Mythbusting: What the regional data says
A national survey tool for RSTs
SPARC is investing in the development of a simple annual survey tool to help RSTs collect information from their regions.
The survey will be:
- Simple and easy to complete
- Conducted once a year, perhaps in November
- Collect information that is useful for RSOs and clubs
- Gather information from a range of sporting settings, RSOs, clubs and schools.
Good Practice Lessons
There are good practice lessons which Sport Hawke's Bay and Sport Canterbury found helpful when collecting information from RSOs.
Managing data collection
The process of collecting information from RSOs is easier when RSOs clearly understand why it is being done. The RSO is more likely to get involved the process if they are confident the RST is delivering useful information that is of value to them. For example, a PowerPoint presentation showing trends in junior participation over the last five years across 20 different codes will prompt lively discussion of what works and what doesn’t and, perhaps, why.
Using data to support funding applications
To secure funding, sports organisations are increasingly required to provide evidence demonstrating how many volunteers they have, sources of their existing funding, growth in participation within a particular community, age group, or ethnic group. This type of information can be particularly useful if the funder or sponsor is not familiar with the sporting organisation, but is interested in the social and health benefits that the organisation or sport brings to the community.
Development of facilities is an area where information about participation can be used to make a case for funding. Instead of saying “we need help,” it may be more effective for a sport to provide evidence that a community lacks the resources necessary to meet rising demand.
A systematic approach to collecting the information
There are various ways to smooth out the process when a RST wants collect information from a range of sports organisations. For example:
- Work with a simple template for data collection
- Monitor only a manageable number of key indicators
- Select one member of staff to manage the project and the process
- Collect the data at the same time each year.
Updated | 07 Oct 2008.
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