'Playmaker' Research Opportunity

July 7, 2023

There is still time for Coaches to support an international research project and develop their coaching for FREE

Hockey NZ is excited to part of an international research project targeting coaches of hockey, basketball, ice hockey, and rugby union from around the world.


This research pursues an area not previously investigated around key playmaker positions and specifically what coaches want from a behavioural perspective of the players in these positions. The application of this research can be used in coach education, game strategy, player selection, and development programs.


This opportunity is FREE for Coaches.


Coaches taking part in the project will receive a CoachDISC Profile, and an opportunity to attend an interactive online workshop facilitated by Lead Researcher and PhD Candidate Liz Masen. This workshop will allow coaches to debrief the CoachDISC Profile and understand how it applies to their coach environments.


Watch the video below to hear from Vantage Black Sticks Assistant Coach Verity Sharland, and her experience of being involved in the project.

Click Here to Get Started NOW!

More information about research project can be found by clicking on the tabs below.



There are two stages to the research:


Stage One: 10-15minute online survey

  • Initial Coach questionnaire: asks about your coaching and playing history, your opinions about player positions and captains, and general information about you
  • CoachDISC Profile survey: 30 questions which ask you to choose words that are most like and least like your behavior as a coach 

Stage Two: 10minute online survey 

This survey asks you to consider the playmaker position identified in Stage 1 and answer an:

  • AthleteDISC Profile: based on how you would want the ideal player in this position to answer (i.e., answer this survey as if you are the ideal player you would want in this playmaker position)

Coaches who complete both stages will have the opportunity to attend a highly interactive online workshop facilitated by Research Project lead Liz Masen. 


This workshop will allow coaches to debrief the CoachDISC Profile and understand how it applies to their coach environments, and will draw on the experiences of the most successful coaches.  

Participation is completely voluntary and at any stage you may withdraw without explanation, and it will not negatively affect you in any way.


To participate individuals must be:

  • Over 18 years of age
  • Minimum of 2 years coaching or related experience in Hockey, Basketball, Ice Hockey, or Rugby Union

Key reasons why eligible Coaches should get involved:


  • Free individual CoachDISC Profile
  • Access to free online workshop to understanding more about the DISC Profile and how to apply this to individual coaching environment – facilitated by Research Project Lead Liz Masen
  • Opportunity to be part of an international research project

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