Hockey New Zealand in partnership with the Regional Sporting Trusts and Local Hockey Associations currently support 15 Regional Developement Managers (RDM) / CoachForce Hockey Officers throughout the country.
The primary roles of the RDM positions is to support the implimentation of the Hockey New Zealand Coaching Plan and to assist their Associations with the development of robust coaching structures in order to promote coaching within the wider hockey community. Regional Development Managers are a key link between Hockey NZ and Associaitons.
While the RDM specifics vary from region to region, they are always someone to go to with any hockey questions you may have.
From the far north to the deep south there is someone you can contact to help you out with your hockey.
AUCKLAND - To be advised (RDM)
BAY OF PLENTY / TAURANGA - To be advised (Coach Forrce)
CANTERBURY - Chris Leslie (CoachForce)
coachforce@hockeycanterbury.co.nz
Chris’ involvement with hockey has been ongoing for most of his life. As a player he represented five
provinces and progressed from the Hatch Cup through to representing New Zealand for six years. Coaching has
always been a passion and he has experienced success with the Wellington and Central teams in the New
Zealand Hockey League. Chris currently is the coach of the Pica Print Canterbury Cats. He has been
involved with the Black Sticks Women’s team for the past ten years, mainly as the assistance coach. He
considers himself very fortunate to have experienced the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.
COUNTIES MANUKAU - To be advised (RDM)
HAWKES BAY - To be advised (RDM)
MANAWATU - Greg Clark
coaching@hockeymanawatu.co.nz
Greg’s involvement with hockey has been ongoing for most of his life. As a player he represented both Canterbury and Wellington from the Hatch Cup through to representing New Zealand. For the past six years Greg has been involved in a development role with the Canterbury Hockey Association and brings a wealth of experience to the role in Palmerston North.
Recently Greg has been appointed to the Head Coach position with the Central Mavericks NHL team for the 2010 season and is looking forward to working with the players from the Central region.
NORTH HARBOUR - Dave Kosoof (CoachForce)
DaveK@harbourhockey.org.nz
Dave Kosoof is one of our North Harbour “Home Grown”. Dave has been involved with the association for over 20 years now and has been involved in all 4 of the associations Challenge Shield victories. Dave became North Harbour 1st Home Grown Black Stick in the year 2000 and went on to represent NZ in 149 test matches. This included 2 Olympic Games, 1 World Cup and 1 Commonwealth Games Silver Medal. Dave has coached through school level, representative level and national level and has now taken on the Coach Force and Regional Development officer role for North Harbour Hockey. Thoroughly enjoying the role at North Harbour Hockey, his goal is to produce more “Home Grown” North Harbour Black Sticks.
NORTH HARBOUR - To be advised (RDM)
NORTHLAND - Bevan Gibbs (CoachForce)
rdm@northlandhockey.org.nz
Bevan has been in his role for 6 years with the aims of improving Hockey Northland’s coaches and players, promoting hockey, and helping players achieve their goal of representing New Zealand. Bevan has represented Northland through the age groups from U11’s – NHL. He played 130 games over 15 years for the Northland senior men’s side and was a member of the 1996 challenge shield winning side. He played 4 tests for New Zealand in 2000.
OTAGO - Mark Smithells (CoachForce)
msmithells@sportotago.co.nz
Mark's position covers the entire province including the Central, North and South Otago regions as well as Dunedin. Mark's key roles include visiting schools to upskill teachers, running coaching courses, overseeing the selection process for representative teams and acting as their support coach, providing resources and being a conduit for information throughout the province. Mark also delivers clinics on behalf of Hockey New Zealand, trains elite players, and helps identify talent at school and representative tournaments on their behalf.
SOUTH CANTERBURY - To be advised (RDM)
SOUTHLAND - Hayley Munro (RDM)
info@hockeysouthland.co.nz
Hayley Munro has been in her role for almost 3 years. Her aims are to develop the skills of the current players and to increase the number of children playing hockey in Southland. Hayley has played for Southland Rep teams beginning at Collier and more recently for Southland Women and Southern U21 teams. She coached the Festival Girls team in 2008 and 2009, Southland U16 girls in 2009, and in 2010 Hayley is coaching Southland Girls High School 1st X1.
TASMAN - Craig Brett (CoachForce)
hockey@nel.sporttasman.org.nz
Craig’s position as Tasman Coach Force officer covers the area of Buller, Nelson, Marlbourgh and Kaikora. Craig’s hockey career has spanned over 40 years and he has been heavily involved in playing, coaching and the administration side of hockey throughout this time. Craig has played over 300 representative games for the Nelson men’s side, before moving onto play masters for the Nelson 40’s team, Craig has been in the New Zealand 40’s men’s team since 2003.
WAIKATO - Jack Clayton (SportsForce)
jackc@sportsforce.org.nz
Jack has been involved in Hockey since 1973 as a player, coach, manager, selector, committee member and club president. Jack played his first game of premier hockey for Fraser Tech in 1979 while still attending Fraser High School. After joining the Air Force a year later as an apprentice motor mechanic Jack played most of his hockey in North Harbour and Canterbury, and has attended 13 national tournaments as an Air Force hockey player. Jack has represented North Harbour and Waikato as a player at various levels over the years and also played for the New Zealand Combined Services team.
WAIRARAPA - Jesse Workman (RDM)
chicano1310@hotmail.com
WELLINGTON - Niniwa Roberts (CoachForce)
niniwa@wellingtonhockey.org.nz
Niniwa Roberts has over 140 caps playing for the Black Sticks and brings her tremendous passion for the game to her coaching. As a top goal scorer for club and NHL, Nin will certainly give young players a great insight into this and other aspects of their game. Nin first played for Wellington at the age of 17 and has been part this regions NHL team that has taken that title 4 times. Nin has attended the 2004 and 2008 Olympic games, 2002 Commonwealth Games and the 2002 World Cup.
WEST COAST - Jade Blackman (Regional Development Officer)
rdo.hockeywc@gmail.com
Jade was born and bred in Greymouth and has played representative hockey for West Coast from Hatch Cup through to Senior Men. He has coached sport in Scotland, America and Canada and his work experience has involved coaching, planning and implementing various sporting programmes in a number of high profile schools, summer camps and sporting organisations. In 2008 he completed a Diploma in Sport and took up the role as Regional Development Officer in July 2009 with the aim to improve the level of hockey on the West Coast and provide a pathway for players, umpires and coaches to reach the next level. Jade is currently playing in the West Coast Men’s team and will be pushing hard to take out this years Maadi Cup. He has been coaching for 8 years now and can always be found down at the turf. At present Jade coaches the Kowhai Women, Greymouth Primary and Grey High Boys teams.
