The Grocott name remains synonymous with the East Christchurch-Shirley CC for the last half century. In 2017 Tim Grocott became president of the club and three years later was appointed Headmaster of Shirley Boys’ High School. Both at work and in sport he has devoted a lifetime nurturing the growth and development of young people. We greatly appreciate his words below.
In New Zealand, our passion for sport runs deep, and for many people, sport is more than just a pastime – it’s a way of life. However, as sport continues to evolve, questions arise about its impact on grass roots participation, particularly among our young people. Before I delve into this further, I want to acknowledge The Willows Cricket Club for providing an excellent perspective on sport. I applaud The Willows for promoting winning as an important outcome of the game of cricket. But while winning is important, it is not the only thing and Ben Dormer and all of the other volunteers who support The Willows and their philosophy, are to be applauded for the attitude that they bring each Sunday and the other days that they provide cricket.
Cricket is not just merely about winning trophies or accolades; it’s about fostering camaraderie, promoting healthy lifestyles, and instilling values of discipline and teamwork from a young age. In my view, The Willows Cricket Club does this well. There is a trophy for each game, there are players of the match, and good performances are acknowledged above others. But once that is all done, there is also a celebration of the people who played and a sense of enjoyment about what happened on the field. And when I go to work on Monday after having the played the Shirley Boys’ High School 1st XI, I either cop it from the boys or I dish it out to them depending on how we all went.
We have a good enough relationship through playing against each other and my support of them throughout the year, that none of this is taken too seriously. This is why I think that participation in sports at school level serves as a cornerstone for holistic development. It offers avenues for physical fitness, mental resilience, and character building. Moreover, it cultivates crucial life skills like perseverance and leadership that go beyond the boundaries of the cricket field and are invaluable in navigating the complexities of adulthood.
However, the increasing profile of secondary school sport can pose challenges to this foundational aspect of sport. The allure of being streamed online, being seen by a talent scout and potentially creating a career in sport are incredibly exciting, but they also carry a level of risk. Sometimes that risk is not created by the young people, but by the adults who surround their chosen sports. They look to create an environment of high-performance sport that suggests that secondary school sport will be the pinnacle of their sporting achievement.
High-performance sport epitomises the peak of athletic achievement at the highest level. It is on the national or international stage, amongst other outstanding athletes where everyone is motivated and capable of pushing the boundaries of human potential, and being the best. In New Zealand there are approximately 800 high performance athletes, and they are supported by organisations like Sport New Zealand who are incredibly well resourced.
This does not reflect secondary school sport, even at the highest level. Secondary school sport plays a vital role in nurturing the next generation of high-performance athletes. The New Zealand Cricket teams would not be as successful without strong school cricket programmes, but players do not go straight from school to play for the Black Caps or White Ferns. Schools are where the raw talent is discovered and nurtured; where boys and girls learn the values of teamwork, resilience and sportsmanship; and they have the opportunity to participate and flourish amongst people in their own age group.
High-performance sport is tough and unforgiving, while school sport provides a far more supportive and inclusive environment. Schools are places of learning and school sport reflects this. It encourages young people to ask questions about their performance. Why did you drop that catch, hit that ball in the air, or bowl that crucial wide? The more people ask those questions of themselves or others the better they will be. However, you need to learn how to do that, and school sport provides that opportunity. This also helps develop a competitive edge and this crucial in order to win.
This is why I love what The Willows provides for secondary school cricket up and down Aotearoa. High-performance sport serves as an inspiration and an aspiration for our young cricketers, inspiring them to dream big and reach for the stars. There are different levels of performance each week at The Willows Cricket Ground, and very few, if any would be classed as truly high- performance. But the environment in which the boys and girls are playing and learning is excellent and gives them a sense of what it would be like to play on a higher stage.
Playing on an outstanding surface, with a well prepared and true wicket; emerging from a beautiful and well cared for pavilion; having umpires and scorers; and playing against knowledgeable and skilful cricketers helps create a landscape that nurtures talent, fosters excellence, and enriches the lives of young cricketers. For some this will be the best cricketing experience they will have.
Most of all it is an enjoyable day. Both sides want to win, and there is great prestige in lifting the trophy, but the memories will go beyond that. In years to come, friends and former team mates will most likely not remember the result, but they will remember the great catch, the hundred they scored or being bowled by the Headmaster who was in his early fifties.
If we continue to embrace the ideals of learning, development, competition and winning in school sport, we can be confident that the opportunities for some athletes to be involved in high- performance sport will happen. However, we can still embrace those ideals and enjoy playing secondary school sport.