REPORT HIGHLIGHTS TONGA NETBALL ASSOCIATION PACIFIC SPORTS PARTNERSHIP INNOVATION FUNDING EVALUATION (MARCH 2016 APRIL 2017) PREPARED FOR: Netball Australia Tonga Netball Association PREPARED BY: Justin Richards & Lewis Keane (University of Sydney) SUBMITTED: 30 April, 2018 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This work would not have been possible without the support of the Tonga Netball Association and the contributions of Emma Sherry (La Trobe University) and Nico Schulenkorf (University of Technology Sydney) to the concurrent evaluation of netball programs in Tonga.
INTRODUCTION In 2016, the Tonga Netball Association (TNA), supported by Netball Australia, was funded through the Australian Government s Pacific Sports Partnership Innovation Fund to trial a comprehensive approach to engaging LOW uptake villages in netball activities. The aim was to introduce sustainable netball programs and promote healthy lifestyles in villages where women were particularly vulnerable to poor health outcomes on Tongatapu. Extensive evaluation contributed to selecting target villages, designing program components, understanding delivery, assessing overall impact and recommending future options. This report provides a brief summary of the key program components and the related evaluation findings. www.netball.com.au 1
IDENTIFYING THE TARGET VILLAGES SELECTING THE BEST TARGET LOCATIONS INCREASES THE CHANCE OF SUCCESS The Tonga Netball Association had previously described villages based on their engagement in netball activities. The following criteria were identified by the Tonga Netball Association staff to define a LOW uptake village: No established contact person coordinating netball activities in village No trained netball coaches / umpires in village No functioning netball infrastructure / equipment available in village No netball teams from village currently participating in regular adult tournaments Any netball players participate in teams from neighbouring villages or town Based on existing resources and capacity, it was decided that 10 of these villages would be identified on Tongatapu for an intensive netball program. The aim was to provide targeted support over a 6-12 month period to transform them into HIGH uptake villages with: At least two respected contact people coordinating self-initiated netball activities in village At least one trained coach / umpire in village At least one netball court marked and netball balls / bibs available for use in village At least two teams from village always participating in regular adult tournaments Teams comprising players only from within village The target villages were selected to include communities from all parts of the island and based on the likelihood that women in the village would respond to programs delivered by TNA. To assess the chance of success, focus groups identified the known barriers to netball particpation in Tonga. The ten LOW uptake villages where the identified barriers were most likely to change by working with local champions were selected as target villages: 1. Fatumu 6. Houma 2. Fo ui 7. Kanokupolu 3. Fua amotu 8. Liahona 4. Ha alalo 9. Navutoka 5. Ha asini 10. Niutou IN MARCH 2016... Local data collectors surveyed 30 randomly selected women in each target village as part of a needs assessment before the TNA program. The survey included questions about barriers to netball participation and standardised measures of physical and mental health. www.netball.com.au 2
UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF THE TARGET VILLAGES THERE WAS LITTLE OPPORTUNITY OR SUPPORT FOR NETBALL Only 1% of women played netball regularly. Less than 1 in 4 women knew any netball rules. None of the target villages had netball equipment or playing space. Only 1 in 3 women felt there was local community support to play netball. Confidence in the community independently organising netball activities was low. RECREATIONAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY WAS LOW Only 15% of women did any regular activity and the average was only 16 minutes/week. WOMEN HAD POOR PHYSICAL HEALTH More than 3 in 4 women were obese and the average weight was 97.5kg. WOMEN HAD POOR MENTAL HEALTH Almost 1 in 3 women had poor mental well-being. www.netball.com.au 3
POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE TARGET VILLAGES WOMEN IN HIGH UPTAKE VILLAGES HAD BETTER NETBALL ACCESS, NETBALL PARTICIPATION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, PHYSICAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH In March 2016, local data collectors surveyed 30 women in each of four high uptake villages previously targeted by TNA programs. 1. Fanga 2. Folaha 3. Lapaha 4. Nukunuku LOW VS HIGH UPTAKE VILLAGES BEFORE PROGRAM - MARCH 2016 100 97.5kg Low Uptake Villages High Uptake Villages 90 80 90.2kg 80.2 87.6 70 60 50 40 63.7mins 58.9 30 20 16.4mins 28.9 10 0.0 1.3 0 Netball Participation (times/week) Recreational Physical Activity (minutes/week) Body Weight (kg) Mental Well-Being (score/100) Netball Organising Capacity (score/100) www.netball.com.au 4
