Softball, High Performance and the women’s programme Megan Harlick High Performance Manager

Overview Talk about High Performance Overview of the strategic direction of the HP programme Key principles of any HP programme The future direction of women’s softball in NZ opportunities

What is High Performance? Performing and achieving consistently at the highest level of the game. Talent development is required to ensure that high performance can be achieved. Excellence is about raising the bar and being better than before and better than the competition. It is about our thoughts, actions and behaviours. It is everything we do in our preparation to train and compete. It is about having the best coaches, managers, players and administrators in the game. It is about being professional, always.

Why are we here? To create a development, preparation and competition environment that will allow us to be a leading softball nation. Our Stakeholders: The Players. The Softball Community. SPARC of Sport. Softball New Zealand Inc. Softball Sponsors. NZOC Where are we going? To be a leading sport on and off the diamond through having world class players in every position, being coached by world class coaches, resulting in peak performances at key events in 2010 and beyond. What do we want to be known for? People: achieving to their full potential in their chosen field. Performance: producing peak performance at events that matter to New Zealanders. What do we believe in? Continual Improvement Performance Focused Coach Driven, Athlete Centered Enjoyment SOFTBALL NEW ZEALAND’S HIGH PERFORMANCE STRATEGIC OVERVIEW The people in the High Performance Programme are committed to a clear and focussed strategy over the next 4 years to achieve our vision. The people and a performance focus are critical to this success and will be the filter for our decision making and actions going forward.

High Performance Programme 4 objectives  World class players in all positions  World Class coaches for national squads with a managed succession plan to identify and develop potential national coaches  Performance culture based on Excellence in everything that is done and recognised by Softball New Zealand’s peers as being innovative and performance focused;  Peak Performance at key events

Key principles of a HP system Performance Focussed  Invest in athletes committed to performance excellence Transparent  Transparent criteria Strategic  Shared visions, role clarity

Key principles of a HP system Solution focussed Innovative  Sharing of knowledge and expertise Quick and Nimble  Flexible and responsive to changes  Strives for continuous improvement Accountability  Accountable for outcomes

Women’s programme: and beyond Acknowledge where we have come from  2006 World Series (2007 JWS World Series)  2007 Olympic Qualifying Series and it’s implications Trend towards high performance through  Vision  To be the best Women’s Softball Team in the world and create quality opportunities to develop leadership skills in our women.  Values  Winning attitude, honesty, integrity, trust, excellence in everything we do, support, openness, x-factor  Principles

Women’s programme Trend to HP through Principles  Performance Focused and Transparent  Clear selection criteria  Investing in those athletes prepared to put the work in  Strategic  Clear vision providing direction  Pathways between JWS and WS programmes  Innovative  Mentoring of managers  Open door policy to coaches to attend WS camps etc  Collaborative use of technology to enhance programme

Women’s programme  Innovative cont  Identifying opportunities to information share outside of Softball  Quick and Nimble  Programme designed to maximise opportunities  Constant learning's from game leaders e.g., Japanese fielding styles  Accountable  Set standards and report on them  Identify key events and responsible for results

Building to 2010 and beyond years to next world series Continue to build a programme based around core values Exposure to international competition through smart thinking 6 year plan to achieve overall vision Linking in of Junior White Sox to ensure smooth transitions