Two young high flying volleyball players are not waiting until they stop playing to further contribute to the game they obviously enjoy, and instead are giving back now.

Terina Hauraki and Grace Nikora have taken up the challenge of not only playing for Whangarei Girls’ High School Senior A  Girls’ team,  they are also adding coaching other teams to their already busy schedules.

Part of the WGHS Volleyball Coaching kaupapa that has been established at the school, is that the players “give back”. The development of the junior players is taken up by the senior players under a coach developer supporting their coaching. Last year two senior players accompanied the two junior teams to the North Island Junior Secondary School Championships held in Auckland which involved working with year 9 students.

Terina and Grace both offer regular coaching at lunchtimes and after school. This is part of the development programme with both coaches gaining a positive experience to developing these often young players, into volleyballers.

Recently at the Northland Senior Championships as well as playing, they coached senior teams. The teams both acquitted themselves well with the senior B team coming second in division II and the senior C team fifth.  This was a great placing and outcome coupled with the B team qualifying to the next stage of finals and more importantly 20 girls have the chance to participate and develop. There was a great deal of enjoyment and satisfaction from improving. “I got a great deal of enjoyment and satisfaction from them improving during the year and at the tournament” says Grace.  Meanwhile Terina goes onto say “it was cool to see the young players take stuff we did at training into their games, they were so excited in their games to see things work.”

“The involvement of new young coaches is what keeps small sports alive” says Sport Northland Coaching Lead Grant Harrison.  Harrison goes onto say “without the support of these enthusiastic players who are still developing themselves as players the sport cannot grow. It is important that young coaches are supported and helped to develop as coaches. To see them understand the fundamentals of coaching rather than just taking drills is likely to result in a group of players enjoying their sport more.”

For more information on Coach Development, contact Grant Harrison granth@sportnorth.co.nz