Equality or Equity: What’s Our End Game In Sport?

We often hear the words ‘equality’ and ‘equity’ used interchangeably. While the two words are related, they have different meanings. And it’s important to understand these differences to help tackle racism in sport – and beyond. 

Is every child welcome in sport?

While we’d like to think this is the case, sport is not an even playing field for all of Australia’s children.

Equality treats everyone the same, regardless of need.

Therefore in sport, equality might mean treating every child and their family the same at every stage in their journey. When they consider playing. When they sign up. When they pay for uniforms and fees. When they come along to practice and matches. When they seek pathways to take their hard work to the next level.

Whereas equity treats people differently, depending on their needs.

In sport, this might mean helping children and families who struggle – financially, with time, with language, with fear of discrimination – to overcome challenges and be a part of the game long-term. So through equity, we can reach an equal outcome – everyone can participate in sport. By shifting focus from ‘equality’ to ‘equity’, sport can come closer to realising its own potential to make a difference in the lives of so many people.

Who gets to play?

Sport is often celebrated as a place for everyone, no matter what your gender, religion, ethnicity, or skin colour. But this does not reflect the experiences of children and families around Australia. Not every child can play the game they love – whether it’s AFL, basketball, netball, rugby, cricket, tennis or any sport. While all the physical, social and emotional benefits of sport are in reach of the average Australian child, many stay home.

Sport urgently needs to make its opportunities available to all communities. 

Those who stay home miss out on feeling fitter and stronger. Making new friends. Feeling part of a team. Feeling pride in trying hard with that team and getting better, together. Having a stronger support network. And overall, better health to bounce back in difficult times – especially important when a child endures long-term hardship in life. 

This is all too often the case for First Nations children, and children from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Too often, they don’t get tailored opportunities and equitable support to unlock their sporting potential early on. Nor do they get the chance to showcase their talents and set off on new pathways to higher levels in the sport.

“The system itself, whether management, club and fan culture can and usually does display the same biases and prejudice that exists in broader society.”

— Craig Foster, Former Socceroo

Why do so many children miss out on playing sports?

Children from diverse backgrounds face barriers to participating that other children and families just don’t hit up against. A more affluent family is more likely to be in a position to pay for sporting uniforms and registration fees for their child. They are more likely to have someone in their family that has time in the evenings and on weekends to take their child to practice and games. And they can often stay on at the game to provide emotional support, cheering the child on – sharing in that joy and pride. 

Contrast this with the experience of a child from a less affluent background. Their family may not be in a position to pay for uniforms and registration fees. There may not be an adult in their life to take them to practice and games – they’re busy working evenings and weekends to make ends meet. Let alone having someone there to cheer for them at a game. If their family can pay for all the expenses that pile up every year to be a part of sport, the child may need to navigate getting to and from practice and games on public transport or rides. Depending where they live, this can be another challenge or expense to factor in. Some children and families may experience language barriers to joining in, or feel that they are not welcomed. Or, they may experience racism from other players, families, leaders, or the sporting system itself. It can all be too hard. They can end up not getting the chance to join in, or eventually dropping out.

How can we make sports more equitable for Australia’s children?

Remember, equality treats everyone the same – regardless of need. Whereas equity treats people differently, depending on their needs. At Reflect Forward, we want every child in Australia to have the support they need to make sport a part of their life, and to keep at it long-term. Because equity, in participation, is bigger than sport. It’s about life opportunities.

Participation is key. An opportunity for better health is important for everyone. 

Luckily, there are ways that sporting bodies and clubs can support every young athlete and their families to participate. Let’s look at how high-level systems right through to clubs and competitions can truly serve communities and lift everyone up. Here are some ways to remove barriers to entry, adapt, change, and provide something for every child. 

Tune in to individuals. 

Help out your disadvantaged players, or future players, in any way that you can. There is no single ‘right’ way to do this, but spending time connecting with community members and building relationships is key.  Think about the experience of children that you serve. How’s their family structure? Do they live with intergenerational trauma? What’s going on in their life that is different to the average Australian child? What can you do to support these young athletes to play the game? Talk to children and their families, listen, get to know what’s really going on, step up any way that you can, and inspire others to follow. This might involve assigning a ‘buddy’ to each team member as a way of strengthening peer-to-peer support. Or focusing on building a culture where children feel safe to talk and welcome to participate.   Look at your human resource and recruitment strategies – be sure to involve and build representation of the communities you serve.

Avoid money-centric approaches. 

Consider that not everyone can afford to participate. Talk to the communities you serve and learn more about their challenges and needs. You may start to define new pathways together to support participation. 

Consider selection processes. 

Selection at community level clubs, and state level, that open life opportunities now and long-term, often includes factors that do not pertain to skill. How can you keep a laser focus on skill, to drive equity?

Be aware of social capital.

Whether we like to admit it or not, doors to selection can open more easily to families with more connections and a higher social status. When it comes to race and racism, power and privilege can overshadow the talent of our youngest athletes. As above, keep a laser focus on skill and nurture this.

Build new connections and pathways.

Consider new pathways and development programs for children in regional cities to broaden out from city-centric competition. 
Are there any sporting organisations in your local area or region that work specifically with communities facing barriers to participation? Keep in touch, look at ways to collaborate with them and support their players.  Can you help talented children who are excelling to showcase what they do at a higher level? You might build a new stepping stone to help them compete at state, national and even international levels.

Cut the spin. 

It sounds basic – but all too often strategies within diversity and inclusion frameworks, and positive messaging around diversity and inclusion in marketing and communications, do not translate to what actually happens on the ground.  If children in the communities you serve are missing out on playing the game, does your strategy and PR that proudly celebrates diversity and inclusion hold true?

If you have found other ways that help children to participate in sport, we’d love to hear from you – reach out.