Life as a Carded Athlete

Christina Ryan , Clive Pope

Prepared for Sport and Recreation New Zealand by University of Waikato

2008

Sport and Recreation New Zealand

Clive Pope

email: cpope@waikato.ac.nz

This research project aimed to explore the perceptions, experiences and identities of individuals within New Zealand’s carded athlete population. In order to achieve this goal 17 carded athletes from across eight different participating sports (Basketball, Bowls, Cricket, Cycling, Hockey, Rugby, Rowing, and Squash) took part in face-to-face interviews, which involved a series of open-ended and follow up questions developed for the purpose of this investigation. Each athlete’s responses were then analysed to uncover themes, sub-themes and patterns within the data before being compared across the research sample.

Overall the majority of the interviewed athletes felt that being a part of the carded athlete programme had resulted in; increased access and utilisation of services, increased financial assistance, increased recognition and support, increased expectation (both positive and negative), increased risk of life disruption, and an increased opportunity for career longevity. Furthermore the athletes felt that elite sport involvement within the carded athlete programme had both positively and negatively impacted upon their overall sense of self or personal identity.

These findings demonstrate that despite the fact that the New Zealand Academy of Sport’s carding system appears to be well liked and for the most part well utilised by most athletes, specific areas of change could be made to further enhance this process.

Keywords:

Elite sport

Download now

Qualitative

National

High performance, Sport

Adults

Clubs

Professional, Semi-professional

Benefits, Financing / funding, Management, Performance, Planning, Policy, Professionals

1176

July 11, 2013

July 18, 2013