The Value of Relationships, Trust and Energy in Athlete Development

Since 2012, 70 of the 75 players who have been selected for New Zealand’s senior men’s rugby league (RL) team were of Māori or Pasifika heritage. Māori are the Indigenous people of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Pasifika is a broad term used to refer to people who connect back to the Island nations of the South Pacific. In New Zealand, these communities make a significant contribution to the game of RL at both the participation and professional levels. The start of the inaugural Rugby League International Federation Oceania Cup [1] further highlights the contribution Indigenous and Pasifika communities make to the game at an international level. The Oceania Cup offered players a platform to showcase their footy skills and represent their cultural heritage on a global stage, outside of the world cup competition. Despite the significant contribution of our Indigenous communities, existing talent development research fails to acknowledge cultural nuances that are critical to the preparation and performance of Māori or Pasifika athletes. Given the continued contribution Indigenous and Pasifika communities make to the growth of RL in particular, we need to use processes and practices that resonate with the diverse player base.

The four key pillars that typically shape the talent development pathway are: physical, technical, tactical and psychosocial. Given that RL is a high-impact, collision sport, the predominance of Māori and Pasifika engaging and succeeding in RL has been related to their physical attributes and talents [2]. Research highlights the critical role the psychosocial aspect plays in facilitating longevity and success for a professional sportsperson [3]. For many teenage Māori and Pasifika athletes, this can be more arduous than the physical aspect. To-date, the psychosocial aspect of talent development has been discussed from a Western perspective, which focuses on the achievements of the individual. My research [4] challenges this with an approach that more appropriately reflects Māori and Pasifika, within the context of RL. A significant finding was the importance and value of relationships with other people, including family and mentors. My research suggests that key relationships are those that are anchored by trust and create an energy that helps junior RL players to process mentally trying times they may experience as an athlete. When viewed through a Māori and Pasifika lens, psychosocial is (re)defined as the inter-connectedness of relationships, trust and energy see Figure 1. This relational foundation is missing when psychosocial development is viewed from a Western perspective.

Figure 1:Psychosocial development through the different lens [4].

Elite athletes recognize that failure is part of the process for success and growth [5]. The ability to cope with setbacks, however, is dependent on the athlete’s psychosocial foundation. This foundation is developed as they progress to the senior elite level. As shown in Figure 1, developing attributes such as resilience, brotherhood and attitude is but one view of the psychosocial aspect of talent development. A more appropriate approach would integrate practices throughout the talent development process to facilitate reciprocal relationships, based on trust. For Māori and Pasifika, relationships also include those of a spiritual nature. Faith or spirituality play a significant role in strengthening the overall health and well-being for Māori [6] and Pasifika [7]. Not surprisingly, I found in my study, that faith and a belief in God gave athletes strength and perspective in dealing with adversity [4]. As such, offering time or space for athletes to meditate, read or listen to scripture, or simply express gratitude could be just as impactful for development and performance, as scheduled training, gym and nutrition sessions. Consequently, spirituality or faith is a critical element of talent development that tends to be overlooked when facilitating the performance of Māori and Pasifika athletes.

The organizational structure of professional sports is heavily influenced by the Eurocentric power structure and culture. Māori and Pasifika are expected to integrate into a system that does not typically reflect their cultural structure, values and beliefs. Whilst there are specialist support people and resources available in the professional sporting world to help athletes manage the demands of becoming a professional sportsperson, greater awareness and consideration for cultural nuances is needed. Practitioners need to consider the value of relationships, trust and energy for Māori and Pasifika athletes to succeed in the high-performance sport environment. Through a collective cultural lens, success is measured by how well one takes care of those around them. Athletes are likely to progress better through the development process when they know and feel that their support team (i.e. coaches, trainers, managers) takes care of them. For Māori and Pasifika athletes, this includes their family and the wider collective they represent. Hence, it is critical that practitioners consider the value of relationships, trust and energy when engaging with Māori and Pasifika athletes. Meaning, there is a need to implement practices throughout the talent development pathway that facilitate opportunities to establish reciprocal and trusting relationships, which stimulate and support an energy, conducive to the reinforcement of an athlete’s psychosocial foundation within the high-performance sport setting.

The Conversation.

1. Recipient of a doctoral scholarship from New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) and Sports Performance

2. Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ)

3. Member of the Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists (PAADS)

Member of the Association for Applied Sports Psychology (AASP).

1. (2019) RLIF Oceania Cup confirmed for
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