School Sport NZ reviews it's eligibility regulations bi-annually and invites submissions from member schools and its sport partners. Submissions opened in October 2023 and closed on 16 February 2024.

We were pleased to receive thoughtful and detailed submissions from six schools, and we wish to thank them. There were also some eligibility issues arising out of the summer tournament week. The submissions and recent examples highlight a number of issues, some of which have been under discussion for many years, including suggestions to:

• better articulate the values of school sport in the rules
• remove PCRE exemptions for New to School (NTS) students (except for limited exceptions) as it is seen as an endorsement of poaching  
• remove the non-domestic limits and only apply NTS limits (regardless of whether students are foreign) or review the non-domestic limits so that a foreign student who starts in Year 9 or 10 is only NTS for 3 years, but is not thereafter
• streamline the process of undertaking investigations for breach of the Rules by SSNZ managing them and removing the existing regional process
• review the 600-student roll threshold for basketball, due to increase in rolls and where there may be fluctuations from year to year
• review the application of the rules to Te Kura/ The Correspondence School who can enter elite sports students in events where such students are able to spend more time training and competing in their sport than at school, but are technically full time school students
• consideration of an U18 rule for all sports (not just rugby and rowing) as students over 18 are generally Year 14 students. This would better allow for equitable opportunities and avoid a Year 14 student taking a Year 13 student’s place. Those students can access club and association U19 and other age group competitions outside of school.
• consider alignment of NTS quota nationally for all sports as currently this is not the case
• review the legality of the rules to ensure there are not unjustified breaches of human rights such as limitations on rights to freedom of movement, association and religion
• review of NTS rules applicable to schools who only have mixed gender in the senior years, where those students are disadvantaged as they are always NTS (can only start at the school in Year 11 or later)
• consider if, and how, the Home School Educators Association (which is not a registered school) could enter students into SSNZ competitions

As previously advised, it was envisaged that the submissions would be considered and incorporated into a wholesale review of the Eligibility Rules, which is underway, with the intention they would be approved this year to come into effect on 1 January 2025.

However, the Board has decided to adjust the timing of the Eligibility Rules due to other related work it has been undertaking. This includes its reviews of the School Sport NZ:

• Membership structure - undertook in late 2023 and reported to the Board in early 2024;
• Governance and Decision-making structure and processes - including examining whether the current structure and processes are efficient and effective, meet our needs and are fit for purpose; and,
• Constitution - which needs to consider the outcomes of the various reviews and ensure we are compliant with the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022 (by the deadline of 1 April 2026).

As a result of all of this work, the Board has decided to adjust the timeline for addressing the eligibility rules, otherwise there will need to be a subsequent round of changes to them after the constitution is adopted. For example, if we change the membership structure of SSNZ, this could affect who the eligibility rules apply to. Similarly, if the governance and decision-making structure change, this could affect the process by which PCRE and special exemptions (and appeals from them) operate. 

SSNZ is being supported by Sport NZ with this work which forms part of our Strengthen and Adapt plan. The Board has therefore approved the following revised timing for this work:

2024

May to July – Board considers governance/decision making review and membership review outcomes to agree principles to inform drafting of a new Constitution.

July to October - consultation with Schools on draft Constitution and adjustments from the feedback made.

November – Board vote on new Constitution and if approved, re-register SSNZ in compliance with the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022.

2025

January/ February – Board considers principles for eligibility (including reviewing submissions from 2024) to inform drafting of new Eligibility Rules

March / April – consultation with Schools on draft Eligibility Rules

May – Board vote on new Eligibility Rules , to come into effect 1 January 2026

June- December – Board considers regulations for complaints, disputes and integrity structure.

It is vital that both schools and sport partners engage with SSNZ throughout this process and we look forward to your involvemnet. If you have any further questions please contact the CEO SSNZ - ceo@schoolsportnz.org.nz

Article added: Wednesday 01 May 2024