James Biddick is a proud Riccarton High School old boy, who was a provincial under-age rep in both cricket and hockey while at school. He went on to gain a double degree and for the past ten years has been living in the USA. A trained lawyer, James now works at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana as a student athlete career development program manager. Whenever home, over summer, James is quick to strap on the pads and show his class in the middle. We are delighted to have him as our 2024/25 Commentary Corner writer.
Nearly a decade ago, I left New Zealand for the United States with two guiding ambitions: to work in sports and to help others. Looking back, I realise I had little understanding of the world I was stepping into. My first year was spent in a small college town, completing a one-year Master of Sports Administration at Ohio University. It was at OU that I was intimately exposed to the world of college athletics and student-athletes. Even now, I remain in awe of the sheer scale of college sports and the opportunities available to those who participate. That fascination, combined with my own winding career journey, led me to my current role at the University of Notre Dame, where I’ve spent the past seven years as the Student-Athlete Career Development Program Manager. Essentially, I support our 750 student-athletes (across 26 different sports) in navigating life off the field and preparing for careers beyond Notre Dame.
Notre Dame is a truly special place, best captured by legendary football coach Lou Holtz’s famous quote: “For those who know Notre Dame, no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t, no explanation will suffice.” The university is a rare blend of elite academics and top-tier athletics. For example, Notre Dame holds the all-time record for NFL draft picks (522) and, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was represented by 16 current and former student-athletes who brought home a school-record 10 medals – six gold, one silver, and three bronze.
Whenever you visit a different country, it’s natural to compare what’s “normal” back home to the systems in place elsewhere. The three key areas I want to compare and contrast between the US and New Zealand models are the emphasis on professionalism, the role of sports as a pillar of community, and the invaluable intangibles gained through athletic participation. My intention isn’t to advocate for one over the other but to spark thought and reflection.
Sports in the US are structured with a clear pathway toward professionalism. While participation is an option, the primary focus of time, resources, and funding is on identifying and developing elite talent for the next level. If an athlete doesn’t reach the collegiate level, their competitive sports career typically ends after high school. Similarly, those who don’t transition from college to professional sports often find their playing days over by the age of 22 or 23. Unlike New Zealand, where club sports provide lifelong opportunities for participation, there is no equivalent system in the US. I was initially baffled to learn that athletes in peak physical condition often retire from sports so young. Equally, my American friends were just as confused when I explained that in New Zealand, it’s completely normal for a 45-year-old to be playing third-division club cricket for eight hours on a Saturday afternoon simply for the love of the game.
In recent years, college athletics has undergone a dramatic transformation due to lawsuits and legislative changes. Student-athletes, once restricted by strict amateurism rules, can now legally profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Additionally, direct compensation has become a reality, particularly in football and basketball, with universities able to distribute up to $22 million a year under a soft salary cap. The result of this is that the collegiate model is steadily shifting toward a more professional structure, with top athletes now earning seven-figure incomes.
The prevailing mindset is that if an athlete can’t make a living playing sports, it’s time to transition into the traditional workforce. For many, this marks the end of their athletic journey, leaving fandom as the primary way to stay connected to the sports they once played. This leads to my second point of comparison: community.
In the US, “community” in the sporting context then becomes your college or professional team – that is where your time, effort and money are spent. Notre Dame for example hosts six home football games each year, seating almost 80,000, with the stadium selling out every home game (except one) since 1976; with thousands more tailgating for hours leading up to the game outside of the stadium. For Notre Dame, and other universities, football programmes are so prominent that many fans of the team never in fact attended the university or perhaps even set foot on campus. Notre Dame fans who fit these criteria are known as “Subway Alumni”.
In contrast, New Zealand’s sporting community revolves around local clubrooms on a Saturday, sustained by a dedicated network of volunteers. The day starts with kids playing in the morning, followed by older players and adults competing later in the day. Afterward, everyone gathers in the clubrooms for speeches, food, and camaraderie – a hallmark of grassroots sports in New Zealand. This approach to sport creates a lifelong connection to participation rather than fandom alone.
Due to visa-related issues, I had to be outside the US from August 2023 to January 2024. However, life has a way of working out. This unexpected time back in Christchurch allowed me to be with my family and support my dad, David Biddick, through his health challenges and passing. It also gave me the opportunity to step into his role as coach for the Riccarton High School cricket team, where he had coached for 25 years. Coaching my alma mater for the first half of the 2023/24 season reminded me of what truly matters in sport – yes, winning is important; but it’s also about growth, development, and using sport as a vehicle for personal growth. That’s something Dad never wavered on, and it’s a lesson I’ll carry forward in my own career and life.
Having lived in both New Zealand and the United States, I’ve gained a unique appreciation for how sport is structured, supported, and valued in different cultures. While the US focuses on elite development and fandom, New Zealand fosters lifelong participation and community connection. Neither system is superior – they simply reflect different philosophies on what sport should be. But at its core, sport is about more than just competition – it’s about who we become because of it. And that, no matter where you are in the world, remains universal.