Coaches
Prime Minister’s High Performance Coach Scholarships (PMCS)
The New Zealand Academy of Sport (NZAS) offers valuable PMCS’ each year at either $50,000 or “up to $10,000” levels. Scholarships provide high performance coaches with further opportunities to develop the skills and experience necessary to become world class high performance coaches. Applications should be sent to SNZ who then endorse and rank them prior to forwarding to NZAS. Assistance is available from SNZ in preparation and completion of applications. Details of the 2005 programme HERE.
Performance Enhancement Grants for Coaches (CPEGs)
CPEGs up to $20,000 are available to enable coaches of PEGs athletes (see swimmer section) “more time to coach PEGs athletes”. Discussions are currently taking place to ascertain the exact status of swimming coaches on this programme as the NZAS guidelines state, “Many high performance coaches are volunteers and deliver a coaching service around work, personal and family commitments”.
Carded Coaches
SNZ can nominate coaches “who will have an impact on the high performance programme” as “carded coaches” making them eligible for NZAS services, mainly in personal development.
International tour appointments
Personal coaches of swimmers selected for international tours are eligible for appointment to SNZ staff. All costs are covered by SNZ and a daily allowance for incidentals is provided. Clubs of appointed coaches are eligible to apply for funding to subsidise replacement coaches during the appointees absence. Support is also available for coaches attending other designated competitions (e.g. World Cup meets) usually on the basis of the number of squad swimmers taking part.
Personal Coach Support
Personal coaches of swimmers making “Pinnacle event” teams (Olympic or Commonwealth Games, World or Pan-Pacific Championships) are supported where possible and practical to attend preparation and staging camps and competitions alongside official team staff. In some cases this support may total 100% of all costs.
“Supernumerary coaches”
The coaches association, NZSCAT, nominate “supernumerary coaches” to international touring teams who operate alongside the official team staff. Costs of these positions are usually met from NZSCAT funds. For 2006 appropriate competitions are the Trans-Tasman Tri-series (June/July) and the Oceania Championships (July) but other competitions will be considered.
Elite Coaches’ Workshop
Coaches of SNZ Squad-qualified swimmers are invited to at least one full day workshop (sometimes two days) at SNZ’s expense. A range of topics is covered with a variety of speakers appropriate to the topic and coach standard.
NZSCAT Seminar support
SNZ traditionally contributes towards the cost of the annual NZSCAT Seminar to help ensure a high standard of international speaker.
Race Analysis
Race analysis data, including splits, stroke rate (SR), stroke length (SL) turn time, turn index, finish speed and time and comparative world data, is available free of charge to coaches of finalists at each year’s NZ 50m and 25m Championships. This service is supplied by NZAS through SNZ’s service agreement.
Coach Forums
Groups of coaches organising professional development forums and other initiatives (e.g. the South Island Swim Coach Forum) are eligible to apply for funding subsidies towards their operations.
FINA Clinic Funding
SNZ have successfully applied to FINA on behalf of NZSCAT for funding support for their annual Coaches’ Seminar.
Special Initiatives
Coaches creating initiatives seen as valuable to future High Performance and Development results are encouraged to apply for support, either financial or otherwise, towards their projects. In 2004 and 2005 NZ-based altitude training protocols were trialed at Cadrona and Snowfarm ski fields under this scheme.
Coach Education
SNZ operates an in-house education and certification programme including an annual residential “School of Coaching”, bringing together a unique combination of experts in the various aquatic fields. Each certificate level requires Theory, Practical and Performance components and seeks to be world leading in its approach, construct and content. Full details are available HERE.
Results and Performance Awards
Swimmers gaining success at Pinnacle events are eligible for financial awards as detailed in the SWIMMERS section of this page. Coaches of swimmers gaining international success are recognized at 50% of the swimmer award rate for finals’ results and World or Commonwealth records (not NZ records) as shown below:
