Issue date
It is fair to say it has been a very fast year! The amount that has happened both inside the workplace and outside, makes it seem all a blur. However, it has been a very exciting year, and I am pleased to say I am thoroughly enjoying the job here as Coach Development Manager.
Don't know me?
Who am I? What do I do?
Name: Gareth Moore - Coach Development Manager for Yachting New Zealand.
Role: Is to help all the coaches out! In simple terms it is my role to coach the coaches within the yachting community throughout New Zealand, as well as implement our coaching system plan, and manage the development of our coach developers who also coach the coaches. I'm also here to listen to your stories, successes, mistakes, questions, and give advice and feedback to you.
My goal: To get coaches to talk to each other, share information, help each other out, ask when not sure, create a self-learning environment for themselves and their sailors, have the inspiration to get better at coaching, and HAVE FUN!
The past year!
Coaching System Review
This essentially started the day I sat down at this desk. And yes, it has been a year in making, and still a couple of months away of being presented and implemented into the yachting community. It involved sitting down with the old plan, identifying the key areas, the things that worked well, didn't work so well, and any gaps. Have a sneak peak below of what is to come, and whilst not finalised, watch this space, as the coaching system for everyone involved will hopefully become more transparent, and understandable.
“To provide a world class coaching system where coaches have access to learning allowing them and their sailors to enjoy and succeed at the coaching level they aspire to”
Online Learning
Part of the coaching system reveiw highlighted online learning as a key area to look into. I am please to annouce that recently the Yachting New Zealand board has given sign off to go forward with an online learning system (otherwise known as a Learning Management System - LMS). What this means, in a simple sentence, is that the coaching courses and opportunities are going to get better! The core content, is being pulled out of our current coaching courses, and placed into an online learning format. This gives far better access for coaches across the country to get the basics of coaching to help out at their local club. This will enable the 'face-to-face' coaching courses to be more practical, more valuable, and more applicable.
Coach Engagement
As part of the drive through the coaching system reveiw (below), I have been trying to get the information out there, that the resources are just a few clicks away, and I, amongst other great coaches, are only a phone call away. This has clearly sunk in, as within the last month as the season has got underway, coaches have been contacting me for assistance around their planning and sessions. This is really great to see, and the effort coaches are putting in to their sessions and seasons for their sailors. These coaches know who they are, and they will go a long way in coaching. 'Go the extra mile', it really does make a difference.
Coaches Conference
Although still in very early stages, there WILL be a national coaches conference next year. Tentative date is the 24th June, in Wellington. Again, watch this space as times, locations, and speakers are confirmed. It will be one you won't want to miss!
Coaching Courses
There has been an influx of requests to host Learn to Sail and Race Coaching courses. This is fantastic and the numbers are showing this. The last financial year ending 31st June 2016, (as per the annual report), there were 132 coaches put through our Learn to Sail Coach Course and 22 coaches attended our Race Coach Course.
Since the 1st July 2016 (so only 4 months), we have put through 114 coaches through our Learn to Sail Coach Course, and 28 coaches through our Race Coach Course (4 completed so far). This is a staggering number, and shows the culture of learning, and wanting to improve what we do as coaches, and as people.
Please get in touch if you want to upskill your coaching, or if you know someone that wants to become a coach. Details are at the bottom.
Coaches Forums
Stemming from the previous success and engagement from the annual coaches forum in Wellington (thanks to the hard work of Wayne Holdt - Yachting New Zealand Regional Support Officer) over the past few years, I decided to take this out to the other regions, and with great feedback.
Over the winter, I have facilitated 6 coaches forums, all with different themes around the evening. By nature of the previous engagement in Wellington, they boasted the highest in attendance with 31 coaches turning out for the evening.
Some of the feedback received includes:
"A few of our members have told me that it was one of the best presented and well run evening forums they’ve been to in a very long time. A very popular evening. Well done, great work" - David Noakes, Programmes Co-ordinator NPCL
"I thought the session on Tuesday was well worth the effort and think it is worth getting coaches together" - Simon Rutherford, KORE Director
"thanks for keeping to time, making it real, and practising what you preached" - Diane Sowerby, LTS Coach NPCL
"...glad I came. Was definitely useful and will definitely come along to others in future. Talking to each other needs to be done!" - Juliette Richards, LTS Co-ordinator WBC
"Yea I loved it and talking to the other coaches and coordinators really helped me by giving ideas about sessions and how they plan for their sessions and seasons." - Ashton Bainbridge-Welch, LTS Coach TSC
As you can see, some great feedback, and opened some doors, ideas, and new thinking to a range of coaches, young and old, experience and inexperienced. In total 84 coaches have attended a coaches forum.
Join the facebook group!
There is whole heap of info that goes out through this facebook group. Be sure to join! https://www.facebook.com/groups/482168951854147/
My Details
If you have any queries, comments, requests, stories, successes, I would love to hear about them. Best way is to email me on gareth@yachtingnz.org.nz
Finally
Have a laugh with this comedy sketch back in 2010, yet there are still some really important points that are applicable in the sport of sailing... what are they?
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