Aktive Coaching & Talent Development 2017

Development
Talent, Leadership, Character (TLC)
TLC is a framework and programme that uses sport to develop strong,
resilient leaders of character that excel in sport, school and life. TLC supports
teachers, coaches, students and whānau to learn about the power of teamwork
and the importance of moral and performance character.
TLC is currently in 9 Auckland
secondary schools. We spoke
with Geoff Moon, Mt Albert
Grammar School’s (MAGS)
Head Rugby Coach & Director
of Sport Academies, on how the
TLC framework has contributed
to the team’s and school’s
sporting success.
How did MAGS’ 1st XV build
a culture that resulted in
becoming 2016 Auckland
and National Champions?
It started initially with a decision
to build our programme from the
ground up. Three years ago we
implemented a plan to develop
our young students and give them
the foundation they required to
become a top level performer.
Last year in association with Andy
Rogers of Aktive – Auckland Sport
& Recreation, Dr Ralph Pim was
brought in to talk to the students
about TLC. Dr Pim is an expert
on culture and team building from
the United States West Point
Military Academy. The process
of MAGS’ [1st XV] developing
an ‘unbreakable culture’ began.
TLC has helped us to understand
that culture produces results –
there’s no other way. When you
get your environment right, your
performance improves, people
grow and people learn. At school
level, the key is to make sure that
the students are in a good culture.
What does success look like
to you?
Success for us is more than the
points on the scoreboard - it
is that when students turn 25,
they’re still playing rugby and
they are good people. It’s too
easy these days to take the easy
option - when school finishes,
so do you and rugby. Our goal is
to have young people, fit, active
and striving to be better than they
were the day before. One of the
key takeaways last year was that
the team is more than the sum of
its parts. MAGS has developed
a mindset that the school values
coaching across all sports and
this has translated into life on
and off the field and specifically
educational achievement in
school.
How do you see Aktive’s
TLC progressing in MAGS
in 2017?
2016 was an exciting year for
sport at MAGS. The growth in the
1st XV last year has motivated us
to do the same with other sports
here at MAGS. The school, led
by our headmaster Pat Drumm,
fully understands the value,
importance and relevance of the
TLC programme with secondary
school age pupils. When
programmes are built on
strong values, and coaches
purposefully teach behaviours
that promote these values,
great things happen. At a
workshop in March, led by
Aktive and Dr Pim, MAGS
senior leadership (sport,
academic, arts & drama)
worked collectively to
develop a schoolwide plan
for TLC; a plan that we
believe will continue to
grow greatness in all
our students.
If you wish to find out more
information on TLC then
please contact:
Simon Kent
Coaching & Talent Development Advisor
Email: simon.kent@aktive.org.nz
Phone: 021 422 083
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