SPARC Finalises Contracts

SPARC Finalises Contracts with New Zealand Academy of Sport North Island and South Island

Sport & Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) today announced that it has signed contracts with New Zealand Academy of Sport – North Island and New Zealand Academy of Sport – South Island as suppliers of high performance athlete and coach support services for the North and South Islands, respectively.

The decision to move from three to two NZAS regional operations was announced in August 2006 as part of SPARC’s High Performance Strategy 2006-2012.

“One of SPARC’s and the academies’ primary goals is to deliver the best service possible for New Zealand’s emerging and existing elite athletes, thereby giving them the greatest opportunity to excel,” said SPARC General Manager Sector Development, Peter Miskimmin.

“A two-region system of dedicated service providers will help SPARC achieve its objective of nationally driven, regionally delivered high performance services throughout New Zealand.”

New Zealand Academy of Sport – North Island Chief Executive Officer Pete Pfitzinger said his organisation has already secured the services of a number of staff members and service providers from NZAS Central in Wellington to help ensure that Wellington area athletes’ and coaches’ needs continue to be met under the new structure. NZAS North Island has also hired former Wellington Lions Assistant Coach Chris Boyd as Coaching Services Consultant.

“Our top priorities are to make sure we have the people and resources in place to support athletes and coaches throughout the North Island, with a particular emphasis on Wellington and the other major centres that were formerly serviced by NZAS Central,” said Pfitzinger.

Miskimmin also confirmed that the North Island Academy will continue the talent identification and talent development work that was initiated by NZAS Central in the past 12 months.

“The Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by Sir Ron Scott, concluded in its 2004 report Linking Promise to the Podium that there was no national approach to talent development or talent identification,” said Miskimmin. “Following the recommendations of the taskforce, SPARC has developed a five-step talent pathway which covers all areas of SPARC’s work from early childhood through to elite. This ‘one-system’ approach has the overwhelming support of National Sporting Organisations throughout the country.”

SPARC recently filled a new position, Performance Consultant, Talent Development, to drive the implementation of a national talent development model.

“We want to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the entire staff of the Central Academy for all of their work with carded athletes and coaches during the past six years, and for undertaking the initial stages of talent identification and talent development work,” added Miskimmin. “We’ve assured them that their work will be carried on through Academy North Island.”

The new contracts come into effect on 1 July, 2007.

ENDS

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