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It’s good to have Pro sport here, however I am worried about the academy style football coming into youth age grade, even from juniors. You now have some clubs asking 7 year olds to train twice a week and play in graded competition. This specialisation of sports from such a young age is going to crush many sports long term.

Having said all this I’ve been really impressed by our local NBL and how it’s engaged fans and young people. Lots of school engagement and at least in Wellington some packed stadiums. Great to see. I wonder how they can translate the Breakers through though.

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I agree that it's probably a net positive overall, given the pathway created and the ability to support a local professional team. Three Wellington lads combining for the goal yesterday! Not only can players play for the Nix but it has been a stepping stone to other pro environments overseas including Australia. More and more NZ players playing pro is a positive for the AWs, and provides tangible examples and inspiration for young players.

However, football has become even more expensive to play and the academy's here have to be amongst the few in the world where the majority pay to be in one. That isn't solely the Nix fault. The "game" overall hasn't reacted well or strategically to the elements of the Nix below the first team. There are too many issues to name.

The number of Nix players that make up youth international sides can't be good for the game overall. We are at the bottom of the world football pyramid and should focus on coherent, collective player development to leverage the huge junior participation numbers.

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I cannot speak for basketball but I think the Phoenix being in the A League is a net positive for NZ football. It has created a pathway for young footballers beyond the "move to the US and go to college" approach that was the main option available before. It has also given kids something to watch and engage in - and their community engagement is really top notch.

Bigger worry for local football is the fake amatuerism that blights the game. So much money gets pumped into player payments that could be used in developing young footballers.

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