Coach Accelerator Programme 2010

SPARC Media Release

Steps taken to grow our own high-flying coaches

2 Dec 2009

SPARC, the New Zealand Academy of Sport and New Zealand sports organisations are working together to develop our own world class coaches.

Two cricket coaches are among a group of six who have been selected for the second intake of the intensive Coach Accelerator development programme, which is 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).


Read the biographies of the coaches selected for the Coach Accelerator development programme.

For further information, please contact Sue Eden, Senior Communications Adviser at SPARC, by emailing sue.eden@sparc.org.nz or by calling 04 472 8058 ext 3090 or 021 490 797.