High-Quality Coaching: The New Zealand Way

New Zealand Football has implemented a quality coach education programme designed to be the equal of anything worldwide. Qualifications will be recognised internationally and relate to other courses and content offered by other associations.

In line with the recommendations laid out in the Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) Coaching Strategy (2004), and the findings of research conducted in 2005 and 2006, New Zealand Football has shifted the traditional coach education ‘goal posts’, adopting a new and exciting approach for developing coaches at all levels in the game.  

 This new approach is founded on the following principles:

• Appropriate for New Zealand - reflective of New Zealand’s unique culture and football environment.

• Flexible - providing coaches with more choice and a higher degree of ownership in selecting and following their own development pathway.

• Player centred – based on the needs of the players and designed to meet the age-related development needs of players throughout the game.

• Applicable and practical - ‘on-the job learning’ experiences (creating and recognizing learning experiences in the coaching environment).

• Life long learning - promoting continued personal development and self-responsibility for learning.

The new approach will provide a smorgasbord of learning opportunities that allow coaches to identify and access personal development that corresponds with the players they are coaching and their specific developmental needs.