DELIVERING THE PROGRAM IN THE TARGET VILLAGES PROGRAMS SHOULD ADDRESS ALL KEY BARRIERS TO NETBALL PARTICIPATION The program developed was based on the previous experiences of the TNA staff and evidence of best practice for addressing the identified barriers to netball participation. A summary of the program components led by the TNA staff is presented in order over the following two pages: www.netball.com.au 5
Apr 2016: May 2016: Jun/Jul 2016: Aug 2016: Contacted Tonga Ministry of Internal Affairs to identify and facilitate contact with the Town Officers for each of the target villages. Identified a champion for each of the target villages based on 3 criteria: - People known by TNA from previous volunteer pools or training courses - People with a good track-record with TNA - People who were not formally employed to ensure their availability (NOTE: some of the champions lived in the target villages, others lived in neighbour villages, others worked in the target village, and others lived in Nuku alofa and had to travel to their target village specifically to promote netball) Communicated with relevant Town Officers, Sports Councils and church leaders in each target village to discuss netball program components and requirements. Invited the Ministry of Internal Affairs CEO, Town Officers from all participating target villages and the selected champions to the OUTREACH PROGRAM LAUNCH on 5 August 2016 at the TNA offices in Nukualofa: - Explained program to all attendees - Introduced the champions to the relevant town officers - Explained the incentives for the participating target villages i. Participate in tournaments specifically organised for villages at a similar level ii. Petrol money for champions in recognition of their work iii. Cascade model netball leaders in the target villages (i.e. mini-champions ) could be champions in the next phase of roll-out to neighbour villages Identified 1-2 mini-champions in each of the target villages based on two criteria: - People who showed an interest in netball on initial village visits by TNA staff - People who were not formally employed to ensure their availability Delivered a 2-day coaching and umpiring workshop for the mini-champions Marked out netball courts in the 10 target villages - Completed by TNA staff alongside champions and mini-champions - Required creating a new space for the netball courts in each of the villages, mowing the grass, marking the lines of the court and installing 2 goal posts (NOTE: There was some variation in court location and quality in each village) Distributed netball equipment to champions in 10 target villages - Netball (5), Bag (1), Whistle (2), Bibs (2 sets) - T-Shirt for champions to identify them as TNA representatives (1) Sep 2016: Commenced intensive direct netball promotion in the 10 target villages - Word of mouth promotion of netball training at the newly created netball court led by champions and mini-champions in each village i. Petrol money from TNA for champions to conduct training 3x/week (NOTE: several champions led training more often at their own expense) ii. Training involved 1-2 hours of netball activity in the village with children starting immediately after school and then women joining later after finishing work or returning from the land iii. Although the number of people at training was small to start with in some villages, most had 20-30 people attending each session within a few weeks - Regular face-to-face spot-checks done by TNA staff in target villages to support the champions and monitor program progress (~weekly) - Weekly phone calls and Facebook chat between TNA staff and champions to provide ongoing support and identify any issues in program delivery - Ongoing communication from TNA staff to community leaders to ensure there was support for women to play netball, particularly from men in the village. Oct 2016: Conducted a progress meeting with the champions at the TNA office - Follow-up on village progress and plan for carnival and round-robin series www.netball.com.au 6
