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Tai, Nikki, and I had the privilege of travelling to Palmerston North in the mighty Manawatū-Whanganui for the inaugural Rise & Thrive Women’s Coaching Summit, hosted by Women in Sport Aotearoa. The day opened with a warm welcome from Sarah Cowley-Ross, former Olympic Heptathlete, setting the tone for an incredibly powerful, uplifting, and inspiring day.
Keynote speakers included Bev Priestman - now Head Coach of the Wellington Phoenix Women’s team, Kylie Cox - Physiotherapist and Founder of The Female Athletes Project, Whitney Hansen - former Black Ferns Assistant Coach and Head Coach of Matatū Rugby, Dame Sophie Pascoe - New Zealand’s most decorated Paralympian, Clinical & Performance Psychologist Eleanor Kroll, and the hilarious Jody Cameron - former Tall Fern. Their stories ranged from leadership and resilience to athlete wellbeing, coaching identity, and gender equity in sport.
Across the day there was strong discussion around the challenges female coaches face, the need for visibility, peer mentoring, and building supportive systems. The psychology sessions were particularly powerful, reminding us of the importance of self-awareness, managing wellbeing, and fostering connection - not just for athletes, but also for coaches, staff, and the wider sporting community.
This summit could not have been more timely. With less than a week until our three-day Female Performance Camp at Lavie Tennis Academy, we are inspired and ready to share this new wealth of knowledge with the next generation of female athletes. We are bringing together 14 girls from across the country, and the insights from the summit - on holistic athlete development, strength and conditioning, on-court/off-court balance, and mental performance - will directly inform our work in the gym, on court, and in the classroom. The momentum from Rise & Thrive will not only elevate the athletes’ experience, but also help us continue to grow as a team.
