Harris appointed to manage NZ team

Mark Harris has been appointed by Athletics New Zealand to manage their 40-strong team to the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India from October 12 to 18.
Harris, 37, of Masterton wasn't entirely surprised when his appointment was confirmed by the national body yesterday because he was aware something of that ilk was "in the wind".
But he considers it to be the high point of a managerial career which already spans some involvement in the managing of 10 world championship teams across three sports (cycling, squash and triathlon), two Commonwealth Games teams and the 2000 Sydney Olympics team.
In the past Harris's managing roles with New Zealand squads have come through his employment, either as high performance manager for Cycling New Zealand or New Zealand Squash.
This occasion is different though as he while he is coaching many of Wairarapa's top young athletes he now works outside the sporting world as project manager for Active Wairarapa.
"It's nice to get this sort of recognition more because of your absolute passion for the sport rather than because you are working within it," Harris said. "For me that makes it bigger than anything I have done before."
Harris, who represented New Zealand himself as a middle distance runner at two World University Games, does, however, expect his previous experience on the managerial front to be a huge assist to him, both in the administrative tasks to be completed before the Youth Games team leaves for India and while they are there.
"Planning is everything when it comes to management and I know what to expect in that respect," he said. "Hopefully it's going to make life a lot easier for me."
Harris makes no bones about how he will approach the manager's role on the question of team disciplines.
Behavioural guidelines would be stressed and they would include a demand that any socialising would be done on a team rather than individual basis.
"The big thing is for the athletes to understand they are representing their country and that consequently they need to behave in a manner which befits that honour," he said. "No one wants to be seen as a dictator but you have to be firm and anybody who breaks the rules needs to realise they will be sent home, no ifs, no buts."
Harris said form shown in India would obviously be taken into account when future New Zealand track and field teams were selected, such as that for the world juniors in Canada in two years time. "It's important the athletes see these Games as a stepping stone to something bigger, that they don't waste the chance to push themselves to the forefront in that regard."
Harris is unsure at this stage whether he will have any direct involvement in the coaching of the Youth Games team but whether or not time allows for that to happen he is keen to expand his own knowledge through informal discussions with the many leading coaches who will be in attendance there.
"You go to meets like this and the opportunity to learn is huge, that's something I'm keen to take advantage of," he said.
That Harris is also rated highly on the coaching front by the national athletics hierarchy was evidenced back in April when he was selected as one of two New Zealand representatives to attend an IAAF level three coaching course in Brisbane.
He now has a IAAF level three coaching accreditation for sprints and hurdles and an Athletics New Zealand level one and two endurance coaching accreditation, along with level one accreditations in sprints, high jump and throws.
Athletics New Zealand high performance director Kevin Ankrom praised Harris's appointment as Youth Games team manager because of the vast experience he would bring to the role and because of his unique understanding of the protocols at multisports events.
"Mark has considerable experience in organsing and managing international sports tours. His application stood out to the panel due to his capabilities as a coach and a manager at the elite level", Ankrom said.