Coaching Services
Coaches are vital. ASI has developed a range of technical and support services to assist them in their quest for excellence.
ASI’s coaching programme was dramatically enlarged recently as the number of carded coaches more than doubled. Assistance to coaches concentrates on three key areas:
- Personal and professional support
- Resource and equipment assistance
- Seminars and training opportunities.
Coaching Manager, Richard Smith, has expanded the breadth and depth of the coaching programme with an ever-increasing range of services. Our four coach support centres - Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill - have markedly improved coaches' ability to use relevant technology. The range of equipment is extensive and gives coaches and their charges a competitive and analytical edge to preparation and performance. The facilities include skill and game analysis software, audio-visual equipment and Internet access. Rooms can also be booked for meetings, seminars and presentations.
We maintain an on-line network to regularly distribute up to date research and coaching information to our carded coaches, and hold regular seminars and workshops throughout the South Island. Topics include:
- Sports science
- Technology and equipment use
- Skill analysis
- Performance psychology
There has also been an emphasis on VARK (Visual, Aural, Read/write Kinesthetic) a learning preferences system for athletes and coaches.
An annual highlight is the ASI Coaches' Forum held each winter and always attended by over 170 coaches from throughout the country. All of them rating the forum as either 'worth' or 'well worth' attending. It always features leading coaches and sports scientists from overseas, such as the former AFL coach, David Parkin, sports psychologist Clark Perry (swimming and rugby), and arguably the world's best water polo coach, Istvan Gorgeny to name only three.
Another conference highlight is the case studies with New Zealand coaches whose athletes or teams have achieved on the world stage. These have included Ruth Aitken and Leigh Gibbs (netball) Mark Elliott (triathlon) and Terry Gyde cycling. A further forum aim is to promote the concept of sports science and medical personnel, by building a 'team approach' to performance enhancement.
Coaching Highlights
From the South's carded coaches a SPARC survey showed, an outstanding one hundred per cent level of satisfaction with ASI's coaching input in the 2004-2005 year.
Athletes coached by four South Island carded coaches won at the very highest level:
- Mark Eliot - Bevan Docherty, Triathlon World Champion and Olympic silver medallist
- Terry Gyde - Greg Henderson, World Cycling Scratch Race and Madison Champion Stewart
- Buttars - New Zealand Bowls team, one World Title, five places
- Andrew MacLennan - Matt Slade, Paralympic athletics gold medal
ASI Coaching Manager, Richard Smith, co-authored the recently published book, Sports Coaching and Learning, with Neil Fleming and Graeme Robson.
NZAS's High Performance Coach Development Tool released to selected South Island coaches as part of a pilot programme.
Continuing development of 4QL (Four-Quadrant Leadership) within the coaching programme. An ASI initiative adapting this internationally recognised leadership programme for sports coaches.