National Tournament Guidelines
Wellington East Girls College (WEGC) recognises the value of national secondary school sports tournaments/events and supports its top senior teams to attend these events.
WEGC supports Sport NZ’s statement that ‘Balance is Better’ (creating quality experiences for all young people to keep them active and in the game) and the initiative ‘Good Sports’ (a culture change initiative aiming to create positive sporting experiences for young people by educating and supporting the key adult influencers in youth sport – in particular, parents).
WEGC Sports Department has set the following guidelines for entry into national tournaments. These guidelines are endorsed by the Board of Trustees and will help set expectations for students, coaches, managers and parents (‘Good Sports’).
Our Teams
WEGC will consider, and in most circumstances support, entry into national tournaments/events sanctioned by NZ School Sport for:
WEGC Senior A/Premier teams in each sports code
Qualified individuals (i.e. those students that meet the national or regional standards for qualification to national events)
WEGC Junior A teams in each sports code if the national tournament is held in the Wellington Region (i.e. no overnight stays required)
The rationale for these guidelines is outlined below.
Selection in the Senior A team for a sports code is an aspirational goal for students, and national tournament attendance is reserved for these top teams. Participation in national tournaments outside of the Wellington region is something that we want our junior students to be able to aspire to do as senior students in their chosen codes.
In some sporting codes Junior students are eligible to trial for the school premeir teams so top performing junior students will have the opportunity to attend national tournaments at a younger age (if selected). These sports would be 1st XI Hockey, 1st XI Football, Premier Waterpolo, Badminton, Rowing
The significant cost to attend tournament outside of the Wellington region
Capacity of the WEGC Sports Department, and the logistical and oranisational challenges for the Sports Department when asked to consider late/exceptional entries.
The Sports Department is responsible for organising attendance at tournaments and meeting the health and safety requirements set down by the college.
Some junior teams may qualify by the relevant sports codes to compete in national tournaments outside of the Wellington region, however WEGC aligns with the broader movement among National Sporting organisations (NSOs) who have re-evaluated performance-based tournaments for younger age groups.
The primary reasons for the change of juniors going on tournmanet is:
Alignment with Balance is Better Principles: We are committed to Sport New Zealand's Balance is Better philosophy, which promotes providing quality age and stage sport experiences for all young people, regardless of ability, needs, or motivations. This approach focuses on keeping young people engaged in sport for life and helping them realise their potential at the right time.
Cost of Participation: Recent research by SSNZ has clearly identified that cost is the biggest barrier to participation in school sport. Large tournament structures during tournament week are a significant contributor to this challenge when considering all participation opportunities. By re-evaluating these events, we aim to reduce financial barriers and make sport more accessible for all students.
Existing Participation Opportunities: Similar opportunities for participation and competition already exist for this age group at a regional level. We believe these local events can provide meaningful and accessible experiences without the added pressures of extensive travel and high costs.
Focus on Development over Performance: We recognise that identifying a 'National Champion' at this age group is not necessary for the development of young athletes. Our aim is to reduce performance pressure on young players and instead promote enjoyment, skill development, and long-term engagement in the sport.
Our Squads – Athletics, Cross country and Swimming
As these codes do not have regular College Sport Wellington competitions, teams/individuals will work with the WEGC Sports Department to ensure WEGC is represented at national events. Participation will be code specific and communicated to parents, coaches, managers and students at the start of each season by the Sports department so that everyone understands the process. Greater parental organisation is usually required in these sports because of the nature of these events and the timings around qualifying events.