COACHING SCHEME

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32589, 24 April 1971, Page 46

COACHING SCHEME

Three-man body fN Z Press Association) ' AUCKLAND. A three-man committee will administer Rugby league's national coaching scheme in place of Mr C. R. Mountford, who retired this month. The chairman of the committee is Mr K. English, and serving with him, Messrs W. O’Callaghan and I. Newton. All are graded coaches. The New Zealand Rugby league's chairman (Mr R. McGregor) said the committee would have two main duties: to administer the scheme and supervise the activities of the regional directors and administrator; and to provide help to leagues from a panel of qualified coaches. The coaching scheme, sponsored by Rothmans, has been in operation for nine years. Mr Mountford ran clinics in all league districts, plus in a few where the game was not played, and coached on the basics erf the game. Each district now has a coaching administrator and a director. “Over the last three or four years, the accent has been on each league becoming stronger and running its own scheme,” said Mr McGregor. The extra help provided by the committee is a continuation of the specialised coaching begun in Auckland last year. The council is confident that the scheme will continue to prosper and that the appointment of the committee is a normal development.