated and implemented with the purpose of ensuring that the sport and the participatory clubs involve all groups of the community (Forster, 1988). Cricket Victoria, through this initiative, has come up with five set of groups that are deemed to be under-represented in the sport and they include; those people with disabilities; Indigenous persons; older and the disadvantaged within the society as a whole. Through this initiative, there has been intensive development of a set of resources that are meant to improve on the overall participation of the sport while also ensuring to come up with distinct health and welcoming club platforms (Forster, 1988). Some of the resources devised by the program are among others bounce racism out wristband that seeks to eliminate and preach against models of racial abuse; and club platforms that seeks to educate members on the underlying aspects related to racism. Elite Level Programs It is important to note that in Australia, the Australian Sports Commission, which is the underlying body responsible for devising and implementing sports policies on behalf of the government, works together with numerous NSOs through the AIS as well as the SPDG for purpose of ensuring that the philosophy of the sports is impacted amongst the numerous existing and potential participants (Baker, et al, 2003). The philosophy has two main objectives that includes; improving participation of people to the sport through the numerous programs set for different groups like young children women; people with disabilities as well as the marginalised people and also, to accomplish an international-based elite level success by way of encouraging sports excellence and a distinctive high-level performance initiatives (Baker, et al, 2003). It is crucial to note that the success of the sport in Australia at the elite platform is dependent on the efficiency of the underlying sports system that focuses on helping people with talent and motivated people for purposes of attaining their overall potential success in overall sports execution. The level of elite success is thereby measured by the number of medals and world championships that are conducted on international platforms. In the recent times, many governments have opted to commit and thereby intervene in a more direct manner in aspects related to elite sport development process that have; over a long period, required necessary changes on the part of National Sporting Organisations. The level of commitment has been devised in such areas as the provision of a high quality level of coaching as a fundamental required for access to grant aid (Cashman & Hughes, 1998). According to the Australian Sports Commission (2006), it is established that a large number of NSOs and SSOs engage in the spending of substantial amounts of cash resources for the purpose sustaining a superior sport performance. These sport organisations have ensured that there is always a distinct commitment to devise high performance initiatives with the help of other stakeholders like AIS; state-based facilities; notable academy of sport network. National Sports Organisations are mandated with the responsibility of identifying, developing and launching efficient programs of elite athletes and, also the management of high-positioned programs. Success of the elite athletes on notable international competition is directly linked with the overall long term investment of resources that specific countries make in the immediate promotion of excellence in aspects related to cricket sport and the level of efficiency for these resources are put under utilisation (Cashman & Hughes, 1998). In regards to cricket sport, Australia has been noted to be accomplishing efficiency rates in utilisation of immediate relevant level of resources for the entire benefit of the elite participation. In a study conducted to establish sport development interest groups, it was found out that in Australian there are a large number of stakeholders that are willing and able to offer both financial and skilled personnel to promote elite level participation for cricket. These stakeholders include; numerous government-based institutions that are positioned at various levels; both federal and state governments as well as departments (Cashman & Hughes, 1998). As a result of this, all NSOs and SSOs have all agreed that AIS is the fundamental pillar of elite sport development and success. AIS play a significant role in equipping elite level cricket teams for major local and international-based competitions while also making sure to avail possible financial assistance and access to first-class facilities and services. At the state levels, state specific departments; governments and state sports institutes of organisations(SSOs) have all been identified as playing a crucial role in making significant contribution for the success of the sport altogether. A significant input put forth for the purpose of ensuring successful development of the sport at the elite level lies in the efforts related to operationalising activities of talented juniors that