Sport Northland and Kamo High School recently put 12 students through the Growing Coaches programme with partners Netball Northern and the Northland Suns Basketball Trust. 

Brad Miller HOD at Kamo High school saw the potential of the programme, and in linking with Jason Hannah, Growing Coaches coordinator at Sport Northland, the relationship was developed. Brad wanted his Year 12 PE class to develop their skills in coaching and the Growing Coaches programme delivered by Sport NZ does just that. 

The programme started in April with a morning theory session in the Pub Charity room at the ASB Northland Sports House in Kensington.  Jason Hannah facilitated the session guiding the students through the basics of coaching. In the afternoon the programme moved to ASB Stadium where Trina Henare from Netball Northern and Aaron Sadler from Northland Suns led the practical component, teaching the students some universal coaching drills.

Following the day Aaron and Trina delivered code specific sessions at Kamo High School, where the outcome was to get the students delivering their own session by the end of the day. The next stage of the programme saw Kamo High Students run their own coaching sessions with student teams at Kamo Intermediate School. The aim was to allow the Growing Coaches students to experience coaching teams of which they would be leading at the Intermediate Schools Festival Day in May. 

May 24^th was the pinnacle day for the programme with Kamo High School students coaching and managing their teams at the Intermediate School Sports Festival Day. Sport Northland presented Sportmaker volunteer shirts at the start of the day to the students to recognise their contribution and willingness to get involved in coaching sport.

Jason Hannah was pleased with the programme, “it was great to work alongside Netball North and the Northland Suns and see the partnership that was developed between Kamo High and the Intermediate, may it continue into the future”.

What is Growing Coaches

Is a programme designed to encourage new coaches to get involved with their chosen sport. It contains information on the basics of athlete management, team management and the roles and values of coaching. It can be presented in schools or clubs.

For more information contact: Jason Hannah, Growing Coaches Coordinator at Sport Northland