Squaddie Blog

Coaching guides for volunteer coaches, schools and clubs

Practical guides on fair game time, team selection, availability and running a season — written for the parents, teachers and volunteers who actually coach community sport in New Zealand.

26 posts

School water polo match in action in an indoor pool
3 min read

Coaching School Water Polo in NZ: Pool Formations, Quarter Rotations and Squad Management

Treading water for four quarters takes serious conditioning. Here's how NZ school water polo coaches manage pool rotations, formations and late fixtures.

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Secondary school basketball players competing in an indoor gym
3 min read

Coaching Secondary School Basketball & 3x3 in NZ: Minutes, Box Scores and Timeout Plays

Basketball is booming in NZ schools. Here's how coaches manage bench minutes, foul trouble and timeout plays across 5v5 and 3x3.

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Secondary school netball team celebrating on court during a regional tournament
3 min read

Coaching School Netball at UNISS, LNISS and SISS: Squad Rotations for a 5-Day Tournament

Two games a day for five straight days will test any 10- or 12-player netball squad. Here's how to plan rotations and stats for regional tournaments.

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School field hockey players competing on a water turf
3 min read

Coaching School and Club Hockey in NZ: Rolling Subs, Formations and Turf Time

Fast turf, rolling subs and four quarters to manage. Here's how NZ school and club hockey coaches keep their squads organised.

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New Zealand school rugby match in action on a grass field
3 min read

Rugby Coaching App NZ: Managing Half-Game Rules, Subs and Live Scoring

From Rippa and U15s to 1st XV and Sevens, here's how Kiwi rugby coaches manage fair field time, interchanges and sideline scoring.

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Secondary school sports teams competing during School Sport NZ Tournament Week
3 min read

Coaching Through School Sport NZ Tournament Week: Rotations, Fatigue and Parent Updates

Eight games in five days changes everything about how you run a bench. Here's how NZ school coaches prepare for Tournament Week.

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Community sports club with teams playing outside
3 min read

Sports Club Management App NZ: Where Squaddie Fits

Club admin systems handle registrations and fees. Squaddie handles what happens at team level — where your coaches live.

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School sports coordinator managing teams on a laptop
3 min read

School Sports Management Software: What NZ Schools Actually Need

Dozens of teams, volunteer coaches and hundreds of parents. Here's what school sports software should handle.

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School basketball coach on the sideline during a game
3 min read

Basketball Team Management for NZ Club and School Coaches

Five on court and a bench full of players who want minutes. Here's how to manage a basketball team fairly.

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Touch rugby game on a summer evening
3 min read

Touch Rugby Team Management for Schools and Social Grades

Touch is fast, social and full of rolling subs. Here's how to keep a touch team organised all summer.

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Grassroots football coach on the sideline of a junior game
3 min read

The Football Team App for Grassroots Coaches

Rolling subs, positions, parents and a Saturday kick-off. Here's how grassroots football coaches stay organised.

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School volleyball player spiking the ball in a gym
3 min read

Coaching School Volleyball: Rotations, Subs and Sessions

Six on court, rotations every side-out, and a squad that all wants to serve. Here's how to coach school volleyball with less stress.

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Netball team manager organising bibs before a game
3 min read

How to Manage a Netball Team: Availability, Positions and Parents

The coach coaches. The manager keeps the wheels on. Here's how to manage a netball team without the chaos.

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Netball coach sharing positions at a quarter break
3 min read

Netball Rotation Generator: Fair Quarters Made Easy

Seven positions, four quarters, ten players. Here's how to build fair netball rotations — and how to automate it.

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Netball coach watching a game on an outdoor court
3 min read

How a Netball Coaching App Makes Saturday Mornings Easier

Seven positions, four quarters, and a team full of kids who all want to play Centre. A netball coaching app helps.

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Junior sports team photo with coach and manager
3 min read

Junior Sports Team Management: A Season Checklist

From the first parent message to the final prizegiving, here's everything a junior team manager needs to tick off.

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Youth sports team celebrating with parents watching
3 min read

Youth Sports Team App: Keeping Coaches, Kids and Parents on the Same Page

In youth sport, you're coaching the kids but communicating with the parents. Here's how to handle both.

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Coach watching players at a team selection session
3 min read

How to Pick a Team Fairly (and Explain It to Parents)

Whether it's grading, choosing starters or splitting a squad, here's how to make selection fair and easy to explain.

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Saturday morning community sport in New Zealand
3 min read

Why Kiwi Community Sport Needs Its Own Team App

Volunteer coaches, school sport and Saturday morning grades — NZ sport runs differently. Your team app should too.

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Coach checking player availability on a phone at home
3 min read

Stop Chasing RSVPs: Player Availability Made Simple

'Who's coming Saturday?' shouldn't take 40 messages. Here's how to get availability sorted by midweek.

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Coach using a team sports coaching app
3 min read

What to Look for in a Team Sports Coaching App

Most coaching apps are built for personal trainers. Here's a checklist for coaches who run teams.

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Volunteer parent coach talking with junior players
3 min read

A Survival Guide for First-Time Volunteer Coaches

You put your hand up to coach. Now what? A practical guide to getting through your first season.

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School sports coordinator overseeing teams at training
3 min read

A Term-by-Term Guide for School Sports Coordinators

Winter codes, summer codes, and coaches to find every term. A practical guide for school sports coordinators.

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Beginner netball players doing a passing drill
3 min read

Netball Drills for Beginners: 6 Easy Drills for Your Next Training

New to coaching netball? These six drills cover the basics and keep beginners moving and having fun.

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Junior players on the bench cheering on teammates
3 min read

How to Give Kids Fair Game Time (Without the Spreadsheet)

Fair game time is the most common source of sideline tension. Here's a simple system that parents understand and kids appreciate.

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Coach checking a sports team management app on the sideline
3 min read

The Sports Team Management App Built for Kiwi Coaches

Group chats, spreadsheets and last-minute texts aren't a system. Here's what a proper sports team management app does for coaches.

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