Carded Athlete Info

The New Zealand Academy of Sport (NZAS) and national sport organisations (NSO’s) work together to make sure that funding for high performance sport is invested in the areas that will give the most return.

The Carding System
Athletes who are “carded” are eligible for an allocation of services as determined by their National Sport Organisation (NSO).

Which Sports?
Each sport in New Zealand is categorised by SPARC as either a Targeted Sport or Campaign funded sport and these are the sports that have carded athletes involved in the carding programme.

Athletes from other Sports who achieve excellence on the world stage may be eligible to receive similar services as those athletes from those sports mentioned above. This is based on a case by case situation. Contact your National Sport Organisation for more information. 

Who gets carded?
National Sports Organisations, in conjunction with the New Zealand Academy of Sport cards athletes in order to:

- Support individuals identified by their NSO as having the ability/potential to deliver against the SPARC High Performance mission

- Identify athletes who can access support services delivered through the Academy Network
Carding Criteria

Athletes are carded against the following criteria:

- Athletes whose performance focus is the next Pinnacle Sporting event, as agreed between the NSO and the New Zealand Academy of Sport (e.g. Melbourne Commonwealth Games).

- Athletes whose performance focus is the Pinnacle Sporting event immediately following the one above (e.g. Beijing Olympic Games).

- Outstanding Junior International athletes not identified in either of the above points, where carding will enhance their potential.

If you are not a carded athlete, and would like to know how you can become carded, contact your National Sport Organisation to find out what the criteria is for your sport.

Services for Carded Athletes

Carded athletes can access services from a wide range of areas including:

ACE (Athlete Career and Education)
Sport Science
Sports Medicine
Scholarships
Training Facilities

Sport Categories:
Whether or not, you as an athlete can become carded or be eligible for a Prime Minister’s Athlete Scholarship depends on the sport you are involved with.

Sports are given a classification by SPARC into three areas - Performance Sports, Participation Sports and Development Sports.

See below for a list of all sports and their classification 

Carded Sports

 
Athletes other than those who meet the criteria may be eligible for carding where the NSO can satisfy the New Zealand Academy of Sport that their inclusion in the system will enhance the National Sport Organisation’s ability to achieve its High Performance outcomes and contribute towards SPARC achieving its High Performance mission.

Athletes who are 'carded' are eligible for an allocation of resources, as determined by their National Sport Organisation. Click here for information regarding Carded Athletes