Press Releases
New Programme to Transform Coaching in New Zealand
15 Jul 2004
A key part of SPARC's strategy to create a world class coaching environment in New Zealand was revealed today with the announcement of an innovative programme called CoachForce.
Developed to address New Zealand's need for high quality coaches at every level, CoachForce will result in a nationwide network of sport coaches dedicated to improving the sporting experiences of all New Zealanders by assisting in the recruitment, training and deployment of coaches into clubs and schools.
Driven nationally by SPARC, the programme will be delivered regionally via collaborative partnerships between national and regional sport organisations and regional sports trusts. While the model will vary from sport to sport and region to region, the outcome will be the same: a dedicated coaching structure that delivers strong local and regional coaching linked to the national objectives of each sport.
Announcing the programme today, SPARC CE Nick Hill said CoachForce is a significant step forward that would see coaching fulfil its potential in New Zealand. "CoachForce will create better coaches and more opportunities to be coached, which will contribute to an enhanced sporting experience for New Zealanders at every level. It will also establish a clear developmental pathway for coaches and athletes from community to national level," he said.
The implementation and resourcing of CoachForce will be multi-faceted. SPARC has allocated $1million to the provision of coaching directors in national sport organisations over 2004/05, and will also invest $1.5 million in selected regional sports trusts to support coaching in the region and to reflect national priorities.
In order to fully roll out CoachForce, SPARC is seeking the involvement of New Zealand's gaming and community trusts, whose support of sport is fundamental, particularly at a community level.
"SPARC cannot fully resource CoachForce, so we are taking a leadership role in bringing potential partners together to support coaching regionally in a collegial and collaborative manner. We are delighted that New Zealand Soccer has formed a partnership with Southern Trust to become the first national sport organisation to deliver CoachForce."
"SPARC's primary goal for the project in 2004 is to encourage the establishment of up to five of these partnerships, and we hope that more gaming and community trusts will come on board. SPARC will also be working with a number of other national sport organisations to make them CoachForce ready in the future," says Hill.
Once fully established, the network will become a key delivery mechanism for other initiatives under the New Zealand Coaching Strategy, which is in its final consultation stage.
The CoachForce programme is based upon a model originally developed by Sport Bay of Plenty in association with the Bay of Plenty Community Trust.
New Zealand Soccer website.
Updated | 30 Mar 2006.
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