Exciting News! 

We’re thrilled to announce the 2024 Touch NZ Emerging People Programme is open for registrations! 

All people/players attending will get development opportunities, including fundamental skills, game structures, and other key components of a touch pathways/performance, athlete/participant.

In the spirit of continuous improvement, and based on participant feedback, this year’s camps have been extended to 2 days to provide all participants a more comprehensive development opportunity. You may also note the small change in title from player to people. This is to better reflect the development opportunities are open to referees, coaches, coach developers and managers from each region.

“We have so much talent and love for the game in the rangatahi space. We are aiming for a development approach and instilling a ‘love for the game’ journey. Providing development opportunities and positive experiences for our rangatahi, coaches, referees, and management is important. Using the strengths of the regions to expand the framework is a positive step in the right direction.” - George Jahnke, Touch NZ Community Coaching Manager

He tangata he tangata, he tangata!

This programme is all about developing PEOPLE.  Collaborating and bringing provinces together to network, and develop as a whole.  Learn from each other - grow and develop together, and understand what it takes to get to the next level - or what is expected once you get there. Filling our Kite with tools to help our community grow and develop as a whole.

The Emerging ‘People’ Programme is intended to be a U16 programme for Players, Coaches, Referees and Managers in the current NZSS and Youth Age Groups. The intention is that Players, Coaches, Managers and Referees will be a part of their own individual programme within the EPP, to enhance their knowledge around the game of Touch. We will draw from Experienced Coaches, Managers and Referees to filter down their knowledge to participants, focused on the transition from Grassroots to Provincial to National High Performance and Talent Identification.

In 2024, the Emerging People Programme will expand to our four regions, ensuring easy access for all participants. Affordable and inclusive, the programme fosters nationwide connectivity and collaboration, enabling the sharing of knowledge across all of New Zealand.

PLAYERS

Players will recieve Coaching from each regions most experienced coaches.  With support from HP staff, we will deliver workshops on fitness, Nutrition, required skill sets, terminology and Leadership. Each player will be in a team environment, they will train alongside athletes from all over the region and learn how to implement a game plan focused on Fundamental skill development and structured game plans.  This will culminate in a Tournament against other players/teams.

REFEREES

Each Region will plan and execute a referee programme as part of the EPP.  This could include a Foundation or Development Referee course depending on the requirements of the referees attending and the individual region.   Regional and Provincial Referee directors will coordinate a programme that will help support the growth of referees and again they will get a chance to implement the skills they have learnt by refereeing the EPP Tournament on Day two..

COACHES

Coaches will be selected through a provincial nomination and from within the community coaching pathway.  All coaches must be endorsed by their province to attend.
Provincial and HP Coaches will attend as Coach Developers, Lead Coaches and Support Coaches depending on their level of experience.  They will work alongside Regional Development Managers and Community Coaching Managers to develop a programme suitable for EPP.  All coaches will be a part of developing a plan, and executing this over the weekend.  

MANAGERS

As with Coaches, Managers will also be nominated and endorsed by their Province to attend.  They may have a varying level of experience and will support the players and coaches across the day. They will work alongside an experienced Manager who will support them to understand the requirements of a Manager at a High Performance Level.

If you have any questions, please reach out and send us an email