The Junior Sport Development Model provides a guide to children's sporting needs based on their development stages. The model outlines good practice in junior sport and will help providers of junior sport deliver appropriate, quality sporting experiences for young people.
The information below summarises the appropriate sporting experiences for children in different age ranges.
| Start with… | Leading to… | And finally… |
|---|---|---|
| Spontaneous play and movement and coordination skills | Trying more complex tasks and cooperative activities | Informal or minor games |
| Start with… | Leading to… | And finally… |
|---|---|---|
| Development of coordination skills, small group activities and skill development through Aussie Sport activites | Minor games, skill application and acceptance of rules | Modified minor games and modified competition |
| Start with… | Leading to… | And finally… |
|---|---|---|
| Sport-specific skill development, modified games and Aussie Sport Modified Sport Programs (eg Minkey, Netta-Netball) | Inter-school or inter-club competition based on modified rules of sport, integration of school and modified rules of sport | Sport camps and regional competitions based on some specialised training and some interstate competitions* (in some sports only). |
| Start with… | Leading to… | And finally… |
|---|---|---|
| Sport-specific skill development and youth counselling sevice (eg Sportsearch) | Inter-school and inter-club competition, integration of competitions and development of youth leadership opportunties (eg CAPS, Sportsfun) | Talent squads, inter-state competitions and career paths other than playing - through administration, officiating, coaching, etc. |
* Such inter-state competition should have an educational component as well as sports development.
Movement through the model
It is suggested that a child should remain in the same level of competition (ie modification of rules) for two to three years as they move through primary school (ages six to twelve). That is, appropriate age groups are six to eight, nine to ten, and eleven to twelve.
Shorter periods at each level may be insufficient to learn the skills and enjoy that level of the game. Longer periods risk boredom; the child will probably desire to move to the next level of participation.
(Source: Adapted from information supplied by the Recreation and Sport Development Division, South Australian Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing).
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