Tournament Week from a Coaches/Managers Perspective
Where the air is charged with excitement and opportunity, the high-intensity games push physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual limits to their confines. These tournaments are where you craft unbreakable bonds that extend far beyond the confines of the game. Teams connect with individuals from different year levels, creating a lifeline of support that never fades within their schooling community.
Victory at Tournament isn't just about winning the game; it's about conquering your fears, pushing your boundaries, and discovering your potential. It's about late-night strategy sessions, triumphant celebrations, and stories of resilience that inspire others. This is a space where lives are changed because it's not just a competition; it's a life-altering journey of empowerment, connection and inner work.
1st XI Hockey Boys
Having been on more than 50 tours, specifically in the hockey circles, getting the opportunity to be able to lead a group of young men on their first tournament journey was a great honour. Coaches and managers tend to go into any competitive situation with preconceived ideas and tactics in mind; however, what our other Coach, Antony Bridle, and I experienced this week is not short of courage, character, and Christian values that we could not have scripted even if asked to do so.
From our boy's first game, they were drawn against opposition that played their league matches two grades above what we were used to. This meant that the boys had to play a brand of hockey that was far faster and exceedingly more physical than they were accustomed to. Partnering this with the fact that our team had an average age of around 14 years and all our opponents were more in the middle range of between 17 and 18 years of age, our team knew they would have to treat this as a learning experience. Our team set and achieved small goals that we had targeted for our growth through all six matches. The knowledge gained was invaluable; although we never won, we got the opportunity to play teams that we otherwise would never have come across. This allowed our young men to see what level they need to be at to strive for these heights in the upcoming years.
Having the opportunity to have an experience such as this is invaluable to a team of this nature and for growing the sport in KingsWay. As a teacher coaching the team, accompanying them on this tour allows me to see a new level of growth in each player that otherwise would not be seen in the classroom.
The 2023 season will also hold a special place in many hearts for various reasons, but none more than the fact that KingsWay hockey boys have shown a desire and resolve to compete at a level they felt they never could.
Gary Schnieder - Coach
1st XI Hockey Girls
It's easy for me to pick a highlight from the Kathy Seaward tournament in Whangarei attended by the Girls 1st XI football; it was ‘Dinner Wars’! On Wednesday, after their fifth game of football in three days, the team was divided into four groups and assigned the task of planning and cooking dinner for themselves, with a budget of $40 and a portion being provided to the three adults for judging. My dinner that night was outstanding, with all groups producing excellent quality and flavour dishes, with a Bento bowl, mediterranean pita bread, pasta and nachos with freshly made guacamole; it's easy to see why this was a very satisfying moment for me. But it’s also a reflection of the character and effort the team brought to every aspect of Tournament Week.
There were impressive individual performances, persistent and effective defence, strategic link play, remarkable leadership, outstanding goals, including a hat-trick and a double hat-trick, and fun-filled team bonding during breaks and while serving each other. On and off the field, the team embodied the philosophy of having fun and giving their best for each other while adhering to our strict no-blame policy, principles James Smith has established during his nine years coaching this team. These ideas enabled the girls to grow and express themselves during the season, significantly improving their ability and confidence. I am incredibly proud of the respect they showed officials and opposition teams, irrespective of whether this was reciprocated. Sport is a way in which KingsWay students can express their God-given talents while reforming our culture through their behaviour and interactions with others, and the 1st XI Girls Football team are a great example of how young people are nurtured toward their full potential as servant leaders as part of KingsWay school.
Madison Cornwall - Manager
Senior 1 Netball
Tough times don’t last, but tough people do. It's not how many times you get knocked down but how many times you get up that counts. Tournament Week is one for testing this theory. As over 20,000 secondary school students across NZ travel to different tournaments, we see students' best and worst as sport reveals character.
More significant, more challenging and faster opposition is always a shock to the newcomers to the tournament. The girls faced all three this week, and we had to dig deep for self-discipline. Taking this lesson from the court is a bonus for all these girls who will take what they learned this week into every aspect of their lives. With ten games in five days (the same as an entire season), our netballers had to learn to push their bodies beyond what they believed they could to achieve their goal. With seven out of ten wins, the girls had to dig deep to put their aching bodies and legs aside and push through each game.
This week, the girls learnt that a team can only succeed when everyone contributes and is a valuable team member. It is clear that however good a 5ft 3" midcourt player is, they can do nothing against a 6ft 3" goal shooter. Everyone has different skills and talents to contribute to a team. In this tournament, everyone had to appreciate their and others' value, even if it was to be the best supporter from the sideline. We learnt to value our and other people's God-given talents this week, along with some fantastic singing talent!
The girls grew closer this week, sharing the highs and the lows and learning how to put a loss behind them and concentrate on the next game. Life requires teamwork, discipline, resiliency, respect, compassion, and character. Netball Tournament developed these skills on the playing field and is something the girls will take back into everyday life. I feel privileged to see the girls grow so much this week and very proud to be part of this team.
Lynda Hay – Coach
1st XI Football Boys
Tournament Week for the 1st XI Football Boys team was a great success. In terms of results, they won four, lost two and tied one game. The tied game was to Papakura, a league above us, and we completely outplayed them in the first half.
Off the field, there was an even greater success. The tournament was a culmination of a season's worth of training, games and the life lessons one learns from being part of a team. Jannick and Scott expertly coached the team in football skills and mentored the boys in conducting themselves on and off the pitch. Tournament Week was a proving ground for those lessons learned, and they passed with flying colours. The week away also allows the players to get to know other teammates in a different environment and to have LOTS of laughs and fun, especially in the evenings.
Colin Gray - Manager
