Inaugural Auckland Regional Coach Developer Training course hits the mark

Source: Aktive

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Auckland’s coaching expertise has received a significant boost with 16 coach developers recently participating in Aktive - Auckland Sport & Recreation’s (Aktive) pilot Regional Coach Developer Training programme.

Focused on 'coaching the coaches' and developing the coaching system, Aktive has provided its first two-day, non-residential course to positive feedback. Identified coach development officers, teachers, experienced coaches and potential coach developers took part in the interactive, practical training based on current best practice in coach development and delivery.

Aktive Coaching and Talent Development Manager, Luke Morriss, says the programme aims to support coach developers to provide development opportunities for coaches in their respective communities.

"The quality of coach development has a substantial impact on the quality of coaches and therefore the experience the athlete or participant receives," says Mr Morriss.

"Coach developers are people who go out and develop, support and motivate coaches working in clubs, schools and the community. They do this by facilitating coaching courses, providing mentoring for others and delivering workshops to upskill other coaches."

Mr Morriss adds: "By arming this group with the leading-edge resources, they are able to provide other coaches with knowledge and skills to provide athletes and participants with fun, safe and quality sports experiences. We believe this 'coach the coaches' approach will contribute to greater participation and success in sport, helping us create thriving communities of activity."

Participants found the inaugural programme valuable.

"I learnt some fantastic tools, realised what the role of the coach developer is and got to practice new skills," says Tracey O’Connor, Tennis Monsters Coaching Director, Head Coach at Pompallier Tennis Club & Harcourts Eden Epsom Tennis Club.

Since 2014, Sport New Zealand’s National Coach Developer Training programme has been overwhelmingly successful and embraced by more than 200 coach developers who go out and ‘coach the coaches’. Based on this, the Auckland-wide coach developer programme is designed to give coach developers the latest tools and techniques they need to deliver quality development experiences for coaches in their communities.

"We believe that the participants who attend this course will be in a strong position where they have the knowledge, skills and confidence to positively influence and develop coaches working in schools, clubs and community organisations throughout Auckland," says Mr Morriss.

"We are excited to see how this coach developer network will impact on the quality of experiences of coaches, as well as players."

The Regional Coach Developer Training programme aims to encourage a locally-led approach to coach development, supplementing the work done by National and Regional Sports Organisations (or equivalent). To learn more about Auckland’s Regional Coach Developer Training please click here.

Participants on the first Auckland Regional Coach Developer Course:

Brent Rodgers (Triathlon NZ)

Chris Bullen (Badminton)

Colleen Kinnell (North Harbour Softball)

Garry Wood (Cricket)

Julie Bennett (Netball Northern)

Lewis McClintock (Surf Lifesaving Northern Region)

Mathew Eagleson (Special Olympics NZ)

Mike Cudd (Counties Manukau Rugby League)

Neil Bartlett (Athletics Auckland)

Regina Lilii (Cricket)

Ritchie Marr (Waitakere Badminton)

Samuel McKenzie (Auckland Rugby)

Shaun Matthews (Auckland Hockey)

Viggo Rasmussen (Auckland Rugby League)

ENDS

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