Bouzaid Tours NZ

High Performance Development Coach, Donna Bouzaid, spent the last seven weeks travelling around New Zealand visiting 32 swimming programmes that have qualified for the SNZ development programme.

Donna travelled from Auckland to Invercargill visiting 78 swimmers (aged 18 and under) who posted qualification times at the 2013 National Age Group Championships in March.

Donna spent time with the swimmers and their coaches assessing their overall programme including their season plans, and dry land programmes. Together, Donna and the coaches clearly identified the support they would like from SNZ going forward. This included providing coaches with opportunities to attend SNZ High Performance development camps as observers, and annually up skilling coaches nationally through a programme that is currently being developed.

People were positive about the changes and Donna is looking forward to bringing everybody together to work cohesively and help each other out. Her goal for the development programme is to produce a great environment that everyone contributes to and feels welcome in.

One of the key factors affecting the development of swimmers at the moment is the lack of pool space. 85% of programmes are trying to produce high performance swimmers in minimal pool space. Swimming New Zealand will develop a strategic facilities plan focusing on how these programmes can be best supported.

The long term athlete development guidelines will be released shortly and presented to regions, coaches, and clubs throughout New Zealand. The selection criteria for being a part of the development programme, as well as the national development calendar, will also be released in the coming weeks. 

Donna was impressed with the emerging talent around the country and is looking forward to nurturing that talent towards medals on the world stage.