How profit-orientated school sport is becoming is creating mental health issues and unbalanced young players. And the professional game is having to deal with the consequences, says New Zealand Cricket Players Association Chief Executive Officer Heath Mills.
Mills has been worried about the state of the school sports system for some years now and the issue recently came to a head. It was reported that the Auckland 1A 1st XV players were thinking about repeating a year just to see if they could rouse a scout’s interest.
Mills said that the game has seen professionalisation slowly creeping into school organisations for some time now, with professional coaches and teams being spotted around Under-18s. He mentioned the broadcasting of matches, too, which invariably leads to critical assessments of children’s performances.
He said that this is causing the kinds of issues that are being dealt with at the professional sports level by pro athletes getting transferred down to kids as young as 15. Mills explained that being in the public domain and constantly getting your performance assessed is tough even for hardened All Blacks, Black Caps, and All Whites, let alone someone still underage.
Mills said that dealing with the fallout from these circumstances is difficult and that the NZCPA spends a lot of time trying to help players overcome it, and these are athletes who started experiencing it at 18- or 19-years old.
As damning an indictment as this is, Mills is going public with his message because he wants to start a national conversation about what’s going on.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Betway |  | 5/5 | Up to $60 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Picklebet | | 4.9/5 | Login to see promotions | Bet now Review |
| 3 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.8/5 | 100% Match | Bet now Review |
More About Gary Hicks
When it comes to knowing what’s going on, on the track, field or any other sporting arena, Gary Hicks is your man. With an almost unrivalled passion for journalism, sports and betting Gary decided to combine his love of all 3 and share his expertise with the world.
In the last few years Gary has risen through the ranks and prides himself on always keeping a finger on the pulse of what’s hot and happening in the sports betting world. Gary is the resident news expert at OnlineBettingNZ.co.nz and his articles make for invaluable fodder for any avid punter.
You May Also Like:
SA Six Nations Plan Could Spark Bidding War
If South Africa were to join the Six Nations, such a move could potentially spark a bidding war to host the British & Irish Lions tour in 2033. The list ….
Kawa Leauma Dies After Freak Accident
Tragic news confirmed on Wednesday is that New Zealand lock Kawa Leauma has died of the head injuries sustained during an accident in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The Spanish Rugby ….
Kawa Leauma Suffers Serious Head Injuries
New Zealand rugby player Kawa Leauma is reportedly in a critical condition in hospital after falling eight metres. Leauma, who is undergoing treatment in a hospital in Amsterdam, is said ….
Quade Cooper May Soon Call Australia Home
Wallabies star Quade Cooper told the media this week that he will be taking another citizenship test– a test that will hopefully allow him to finally call Australia his home. ….
World Rugby Says About Dementia
World Rugby has reportedly now told players that head impacts and concussions aren’t the only factors known to contribute to the early onset of dementia. The organisation allegedly said this ….