Coaching

Great coaching underpins great rowing. At Rowing New Zealand, we recognise the essential role coaches play in creating safe, rewarding, and high-quality experiences for athletes.

Our coaching education programme provides support at every stage—beginners, school, club, university, and masters. Whether you are beginning your coaching journey or building on existing experience, you’ll find opportunities to develop your skills, broaden your knowledge, and connect with the wider coaching network.

This page outlines available courses, explains the coaching pathway, and links to additional resources to support your development.

Coaching Strategy

Coach Education

Rowing New Zealand is committed to providing all athletes and participants an enjoyable, safe and rewarding time in our sport. It is our job to ensure coaches are well equipped and well supported in this endeavour. Coach development is an ongoing experience and is achieved in many different ways. Our Coach Development Framework aims to encourage all coaches to continue learning, with Rowing NZ recognising all learning as valuable.

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Safety

Rowing New Zealand recommends all coaches are across the different areas of safety to ensure a positive experience for themselves and their rowers.

Resources including safety posters are at the bottom of this page

Safety includes:

Beginner Boating – Coastguard
Safety Boat Operator Courses
Child Protection

Click for more details

Beginning Boating
Beginning Boating | Coastguard Boating Education

This free online short course is delivered by Coastguard NZ and provides the essential knowledge when going out on the water and operating a motorboat. These basics will help you with the basic skills to get started in boat driving.

Safety Boat Operator Course

This course has previously been delivered by Coastguard and still can be if you wish. Rowing NZ is currently working to establish a rowing specific course which we can deliver. Keep an eye out for updates and if you are interested in more information, please email GM Sport Development

Child Protection
Child protection and safeguarding education | Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui

Child safeguarding means the actions we take to prevent harm to children and young people and promotes their overall wellbeing. Child protection is how we respond to children and young people who are or may be being harmed or abused. This free online course is designed to help you create a safe an enjoyable space for children to participate in sport

As part of the Coach Development Framework, coaches need to complete all three areas to achieve L1, New Coach Award, L2 Development Coach Award and L3 Coach Leadership Award.

The safety modules only need to be completed once.

Level 1 – New Coach Award

The Level 1 - New Coach Award is aimed at assisting those new to coaching to assist and develop different strategies and ideas, to collaborate with other coaches who are in a similar situation to them and gather a few basic skills to set up the social, physical and safety aspects of coaching rowing.

New Coach Award includes:

Introduction Module
Safety Courses

Click for more details

What is the Level 1 - New Coach Award?

The RNZ coaching framework does not require coaches to complete one course before doing another. You can enter at the level that best suits your stage of coaching. The Level 1 - New Coach Award is aimed at assisting those new to coaching to assist and develop different strategies and ideas, to collaborate with other coaches who are in a similar situation to them and gather a few basic skills to set up the social, physical and safety aspects of coaching rowing.

Who is it for?

The L1 - New Coach Award is aimed at coaches who are in their first two years of coaching. It is suitable for those who are just starting out or those who have completed a season or two and want a few different skills and information to support their on-the-job coaching.

What is required?

To complete Level 1, coaches are required to complete:

Introduction Module (outlined below)
Safety courses
- Child protection and safeguarding Click here for details
- Safety boat operator (See safety section on this page)

Introduction Module:

The Introduction to Coaching Rowing workshop is a six-hour course in total to

assist those who are new to coaching rowing with the basics to getting started as a coach.

Topics covered in the Introduction Module are:

What is coaching
Knowing your athletes
Safety
Planning and Reflection
Technique
Rigging basics

This course covers each topic area at an appropriate level for new coaches. However, the extension opportunities are there to assist these coaches in developing their knowledge deeper in relation to working with young rowers.

Cost: $40

Delivery approach

Rowing NZ delivers the introduction module online or in person. The online modules will run for two hours one evening a week for three weeks. The in-person module is the same content delivered over one day. At times coach developers may opt for a hybrid version where part of the course is delivered via Zoom and the other part in person. Check which one is being delivered when registering on the Rowing NZ Calendar.

