Just before dropping the kids off at the sports park tomorrow and ducking back to the cafe for that mind-numbing shot of caffeine, spare a thought for the coach.
Better still, Tama Jones wants you to go a bit further, and put their name in to be considered for a bulk
supply of Watties baked beans.
Jones is the Coachforce team leader at Sport Northland and is co-ordinating the annual Watties Volunteer Coach of the Year Awards. There is good reason for his enthusiasm, because Northland coaches have won the national award for the past two years.
He reckons we could easily make it a three-peat.
"Every year there seems to be a good number of real dedicated coaches out there. I don't see any reason why this year would be any different," Jones said.
"The Northland way of just getting in and doing things that need to be done has been the secret of our past two winners I think."
Nominations for the annual awards, for which there are regional winners before national contenders are selected, officially go out on June 3.
Jones is keen to make people aware of the awards, as recognition for hard work can keep coaches involved.
"The biggest thing is just to get nominations in. People need to recognise that there coaches do put a lot of time in. Without them a lot of sport just would not happen," he said.
The national winners get a year's supply of Watties baked beans.
• Go to www.watties.co.nz to nominate online.
