Come On Teams, Get In Behind Your Coaches!

Media Release
4 August 2000

COME ON TEAMS, GET IN BEHIND YOUR COACHES!

It's half time and the score is 660, with 70,340 left to go... About 660 coaches are in the running for a big 'thank-you' three weeks into the Wattie's Baked Beans Most Valuable Coach (MVC) Awards. With an estimated 71,000 community coaches in New Zealand* that means there's around 70,340 entries on their way, right?

Entries close on August 25 for the third annual MVC Awards, which seek to recognise the contribution made by community coaches to New Zealand sport. Hillary Commission's Head of Coaching and Sport Development, Keith Mair, says the response to the Awards this year has been better than ever but there are still thousands of coaches who deserve thanks.

"We're very pleased to see so many coaches being supported and recognised for the role they play in encouraging and developing people in playing their sport. We would still like to see many more teams and players nominate their coaches by sending in an entry form now," he says.

Wattie's Baked Beans work with the Hillary Commission and the Regional Sports Trusts to find 17 Regional MVC winners who then go forward for the National MVC Award. A national judging panel convenes in October to select the National MVC Award winner.

All sporting codes are eligible to enter the Wattie's Baked Beans MVC Awards. Coaches from a variety of sports including rugby, netball, fencing, badminton, waterpolo, boxing, orienteering, volleyball and aerobics have already been nominated for the Awards.

"The Awards are open to all codes, summer, winter, high profile or not - we want nominations for them all," says Mr Mair.

Nominations for the MVC Awards are open from July 17 to August 25 for coaches at school or club level. Anyone currently coaching at school or club level, in any sport, may be nominated. Representative and paid coaches are not eligible for entry.

Entry forms are available from your local sports trust, school or sports club, visiting www.hillarysport.org.nz or by calling 0800 MVC BEANS (0800 682 23267).

There are fabulous prize packages for the Regional and National Wattie's Baked Beans MVC Awards winners as well as those who make a nomination. Also, in a further alteration to the MVC Awards, schools and sports clubs now have a chance to win as well.

*Source: Hillary Commission

For further information please contact:

Keith Mair or Lynda O'Cain at the Hillary Commission, phone 04 472 8058 Susie Cropper Heinz Wattie's Australasia, phone 09 308 5126

Issued by Network Communications (Sarah Williams and Andrea Thuell) phone 09 379 3154.

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