Sport in Aotearoa New Zealand is fuelled by more than 300,000 coaches of which nearly 90 percent are volunteers.1 That means one out of every eight adult New Zealanders is a coach!  

As winter comes to an end, and summer sport takes off, Sport NZ, in collaboration with Coach For Life, is taking the opportunity to recognise coaches for the important role they play in New Zealand communities.  

“Every day, coaches give up their time to make a difference to the lives of young New Zealanders,” says Andy Rogers, Sport NZ National Sport Development Manager.   

“Volunteer community coaches are the backbone of kiwi sport and have a direct impact on the experience of young people, keeping them in the game for longer. Great coaches develop more than sporting skills. Their dedication goes beyond the field, fostering a positive environment where participants of all ages can develop skills, confidence, and lifelong friendship,” he says. 

A campaign called ‘Everyday Heroes’ launches today to highlight the contribution of sports coaches and how important they are to the health and wellbeing of young people. It invites athletes and players to send a thank you to their coach for a great season.  

Andrew Gaze, CEO of Coach For Life, a charitable foundation committed to supporting and inspiring youth sport coaches in New Zealand, believes in a universal coaching philosophy that prioritises the personal growth and enjoyment of each athlete and team.    

“New Zealand tamariki and rangatahi benefit from the countless hours of time coaches put into coaching, mentoring and supporting our young people in more ways than just teaching sporting skills,” says Andrew Gaze.   

“The value of a coach goes beyond the field. Their impact is felt far beyond the sport they coach, creating a ripple effect that strengthens community and encourages healthy, active lifestyles.”  

The idea behind the campaign is simple, says Andy Rogers. Coaches are everyday heroes who hide in plain sight. 

“Putting your hand up to be a coach is a big commitment. We wanted to do something to make sure coaches felt recognised, and also to inspire others to step up as a coach because it can directly impact a young person in so many important ways.” 

The campaign showcases that many different kinds of people become coaches, and features three real coaches. It is scheduled to run for four weeks from today to align with the end of the winter sport season and tournament week for many young people.    

“This is a perfect time to recognise coaches and say thanks to them for everything they do,” says Andy Rogers.  

Players and teams can say thanks to their coach by visiting thankscoach.co.nz to send their own personalised e-card or video message.   

ENDS  

Notes for editor  

About Coach For Life  

The Coach For Life Foundation was established with a clear objective of growing the quality of youth sport coaches in New Zealand based on a concern that too many of our youth are dropping out of sport and as a result missing out on the benefits a quality sporting experience can bring.   

The Foundation believes that there is only one universal coaching philosophy - one that prioritises the personal development and enjoyment of every athlete and team.  It has developed inspirational digital resources – long form documentaries and short advice videos – for coaches. 

This includes four coach celebration documentaries profiling some of New Zealand’s special sports coaches - Shane McLeod (Hockey), Yvette McCausland-Durie (Netball), Tony O’Connor (Rowing) and Don Tricker (Softball).      

All of this content sits on the Coach For Life Coaching Hub and is free to every sports coach in NZ.     

About Balance is Better – Sport NZ’s approach to youth sport  

Balance is Better is all about a balanced approach to sport. It’s an approach that provides young people with quality sport opportunities and experiences to help them be happier, healthier, and supported to optimise their potential in sport and life.  

This means a better balance between:  

• Winning and pressure to perform …. with getting an opportunity, getting better and enjoying sport.  
• Adult expectations…. with meeting the motivations of all young people.   
• Single sport focus …. with other sport and life commitments.  

A balanced approach to sport can be achieved by focusing on the people who make sport happen, the programmes that provide opportunities for young people, and the environments where they train, practice, play and compete. The outcomes are better coaching of our young people, better design and delivery of experiences, and better support regardless of ability or motivation, so young people can realise their aspirations in sport and life.  

Read research and case studies on Balance is Better for coaches, parents and administrators on how to create better programmes and environments for youth sport.   

About Sport NZ    

A Crown agency, Sport New Zealand is a kaitiaki of the play, active recreation and sport system in Aotearoa New Zealand. It invests in and partners with organisations which contribute to the wellbeing of New Zealanders by providing quality experiences to be physically active.   

Media Contact  

Jill Dryden  
Acting Group Media Manager  
Jill.Dryden@sportnz.org.nz  
021 549576