Introduction
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New Zealand has a proud history of sporting excellence. Excellence in sport requires excellence in coaching. Quality coaches have a huge impact on their communities.
They spend time with New Zealanders, young and old, and have a positive influence on the life and values of those they come into contact with.
If our children are to be truly enriched by their experience in sport, or if New Zealand's elite athletes are to stay in contention for world glory, they must participate and compete with the support of a world-class coaching environment.
Creating a world-class coaching environment
The New Zealand Coaching Strategy is philosophically committed to creating this environment. An environment delivering key coaching benefits to athletes regardless of age, race, status or location.
It also represents a genuine commitment to ensuring that the key players in coaching work more collaboratively for the benefit of athletes, complementing the efforts of the many committed coaches and coaching programmes operating around New Zealand.
The 2001 Ministerial Taskforce Report concluded that coaching in New Zealand was in need of an immediate review and upgrade. The Taskforce effectively challenged coaches to take a leadership and ownership role in the development of a world-class coaching environment.
It is through this environment that New Zealand's coaching capability will be enhanced and recognised as world-leading. It is through this environment, too, that all Kiwi athletes will be delivered the services they require to get the most out of their
sports.
Comparing New Zealand's sporting environment with other countries' confirms we cannot compete on two levels:
- Investment; and
- The numbers playing sport.
The quality of our coaching, therefore, must be a significant point of difference when compared to the rest of the world.
Developed for coaches, by coaches
This strategy has been developed for coaches by coaches to meet the needs of all coaches in New Zealand. It addresses issues associated with the current coaching environment and is aligned to athletes' needs. It will deliver a co-ordinated coaching approach that links regional and national activities and outcomes.
As such, it reflects our unique national identity in a way that meets the needs of all New Zealanders regardless of race, gender or physical capacity.
Changing New Zealand's coaching environment is a task suited to coaches who habitually challenge accepted practice. It starts with a shared vision, or purpose, that is owned by all key players in coaching (see Appendix 1). With a clear understanding of their role, key players can contribute to realising the vision of creating a world-class coaching environment.
These contributions must be delivered in a co-ordinated manner to ensure we get from where we are now to where we want to be. The New Zealand Coaching Strategy provides a way to co-ordinate those contributions.
Change is not new. Coaching in New Zealand has undergone many changes before. The difference is that this time it will be driven, and owned, by coaches. The strategy's outcomes will meet athletes' needs and be delivered through the passion, inspiration, and enthusiasm of coaches.
This strategy builds on, and replaces, the draft National Coaching Strategy (June 2003) and the revised High Performance Coaching Strategy (April 2003).
SPARC is proud to have led the development of this strategy and thanks all the key players for their contribution and vision.
Nicholas Hill
Chief Executive
SPARC
Contents | >> Next: Background
Updated | 22 Mar 2007.
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