Open-ended Comments from the
Survey of Auckland Secondary School
Students Attitudes to Sport
Prepared for
Trudy Englebretsen
7 July 2009
1) Other Reasons for Not Playing Sports
Too lazy/ can't be bothered (4.7%)
Can't be bothered
Can't be bothered
Can't be bothered
Can't be bothered
Can't be bothered
Can't be bothered
Don't feel like it
Don't really want too
Don't want to
Don't want to
Don't want to
Don't want to
Don't want to play
Don't want to play
I am lazy
I'm lazy but I sometimes play and I have fun
Laziness
Lazy
Too lazy
Negative comments - its boring/dumb etc (3.7%)
Boring
Boring
I find it boring
It seems too boring
Its boring
It's boring
It's boring
Its dumb
it's dumb
It's dumb
It's gay as
Auckland Secondary Schools Research – Verbatim Comments
2
It's lame
It's shit
It's stupid
Sounds gay/boring
Don't like squash/sports (3.5%)
Don't enjoy it
Don't like it
Don't like sport
Don't really like the sport
I don't enjoy the sport
I don't like it
I don't like it
I don't like playing squash
I don't like squash
I don't like squash
I don't really like squash
I hate all sport
Not into it
Not really bothered with it
Prefer other sports (3.0%)
Gym instead
I do rowing
I do tennis it's way better and I do 6 other sports
I like dance better
I like dancing and that's all
I love soccer
I play tennis
I'd rather be skateboarding
Other sports take too much time
Rugby is better
Too committed & would rather play rugby, cricket & AFL
Too similar to tennis which is more fun
Auckland Secondary Schools Research – Verbatim Comments
3
Don't know what its like/never played it (1.7%)
Don't know what it is
I don't know how to play
I don't know what it is
I don't know what its like
I've never played it
I've never played it before
Never tried it before
Not good at squash/ sports - too difficult
Don't know how to play well
Don't know how to play, don't know if I'm good at it.
I am crap at sport and I have bad hand-eye coordination
I didn't do well in tennis & it seems similar to tennis
I'm not good at it & I don't know how to play, I would like to but it's too hard
The teams are usually too skilled, you don't want to join and be the worst
No time - have other commitments (1.7%)
Don't have time
Don't have time, just don't want to play
Exams
Got to make dinner sometimes
Haven't got round to it, too many commitments
I'm very busy
No time
Never considered it (1.5%)
Have not thought about it
I just have never considered to play it before a couple of months ago
It never crossed my mind
Just never get around to it
Never thought about it
Never thought about playing
Auckland Secondary Schools Research – Verbatim Comments
4
Not interested (1.2%)
I just don't take interest in that sport
I'm not greatly interested
It doesn't interest me
Not interested
Not interested in playing
Too unhealthy/too fat
I'm fat
I'm too fat
It is very tiring and I already get lots of probs with my feet
Lack of transport/ too far away (0.7%)
Don't have any transport to the game.
I don't live near a squash club
It takes too long to get there.
Not my kind of sport (0.5%)
It's not my kind of sport
It's not my sport
Other reasons (1.2%)
Cost
I'd want to do it against my friends. Its for fun not competing
Mates don't play
Moved away from old club and didn't want to start up again
Next year
Auckland Secondary Schools Research – Verbatim Comments
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2) Suggestions by Squash Players Regarding How to Attract NonPlayers to Play Squash
Advertising, publicity, promotion (25.4%)
Actually advertise it in the sports sign up thing.
Advertise it more, make it more well known to students
Announce it more, be more open about it.
Broadcast it more.
Photos of successful teams
Have it publicly advertised.
I think it should be advertised more at schools, especially when they have representative
players at the school. Because that would encourage more people to take it up when they see
someone they know who is really good at it
Make it more appealing eg posters, captain promotion
Maybe promote squash more in school and really show how interesting squash is. Give
freebees etc don't just put in notices since not everyone reads them
Promote as a very active sport, fast & exciting.
More advertising
Needs to be portrayed as a fun sport to the whole school
Squash needs to be advertised more. People would be interested in squash if they knew how to
play
Tell them what it is & how cool it is
Have courts at school/ in neighbourhood (16.9%)
Competitive & non competitive, squash courts at Epsom Girls grammar
Have squash centre & courts at school
It would be better if our school had squash courts or courts more avail for people who aren't
members of a club
Make some public squash courts close to my house
Maybe more squash tournaments and maybe get some squash courts built for school
More courts
Nearby facilities or courts at school to play on.
Put a court at the school and/or play it for P.E.
School needs to build a squash court and provide coaching programme
Squash courts built at schools so students will be motivated to give it a try
Auckland Secondary Schools Research – Verbatim Comments
6
Fun days, friendly games, social atmosphere (15.3%)
Have fun days.
Could be more friendly games as competitions are short
Do lots of fun social time after school that isn't very expensive to have lots of fun and can be
possibly quite competitive
Make it social
Meet lots of new people that are nice, free food.
More vending machines, rave music
More promotion and playing with friends.
To make it a bit more fun like a contact sport
Having someone to play with
Re coaching/training (6.8%)
Better coaches.
Have practices during class hours
Having training at local courts for school squash team members
Offer coaching courses etc.
Play at school (6.8%)
Play during school
Playing squash during PE so people get a better taste of it.
Promote it through curriculum, have coaches come to schools and encourage participation
We could get squash courts or/and get competitions at lunch times
Longer season (5.1%)
It should be played throughout the whole year in order to keep fit and keep the team spirit going
A bigger season and more practices.
Since squash is an indoor sport it can be played round the year. I would like squash to be
played around the year by students.
Re rackets/ equipment (5.1%)
Loans of rackets
Free rackets and balls provided
Cheaper equipment
Auckland Secondary Schools Research – Verbatim Comments
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Enrol/ bring friends (3.4%)
Get them to join their friends - ask sporty people
Join the club with your friends
Provide competitions (3.4%)
Competitions
Good competition
General positive comments (3.4%)
It’s a good game to play with your friends
Squash is really great!
Courts for casual hire (1.7%)
There are no courts close to school or courts we don't have to be a member to play on. Casual
entry fee to just go have a fun hit instead of having to pay full member fees.
Other (6.8%)
Get girls to play in bikinis!
Have nationals for a longer period and during winter tournament week
Make squash teams and encourage people to play
More coverage in schools comparable to 1st 15. Goes further than just interschool or to
Nationals etc.
Auckland Secondary Schools Research – Verbatim Comments
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