Friday 18 May

Leading International Coaches In Wellington

What does an English Football Association coach have in common with a world renowned speaker on youth and sports? They're both speaking at SPARC's (Sport & Recreation New Zealand) inaugural coaches' convention this month.

With the FA Cup happening this weekend, national player development coach for the English Football Association and national under-16 coach, John Allpress will be one of many international and local coaches sharing experiences and insight at the event.

Former NBA star, author and renowned international speaker Bob Bigelow will also speak at the event, spreading his message about youth and sports.

"My mission for the past 15 years has been to eliminate the adult ego from youth sport. The number one problem in organised youth sport is adults who want to compete through children," says Bigelow.

SPARC's General Manager, Sector Development, Peter Miskimmin, is excited about the coaches' convention as it will benefit the future of New Zealand sport.

"As a small nation we have to work together from grass roots to elite level, as well as across all the sporting codes, to gain benefits from collaboration and succeed on the international stage.

"This convention will celebrate and acknowledge the work of all those coaches behind the scenes – and they in turn, will hear from, and talk to, those at the top of their game," says Miskimmin.

Other speakers include current All Blacks coach, Graham Henry and assistant coaches, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, SPARC's Performance Consultant for Coaching and former Black Sox coach, Don Tricker, SPARC Pathway's Manager and ex New Zealand cricketer, John Reid, Director of Player Development at Tennis Australia, Craig Tiley, and internationally renowned coach, author and lecturer, Rod Thorpe.

For more information about the SPARC 2007 Connecting Coaches Convention (May 25-27) please contact:

ENDS

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