Nov 2016: Dec 2016: Organised a carnival for women s teams from the target villages - 1 day competition in central location with transport allowances provided - Only women s teams from intervention villages invited to participate - Each village encouraged to enter multiple teams and focus on participation - TNA provide fundraising support to raise money for transport of village teams Coordinated a round-robin series for all women s and U18 teams in target villages - 13 Dec (Houma EAST) / 15 Dec (Ha asini WEST) / 20 Dec (Atele CENTRAL) - TNA provide fundraising support to raise money for transport of village teams Jan-Apr 2017: Continued direct netball promotion in target villages as described above - TNA staff provide less direct input, but continue to check on progress with champions and assist with resolving any issues that arise for program delivery April 2017: May 2017: Started 3rd division in annual Kau Mai Tonga tournament to integrate target villages - Opportunity to match teams with similar skill levels and for future promotion / relegation between divisions in the three annual netball tournaments in Tonga Commenced treating target villages the same as existing HIGH uptake villages - Regular phone calls and Facebook chat to leaders of netball activities in village - Regular Training opportunities for coaching and umpiring - Limited direct face-to-face contact with netball training and/or clinics in village - Limited provision of netball equipment, infrastructure and resources for village - Annual tournaments (Kau Mai Tonga ~ Apr / Te Tau Lava ~ Jul / Moonia ~ Nov) In November 2016 and April 2017, the 30 women surveyed in each village as part of the original needs assessment were followed-up by the local data collectors. They repeated the same survey questions about barriers to netball participation and standardised measures of physical and mental health. The village uptake level and quality of program delivery was also reviewed. www.netball.com.au 7
CHANGES AFTER 6 MONTHS IN THE TARGET VILLAGES NETBALL ACCESS IMPROVED AND PARTICIPATION INCREASED Almost all women were playing netball an average of four times per week. Almost all women knew at least some netball rules. All of the target villages had netball equipment and dedicated playing space. Almost all women felt there was sufficient local community support to play netball. Confidence in the community independently organising netball activities more than doubled. RECREATIONAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INCREASED Almost all women were regularly active and the average had increased by more than four hours per week. PHYSICAL HEALTH IMPROVED Women lost an average of almost 3kg. CHANGES AFTER 12 MONTHS IN THE TARGET VILLAGES IMPROVEMENT IN NETBALL ACCESS, NETBALL PARTICIPATION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, PHYSICAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH WERE MAINTAINED BY 8 IN 10 WOMEN There were 2 out of 10 villages where netball equipment and community support weakened when the intensive program stopped. CHANGES IN THE TARGET LOW UPTAKE VILLAGES March 2016 November 2016 100 97.5 kg 94.8 kg April 2017 90 80 269.6 mins 268.8 mins 95.1 kg 81.9 79.2 76.4 70 69.1 60 58.9 50 40 30 20 10 0.0 4.1 3.1 16.4 mins 28.9 0 Netball Participation (times/week) Recreational Physical Activity (minutes/week) Body Weight (kg) Mental Well-Being (score/100) Netball Organising Capacity (score/100) www.netball.com.au 8
SO WHAT? ADDRESSING KEY BARRIERS TO NETBALL PARTICIPATION CAN IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF WOMEN IN TONGA Understanding the barriers to netball participation that can be addressed is a critical part of designing programs that actually have an impact in communities; Applying a one size fits all approach to promoting netball particpation is unlikely to work in all villages in Tonga. VARIOUS LEVELS OF ONGOING SUPPORT FOR EACH COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM ARE NEEDED FOR DIFFERENT VILLAGES TO ENSURE ONGOING NETBALL PARTICIPATION Obtaining full support from town officers, sports councils & churches ensures netball is valued and protected by key leaders in the community; Facilitating support for women to particpate in netball from their friends, family & men in the community ensures it is socially embraced; Developing dedicated local champions and mini-champions that live in each participating village ensures netball activities are locally owned and sustained; Maintaining regular in-person & phone support from the Tonga Netball Association staff ensures the program is delivered as planned and any issues are identified early; Providing easy access to netball equipment in the village ensures this is not a barrier to participation and people can play at any time; Creating a dedicated playing space in the village ensures netball is prioritised by the community and is not physically displaced by other activities; Delivering an intensive program over a period of several months ensures netball activities are developed as planned and embedded into the community; Accessing regular inter-village competitions with matched skill levels ensures participants remain motivated to practice and play. GRADUAL ROLL OUT OF A SIMILAR PROGRAM IN OTHER VILLAGES ACROSS TONGA IS LIKELY TO HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON NETBALL PARTICIPATION AND HEALTH Starting with villages that are most ready and open to change is likely to be most effective; Working with villages that are easy to link to each other enables them to develop as a network. www.netball.com.au 9