Different Types of Development Structures and Nature Between Rugby League and Ice Hockey

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Sport development models designed by organisations are created to try and effectively identify the necessary frameworks and strategies implemented to achieve all round success at all levels. Athlete participation is the main focus of all sport development models and is concerned with activities experiences, pathways followed, obstacles overcome and how the sport can monitor its frameworks to achieve a sustainable future for the sport. In recent years there has been increased attention to establish and improve pathways and systems to maximize sport development.

This essay will discuss and critically analyse the different types of development structures and nature between Rugby League and ice hockey as recognised sports of Australia. Australia has, with its old and inherent football-culture of Rugby League/Union and Aussie Rules, been predominately focused on the domestic development and international competition while aiming at recognition of these sports. AIS has together with the majority of the Australian communities recognised Ice hockey as being a major-minor sport, which has made the possibilities of developing high-standard practises, mass-participation and national success a struggle for the involved compared to the football codes. This essay will therefore discuss the differences of how Australia choses to cope with the development between a major sport as ruby league, and a minor sport as ice hockey, and to establish development recommendations for the future of both sports.

The governance structure of rugby league in Australia is highly complicated, in which Australian Rugby League (ARL), the National Rugby League (NFL), and state organisations such as New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) and Queensland Rugby League (Q...

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... benefits available from having successful elite athletes.

Pathways are evident in the ARL using an NRL pathway-elite-model. Players are identified through talent identification processes and are picked from Sport Academies across states. This allows for junior elite exposure and presents the opportunity to compete in the Under 18 and 20 National Youth Competition. The first stage is for U15-U18 to promote junior elite exposure; these athletes are then chosen to compete in the U18-U20 National Youth Competition. NRL teams can then select and engage with players from this competition to play professional rugby league.

Throughout this elite pathway, the league has structured programs to allow players to develop a career outside of the sport. These programs include ‘CareerWise’, ‘Characterwise’, and ‘Healthwise’. Careerwise helps players attain more opportunities

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