Steps taken to grow our own high-flying coaches
Two of New Zealand's top cricket coaches have been selected for the second intake of the Coach Accelerator programme, which sees
SPARC, the New Zealand Academy of Sport and New Zealand sports organisations working together to develop world class coaches.
White Ferns coach Gary Stead and Northern Knights coach Grant Bradburn are among a group of six coaches from a range of sports who will participate in the initiative, aimed at building on the pool of world class coaching talent in New Zealand.
New Zealand Cricket already has one coach going through the programme so at the end of the process will have several people able to step in to top level New Zealand coaching positions.
The Coach Accelerator Programme is part of the strategy to ensure further New Zealand high performance success.
Geoff Allott, NZC’s General Manager Cricket says New Zealand Cricket sees coach development as an important part of its elite sport strategy.
“There’s real demand worldwide for experienced cricket coaches, and it’s vitally important that we have top class people to work with our leading players,” he said.
“NZC is building a network of coaches throughout the country and we’re delighted to see skilled local coaches coming through and being recognised by SPARC for their potential.”
The six coaches selected for the second intake of the Coach Accelerator Programme are: Grant Bradburn and Gary Stead from cricket, rowing coach Mark Stallard, triathlon’s Tim Brazier, bike coach Justin Grace, and Scott Talbot from swimming.
SPARC High Performance General Manager Martin Toomey says that as with the first intake, these are successful coaches who are already making their mark.
The aim of Coach Accelerator is to provide new skills and challenge them further to ensure they are capable of producing World, Olympic or Paralymic champions,’’ Toomey says.
``Coaching at the top level is a highly demanding role. While sports can look for overseas expertise, we want to grow our own. We need the best of the best coaching our top athletes and teams, and Coach Accelerator will help get them there.
``All the sports these coaches represent have their eyes on the future. I’m absolutely delighted these coaches put their names forward for selection.’’
Toomey says BikeNZ has been thinking ahead with its appointment of Justin Grace as national sprint coach, given proposals to drop some endurance events from the London Olympics. BikeNZ wants to build on its sprint programme to emulate the success it has had with its track endurance programme.
The three-year Coach Accelerator initiative provides financial support and professional development training. Over the three years, the participants receive individually-tailored professional development, attend residential camps, and get sport-specific and generic coach training.
The programme is funded by SPARC and is administered by the New Zealand Academy of Sport.
Earlier this year, SPARC announced the first intake of six coaches. They were: Steve Hansen (rugby), Mike Hesson (cricket), Yvette McCausland-Durie (netball), Tom Willmott (snowboarding), Dave Thompson (rowing) and Dayle Cheatley (bike) are continuing through the programme.
Bios:
Grant Bradburn
Grant played in the New Zealand U19 team for four consecutive years, and was also privileged to be a BLACKCAP, representing New Zealand in test and one day cricket.
He is now thoroughly enjoying the learning opportunities provided by coaching cricket, and giving back to the sport he loves.
Over the past seven years since retiring from first class cricket, Grant has been coaching at high performance level.
He has successfully coached at provincial A level over the past four years and can also claim some international experience – as coach of the Cook Islands team for four years, substantially lifting their game to new levels.
After a successful first season with the Northern Knights first class team, he was recently appointed as head coach for another two years.
Grant says he considers himself to be an extremely passionate coach, one who places high value upon a holistic approach in drawing the very best from athletes that he is involved with.
He says he brings to his coaching a player management system which supports athletes to attain the very best performance levels in their chosen skill sets, through empowerment and education of simple core principles. He is an advocate of players who love process, but also has a full appreciation of the importance of performance.
He considers it a great honour to have the opportunity to enhance his learning through the Coach Accelerator Programme.
Gary Stead
As a cricketer, Gary’s previous playing experience includes five tests for the BLACKCAPS and just over 100 first class and 100 one day matches.
His current coaching role is with the New Zealand national women’s team, the White Ferns.
His previous coaching experience includes: at the New Zealand Cricket Academy, with the Canterbury Magicians (women’s team), and as staff coach for the Canterbury Cricket Association. He has also had overseas stints as a player/coach in Holland, England and Scotland.
The things he likes about coaching include: challenging players to become better, the psychology of coaching -- understanding players and their perspectives -- and working with players who genuinely want to be world class and push themselves.
The 37-year-old is married to Rachel and they have two children Libby (six) and Alex (three).
Gary’s other interests include most sports, such as a game of golf although he doesn’t get to play regularly enough, and he likes spending time with his family.
