A coach development challenge in Gisborne has created a valuable opportunity for coaches across the region to build their skills and qualifications closer to home.

The opportunity began with Gisborne Trampoline Club, following changes within its coaching team. The club wanted to support its coaches and ensure health and safety continued to be well managed, but accessing coach education from Gisborne can bring the added challenge of travel, accommodation, and time away.

The club shared the challenge with Gymnastics NZ, and an opportunity emerged from their relationship manager to deliver the foundation coach practical in Gisborne alongside a scheduled visit. The opportunity was then shared with other clubs in the area, with coaches from Gisborne Gymnastics and Omni Gymnastics joining Gisborne Trampoline for the course.

For Gisborne Gymnastics, the timing was particularly valuable. Feedback from its community through the Voice of Participant survey had identified quality of coaches as the club’s number one area for improvement, so the club jumped at the opportunity to further develop its coaching team.

Gisborne Gymnastics Centre Manager said access to training in Gisborne removed a significant barrier for the club.

“Living in Gisborne, our biggest barrier to getting coaches qualified with GNZ is our isolation. The cost of fuel and accommodation to travel elsewhere is a major hurdle that many regional clubs face.”

Seventeen Gisborne Gymnastics coaches completed the foundation coach practical. The club now has 23 staff who have completed foundation coach principles and practical requirements, with six qualified at elementary coach level or higher.

For new coach Amanda Walters, completing the course in her own club environment helped connect the learning directly with her coaching.

“I found working in our own environment was very helpful as we did the course. I could envision exactly how I could put what we were learning into practice.”

The opportunity has also helped Gisborne Gymnastics prepare for changes within its coaching team. With three coaches due to leave Gisborne for university or overseas opportunities, three new coaches are now ready for the start of 2027, having completed foundation coach and first aid qualifications through this development work.

For the wider gymnastics community in the region, it means more coaches building their knowledge, confidence and capability, providing more support for the participants and families they work with each week.

It’s also a great example of the value of sharing challenges within our gymnastics community. What began as a need raised by Gisborne Trampoline created an opportunity for Gymnastics NZ to find a practical solution, with coaches from other clubs able to benefit too.