New Coach Award: Once you have completed all Safety modules, and Introduction to Coaching Rowing module, you will achieve the Level 1 - New Coach Award.

Level 2 – Development Coach Award

The Level 2 - Development Coach Award is aimed at assisting those who have coached for a few seasons and are working with rowers who are not novices.

Development Coach Award includes:

Development Module
Safety courses

Click for more details

What is the Level 2 - Development Coach Award?

The RNZ coaching framework does not require coaches to complete one course before doing another. You can enter at the level that best suits your stage of coaching. The Level 2 - Development Coach Award is aimed at assisting those who have coached for a few seasons and are working with rowers who are not novices.

Who is it for?

The L2 - Development Coach Award is aimed at coaches who have coached for at least two seasons and are working with rowers who are U16 through to club.

What is required?

To complete Level 2, coaches are required to complete:

Development Module (outlined below)
Safety courses (these only need to be completed once)
Child protection and safeguarding Click here for details
Safety boat operator (see Safety on this page)

Development Module (Delivered regionally):

The Development Coach Module is an 8-hour looking specifically at components around providing for a development rower.

Coaches working with development athletes are expected to have completed the Safety modules and will need these certificates to gain their Level 2 - Development Coach Award. There are no pre-requisites for this module, but it is beneficial if coaches have a form of prior learning and coaching experience.

The course will cover six main topic areas:

Coaching Philosophy
Understanding athlete needs
Planning and Programming
Technique
Communication
Boat Set Up

Cost: $90

Delivery approach

Rowing NZ delivers the Development module online or in person. The online modules will run for two hours one evening a week for four weeks. The in-person module is the same content delivered over one day. At times coach developers may opt for a hybrid version where part of the course is delivered via Zoom and the other part in person. Check which one is being delivered when registering on the Rowing NZ Calander.

Development Coach Award

Once you have completed all Safety requirements and completed the Development Module you will achieve your Level 2 - Development Coach Award.

Level 3 – Leadership Coach Award

The Level 3 - Coach Leadership Award is for coaches who are currently head coaches of rowing programmes.

Leadership Coach Award includes:

Residential workshops
Online connections
Mentorship

Click for more details

*Next intake 2027 TBC*

What is the Level 3 Coach Leadership Award?

RNZ have identified a need to support coached in leadership position and the different skillsets required. With support from Sport NZ, we are able to offer a Level 3 Award aimed at supporting head coaches of schools and clubs. Level 3 is a leadership award which runs for 6 months and includes in person residential workshops, online connections and a mentor for the coach to help with their development and ability to lead a rowing programme.

Who is it for?

The Level 3 - Coach Leadership Award is for coaches who are currently head coaches of rowing programmes. Any head coach of a club or school can apply no matter how long you have been in the role. While our priority at the moment is current head coaches, in time we hope to expand this programme to include those who aspire to be head coaches, so they arrive in the role with skillsets already in place.

What can I expect on the programme?

Connection, collaboration and knowledge sharing with coaches from other programmes
Observations of yourself and others on water and in your coaching environment.
To provide input to the direction and content delivery of the programme so it meets the groups needs.
Action learning methods where you will reflect on yourself, plan, do and review changes

Cost: $500

Applications for 2026 - closed

For more information contact coachdevelopment@rowingnz.kiwi

Information booklet here: Information booklet for participants

Coaching Pathway

Coaching at the Performance level takes time, patience, and a clear understanding of the standards required. Every journey is different — shaped by a coach’s experience, strengths, and readiness at the time of selection. There is no one pathway to success, and not all coaching journeys will look the same.

We value all coaches and the impact they have on a rower’s development — from grassroots to elite. The key is understanding where you can have the greatest influence. Our goal is to ensure New Zealand rowers are led by capable, knowledgeable coaches who understand what it takes to succeed on the world stage — and that starts with strong coaching at every level.

Coaching Team Information 2027

For information about coaching NZ age group teams, job descriptions and the coach selection process and policies please go to the High-Performance section on the website or click here Coaches & Managers - Rowing New Zealand

Coaching Picture of Performance

Coach Selection Guidelines