Young coach awarded for Youth Week

Tane Bennett coaching the Tauranga Girls' College Senior A basketball team

Basketball is at the centre of Tauranga coach Tane Bennett's life.

However, it is about much more than sport for the Youth Week 2014 Award winner.

He volunteers his time to coach and mentor the Senior A team at Tauranga Girls' College as well as representative coaching at Tauranga City Basketball.

Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye announced the youth award winners yesterday. Mr Bennett (pictured) said it was nice to be appreciated.

Mr Bennett, 22, won the Working for Youth Award, awarded to a young person whose actions specifically support other young people.

He has been coaching at Tauranga Girls' College for four years since his aunty, Melanie Bennett, got him involved and said it was the people that kept him there.

"She's the one who got me along this pathway and I wouldn't be receiving any of this recognition without her," Mr Bennett said.

He said he was accepting the award on behalf of the huge network of people that were part of his journey.

"It's something I can share with everyone who has been a part of Tauranga Girls' College basketball," he said, giving special mention to his aunty, his team, and their parents.

The biggest reward was seeing the girls build confidence, self-esteem and improve their skills.