How Sport Shaped Me

Written by Stacey Shortall

Growing up, much of my life was shaped by sport. Whether it was on the tennis or netball court, swimming, running cross-country, or turning up to training after school, sport gave me more than just fitness. It gave me discipline, resilience, and an understanding of teamwork that has carried through my career as a lawyer and in my community work.

On the court, I learned that talent matters, but effort matters more. I learned that setbacks are part of the journey, and that you can always dig deeper than you think. Those lessons shaped how I approached exams at university, tough situations in the courtroom, and the many challenges of building charitable projects from scratch.

Leadership and Teamwork

Sport taught me the importance of leadership - and of following, too. Sometimes you are the captain, setting the direction and lifting your teammates. Sometimes you are the one backing others, putting in the unseen work that makes the team stronger.

That balance has shaped how I lead teams today. As a lawyer, I’ve seen how vital it is to listen as much as to direct. In community projects, I’ve seen how success comes not from one star player, but from collective effort - volunteers, families, and partners working together.

Fairness and Inclusion

Playing sport also taught me early about fairness - and unfairness. I saw how some kids had the best gear, coaching, or transport to games, while others struggled just to turn up. Those inequities mirrored what I would later see in the justice system and in disadvantaged communities.

And the statistics back this up:

• One in four New Zealand children miss out on organised sport due to cost.

• Families in the lowest income bracket spend, on average, $1,000 less per child per year on sport compared to wealthier families.

• By age 15, only 35% of girls remain in organised sport, compared to nearly 50% of boys.

Sport showed me that potential is everywhere, but opportunity is not. That has fuelled my determination to create spaces - whether in Homework Clubs, prisons, or as part of my paid professional life - where everyone has a chance to participate and succeed.

Resilience Off the Court

The resilience I learned in sport has been one of the greatest gifts. Training in the rain, bouncing back from losses, and learning to keep going even when exhausted prepared me for a life where setbacks are inevitable.

And research shows that resilience is one of the key benefits of sport. Young people who regularly participate in sport are 10% more likely to report higher wellbeing and 20% less likely to disengage from school. For girls in particular, sport participation is linked to higher confidence, better academic performance, and stronger leadership skills.

Looking back, I realise that sport didn’t just shape me as a player. It shaped me as a person. It taught me to work hard, to lift others, to play fair, and to keep going. Those are lessons I carry into every courtroom, every boardroom, every community hall, and every conversation.

In law, in community work, in raising a family, sport shaped me. And it continues to shape the way I try to make a difference.