are for most cases filtered to elite programs through extensive talent identification processess (Cashman & Hughes, 1998). Both NSOs and SSOs have all to an agreement that the process of tapping into young talent is indeed crucial for purposes of guaranteeing a successful future for the sport; replacing worn-out elite athletes and composing capable national and state teams. Contribution of elite athletes to the sport has been perceived to be going far above the numerous accomplishments and medal winning streams to directly influencing Australians at all levels and more so; the youth through aspects related to coaching and training clinics (Green & Collins, 2008). In a much indirect way, elite athletes have played a major role through their exceptional performance; to act as distinct role models for the young generation as well as their peers in the sport. Research studies conducted to ascertain the level of impact of elites on junior development indicates that their popularity influences the young people’s desire to seek them as persons for which they would wish to be identified with (Green & Collins, 2008). Another important indirect outcome of the elite athlete participation and success in the sport lies in its capacity to improve on media coverage as well as exposure of the sport and thereby resulting to extensive publicity (Mallett & Hanrahan, 2004). NSOs have all come to an agreement that elite success of the sport has gone way beyond attracting the attention of the media while also prompting extensive sport coverage and the degree of exposure. The Spirit of Cricket is a distinct program formulated for the purpose of ensuring the success of elite level participation. The initiative seeks to pass a distinctive message that seeks to ensure cricket clubs and players; through such professionals as Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting; always uphold to dignity and respect with opponents during play-offs. Both national and state-level players are all bound by the underlying Code of Behaviour that involves anti-harassments and racial as well as religious vilification policies. Conclusion To sum up the discussion above, it has been noted that Cricket Australia has played a significant role in portraying the sport as a fundamental activity for the purpose of eliminating possible social harassments like racial abuse; discrimination of people with disabilities and such marginalised communities like the Indigenous and Aboriginal people. The body through numerous NSOs and SSOs have come up with a sufficient number of programs that seek to promote the sport amongst the youth; people with disabilities; women and Indigenous people for purposes of ensuring that they uphold to the Australian way of living. Different stakeholders have come in hand to promote the sport at the elite level. The outcome of this notable activity has been established to ensure that young children can have role models they can identify with as well as prompts improvement of media coverage and interest of the sport on both local and international platforms. Appendix: Matrix Elite The Imparja Cup Development Spirit of Cricket Development Through Milo Have-A-Go, Milo Have-A-Game, Milo Kanga Cricket and Milo Super 8s, Two Cultures: Australia’s New Cricket Tradition” “From Backyard to Baggy Green” DIMA’s Harmony Day program(CricKids Ashes Challenge; CricKids School Cricket and CricKids Playing in Harmony) Community References Australian Sports Commission. (2006). Annual report 2005–2006. Canberra. Print Atherley, K., (2003). The social geography of sport in small western Australian rural communities: a case study of Brookton and Pingelly, 1947–2003. Unpublished B.Sc. Thesis, The University of Western Australia, Perth. Baker, J., Horton, S., Robertson-Wilson, J., & Wall, M. (2003). Nurturing sport expertise: Factors influencing the development of elite athletes. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 2, 1–9. Cashman, R., & Hughes, A. (1998). Sydney 2000: Cargo cult of Australian sport? In Tourism, Leisure, Sport: Critical Perspectives (pp. 210–225). Rydalmere, NSW: Hodder, Sydney Cricket Australia. (2005). What’s the score? A survey of cultural diversity and racism in Australian sport, 70-81.Print Forster, C., (1988). Cricket and community. In: Heathcote, R.L. (Ed.), The Australian Experience: Essays in Australian Land Settlement and Resource Management. Longman Cheshire, Melbourne, pp. 191–208 Green, M., & Collins, S. (2008). Policy, politics and path dependency: Sport development in Australia and Finland. Sport Management Review, 11, 225–251. Mallett, C., & Hanrahan, S. J. (2004). Elite athletes: What makes the fire ‘‘burn’’ so brightly? Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 5, 183–200. Tregaskis, C. (2003). Towards inclusive practice: An insider perspective on leisure provision for disabled people. Managing Leisure, 8, 28–40. Ziemainz, H., & Gulbin, J. (2001). Talent selection, search and promotion! Using the example of the Australian talent search program. 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