What is it:
Coach Developers are the people who deliver coaching courses, facilitate learning, provide mentoring, complete coach observations and generally “coach the coaches”.
Coach Developers play a crucial role in the initial formal training of coaches as well as in the way coaches are developed, supported and nurtured on the job.
‘The best coach developers are experts in learning, they role model best practice, portraying a growth mind set, critical reflective skills and a hunger for personal improvement. They are able to help coaches to become ‘learning coaches’ by teaching them how to learn and reflect’.
Why do we need Coach Developers?
If your club or association is like many others in New Zealand, you probably have at least some of the following issues:
- Trouble finding enough coaches each season
- Coaches don’t last long enough, turnover is high
- There are too few new coaches coming through to higher levels
- It’s hard to get people to do coaching courses
- At the junior level, many coaches are well-meaning parents who do their best but may lack relevant knowledge or experience
- Coaches tend use methods from when they were playing, and today’s kids don’t necessarily respond well to that approach.
These issues are not new, but changes in society mean that they are becoming more and more of a challenge. Research tells us that the best results for coach development are likely to come from ‘experiential’ on-the-job learning. Coaches will generally get better at their role over time as they learn for themselves through trial and error. But they will improve more and faster with support. This is where the Coach Developer can help.
How do I become one?
To become a Basketball New Zealand Coach Developer:
Be nominated by your association.
Have appropriate basketball knowledge, skill and experience to be able to deliver basketball specific courses.
Be a registered basketball coach.
Hold a minimum Kiwi Hoops coaching qualification.
Have a genuine interest in developing coaches.
Hold experience of presenting information to groups (e.g. teaching or coaching)
Have a growth mindset, adaptable to change, welcome feedback and willing to self-reflect to facilitate development.
Understanding of the art of coaching and Balance is Better principles.
Have time to commit to developing coaches in your community.
Should your nomination be accepted then you will be invited to attend a 2-3 day Coach Developer residential. These are competency based and successful accreditation should not be expected at the end of the residential alone. Some live delivery and/or co-delivery will be expected.
Once a Trainer confirms that you have satisfied all of the competencies then you will become a Basketball New Zealand Coach Developer.
| Mindset and Attitudes (must have) | Experience (should have) | Skills (desirable) | Knowledge (desirable) |
| ➤ A growth mindset
➤ A passion for and a belief in the power of coaching ➤ Desire to help coaches become the best they can be ➤ A willingness to engage in honest self- reflection and a hunger for personal growth and development |
➤ Significant and successful coaching experience in one or more coaching contexts. | ➤ Excellent how-to-coach skills (eg how to observe, provide feedback)
➤ Good questioning, listening, reviewing and feedback skills ➤ Sound planning, monitoring and evaluation skills |
➤ Professional knowledge (learning, teaching and competence-based assessment)
➤Content knowledge in area win which they will teach (eg sport’s techniques and tactics, coaching, coaching methodology, sport science, sports medicine, talent development, coaching children, disability sport) ➤ Interpersonal knowledge (eg relationships, the social context) ➤ Intrapersonal knowledge (eg lifelong learning) |
Note: Any Basketball New Zealand coaching course run by a BBNZ Coach Developer needs to be uploaded onto https://sporttutor.nz/bbnz
More information to come shortly. Including a list of current Coach Developers.
