EP5: Chronicles of a Coach - Keenan Ruru-Poharama, Adrian Sparks and Adam Tapsell

Welcome to a new segment of The Sideline Yak . . . Chronicles of a Coach! 

We wanted to test something out a little bit different this time . . . we were curious to know what would happen if we got three coaches in a room and talked sport – where would it take us, what would be discussed?!?   

I was fortunate enough to sit down with Keenan Ruru-Poharama, Adrian Sparks and Adam Tapsell, three seasoned coaches who volunteer across all areas of basketball – coaching, officiating, governance and playing.  

These three volunteers know their craft, from time with the Rising Suns, coaching age-group levels, officiating, and developing players right here in our own backyard. 

Our kōrero covers team culture, understanding your athlete, how we engage youth, and reflecting on lessons learned all tied together with some great banter. 

I may be biased but this was special! This was another honest and real discussion about what coaches are doing on the ground at a grass roots level right here in Tairāwhiti. My hope is that others get to listen to this, we share it and have these types of conversations to help build a community of best practice. It’s a journey whanau. We don’t expect to get everything right but if we are learning and adapting then great things will happen.  

Whāia te mātauranga hei oranga mō koutou.

Seek after learning for the sake of your wellbeing . . . basically if you follow the path of learning, the world will be your oyster.

We will look to make Chronicles of a Coach a regular episode every three months, but in the meantime please enjoy this episode with Keenan, Sparksy and Adam. Kia ora!