Two BOP Coaches selected for Sport NZ Performance Coach Advance

Bay of Plenty performance squash coaches Kylie Lindsay and Jared Gravatt have both been selected to be part of this years’ Sport NZ Performance Coach Advance (PCA) programme.

Introduced by Sport NZ in 2014, PCA aims to improve the quality of coaching provided to pre-elite emerging athletes across all sports. Out of 135 nominations, 102 coaches were selected from 23 different sports following an application and interview process.

PCA offers a unique professional development opportunity for Kylie and Jared. Throughout the next 12 months they will learn more in topics ranging from athlete development, coach self-development, the coaching process and insights into high performance. An action learning approach is taken whereby Kylie and Jared will take part in interactive workshops, mentoring, on-court feedback for coaches and the opportunity to observe high performance and other environments.

Since retiring from playing, Kylie has taken on the role of Development Coordinator at Devoy Squash & Fitness Centre. In this role Kylie plans, coordinates and coaches on all the programmes at the club – catering from juniors to seniors and beginners to top players, as well as offering individual lessons. She is also the head coach for the BOP Elite Junior Girls squad and is an assistant on the National Junior Development Squad.

Kylie is looking forward to the PCA programme because “I want to keep learning and developing as a coach. I have a lot of knowledge when it comes to squash after playing the sport for over 25 years but I still feel like I have a lot more to learn when it comes to coaching”, she said.

Jared has been coaching squash professionally since 2010 in Northland where he was responsible for coaching a wide range of programmes and abilities. Most recently Jared has moved to Whakatane where he has taken up the role of coach / manager at the Whakatane Squash Club, where he also works with a number of players in the Eastern Bay.

Jared in looking forward to the PCA programme because “I believe the PCA programme will enhance my skills and attributes allowing me to continue making a valuable contribution to squash and the players I coach. I’m passionate about learning and becoming the best coach I can be.”

Kylie and Jared join fellow squash PCA alumni Robbie Wyatt (BOP), Jo Williams (WAI) and Mike Allred (CAN) who all took part in 2014; and Graeme Randolph (BOP) who took part in 2015.

The PCA programme will run until the end of March 2017. For more information on PCA click here.