Background

The Taskforce observed that:

• Coaching is in need of immediate review and upgrade, as well as increased administrative support.
• Standards are inconsistent and there is a lack of recognition and status for coaching.
• Clearly defined coaching career paths do not exist.
• The quality of coach development, education, leadership and performance is too variable.
• Coaches have not had sufficient access to quality research advice, application of research in a practical context or resource information.
• The critical role of coaching in elite sport has not been sufficiently recognised and supported
• Coaching lacks structured relationship networking and support structures, including at the elite level. 

Consultation with key players in coaching

During 2003, SPARC consulted with a selection of the key players in coaching regarding their current perspectives of coaching in New Zealand. The consultation identified the following issues:

• An ineffective coach development regional delivery framework leading to inconsistent alignment between athlete and coach expertise
• The lack of a comprehensive and integrated national coach education system
• A lack of clearly defined pathways for coach development
• Inadequate coach development programmes
• No systematic management of coach development
• Coaching in schools needs to be addressed in regard to its alignment with clubs
• A need to review the role of the coaching courses being maintained by SPARC, as the current approach has resulted in a disconnection between the development process of coaches and their athletes' needs
• An emphasis on the scientific approach to coaching rather than the practice of coaching
• A need to focus on the practical application of coaching and balance 'what coaches know' with 'what coaches do'
• Limited research and use of technology for delivery and assessment in coach development.

Current coaching activities

Since the Taskforce report and consultation process there have been improvements in the coaching environment. These include:

• Investment in
• Coach development scholarships through the Prime Minister's High Performance Coach Scholarship programme
• Coaching directors
• National coaches
• The Carded Coach programme
• The CoachForce pilot programme
• The CoachCorp pilot programme
• The Coach Development Quality Assessment Tool
• The Coach Development Consultancy Service.

Contents | → Next: Strategy Objectives

Updated | 08 Jan 2009.

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