Sports experience for children 1/4

Is the current pathway model working for our children?

3 Key Points:

1. The “Pathway” model has systematically killed passion for sport in millions of children worldwide
2. Sport is experiencing an unprecedented global crisis in participation that the Pathway can’t solve
3. The Sports Experience Model (SEM) offers a fundamentally different approach focused on relationships, not results

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For over two decades, the “Pathway” has dominated sports development around the world. It’s been sold to governments, sporting organizations, coaches, parents, and athletes as the ideal framework for developing champions.

But is it working?

Behind the closed doors of sporting organizations globally, sports leaders are facing a crisis.

1. Participation numbers are plummeting.
2. The teenage dropout rate is alarming.
3. Volunteer coaches and officials are harder than ever to find.

The Pathway model made us believe that every child who starts playing sport should be systematically developed through a linear progression toward elite performance. It turned sport into a selection and elimination process rather than an experience to be enjoyed.

A football parent:

“My son loved football. He played every day in the backyard, watched matches on TV, and couldn’t wait for practice. Then, at age 10, he didn’t make the ‘development squad.’ The coach told him, ‘You’re not on the pathway.’ Within six months, he’d quit the sport entirely.”

This isn’t an isolated story. It’s happening millions of times across the globe.

The Pathway assumes every child wants to be an Olympian or professional athlete. The truth? Most kids just want to have fun, make friends, and enjoy the experience of sport.

How about we do something different – a new model

1. Instead of asking “Is this child talented enough for our pathway?” the SEM asks “Are we creating an experience this child loves enough to keep coming back?”
2. Instead of designing systems to identify and develop the “talented few,” the SEM creates environments where ALL participants can thrive.
3. Instead of measuring success by medals and championships, the SEM measures success by engagement, enjoyment, and lifelong participation.

Lets recognise that smiling faces matter more than stopwatches. That connections between coaches and athletes matter more than clipboards and testing protocols. That sport belongs to the participants, not to the organizations that claim to govern it.

If your sport is losing participants, your pathway isn’t working. No amount of tinkering with talent identification or long-term athlete development frameworks will fix what’s fundamentally broken.

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So in summary:

1. The Pathway model has failed to deliver on its promises, leading to declining participation and enjoyment worldwide.
2. The Sports Experience Model (SEM) offers a revolutionary alternative focused on creating positive sporting experiences for everyone.
3. By prioritizing relationships over results and enjoyment over excellence, the SEM provides a framework for sustainable growth and development in sport at all levels.

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