Table 2. Specific participant feedback Raw data quotes Indicative Theme General Dimension “We signed him up with [a] boxing academy there and, they took one look at him. He’s so big. They took one look at him and says because of his age, he thought he was going to go to the junior team, with the juniors. But what happened is they took one look at him and they said ‘oh no, you’re too tall, and you’re too big. You’re too big and we’ve gotta put you onto the seniors if we get a place.’ But they had no places at the time for him to go there. And they said, ‘but we’ll put you on the waiting list.’ And that was last year.” “When he was younger, I used to make him play rugby league and softball. He had a stint with softball, he had a stint with rugby league, he used to go to kapa haka (traditional Māori performing arts) and all of that, so he’s been away on trips similar to exercise programs and stuff. Otherwise no. He hasn’t really been involved in team, really he arrived from, he got extended from Māori.” “Rugby wasn’t ok for me because, I did get game time, but, I didn’t feel a whole lot important to the team, and when I injured my back on the second game, my mom pulled me out of the school club so I ended up doing league instead, and I enjoy that very much.” Barriers to exercise Barriers “I don’t have to make him do the boxing, he just walks out the door. He just loves it. He loves it. I think he actually found his, I dunno, his career, maybe? As far as exercise and fitness, and wanting to do something that is totally his.” “The training, yes, and when you go into the ring yes, cause it does seem like you need to be committed to doing the hard work if you wanna increase the physical stuff and all that.” Psychological benefits Benefits “Yeah, it has actually. He’s not eating a lot at once. He used to eat quite a lot all at once but I’ve actually made it span out a bit more over a few meals, rather than just eating all at once. Usually he would just [eat] all at once then not have good things. Not have this and that. I think nutrition would be the one if you could add anything to it, would be the one to talk about, you know, when they’re doing exercise and stuff”. “Well it seems to be harder than what I used to do but I enjoy that because I think my fitness has gotten better cause of it and, with the league and this, my fitness has been bigger”. “Um, I definitely think his fitness has come up. And I’d like for him to carry on with it, he wants to carry on with it and, uh, go really hard however we can and boxing.” Fitness benefits “He’s not so aggressive as he used to be because he could be quite aggressive at times, I mean we’ve had a few run ins. He’s actually calmed down quite a lot.” “Yes, he’s quite confident now, his schooling has actually picked up. He’s come quite a long way.” “I’ve met new friends, the exercise was good for me, and just enjoying it, really, just having fun.” “Yeah, I think so. I got him into league last year and that got his confidence up a little. Got him into boxing and now that’s what he does around the house. As he’s walking around the house, does all of his boxing moves, even when we are in public. Which is interesting? It’s increased his activity level and I think it’s definitely increased his confidence. He’s involved in everything now. At school, yeah, everything.” Benefits outside of sport “My only thing would be to find an in with a pastor who knows a lot of other pastors. You know, get in to some of the community groups. But mostly its churches, well that’s what I think the best way to get involved is. Most of them go to church, 80% of them go to church, they’ve got a huge community: Samoans, Tongans, Cook Islanders even. “Transportation would be really good, I think. And I think that would help get a lot of other, especially Polynesian boys, involved. Because I know the Polynesian culture. If it’s easier for them, they’ll do it. Know what I mean? If they have someone picking them up, dropping them off, and they can still concentrate on whatever they want to concentrate on, church, whatever, then they will be more willing, I think. I would still do it but I am not fully traditional, one of these people. But that would definitely make a huge difference, I think. A huge difference, if transportation was involved.” Recruitment issues Recruitment