Bevan Nichol

Performance Life Coach at High Performance Sport New Zealand & Playbook Coaching

Developing Leaders, Athletes, Coaches, Referees.

Developing Leaders, Athletes, Coaches, Referees.

Performance Life Coaching

One-on-one coaching for athletes, coaches, officials and professionals.
We work on practical mental skills and performance tools: clear goal-setting, building resilience and self-belief, managing pressure and stress, sharpening focus, navigating transitions, and turning scattered energy into structured action. Sessions draw directly on my current role supporting national athletes (including cyclists and rowers) inside High Performance Sport New Zealand’s Performance Life programme, plus more than a decade of high-stakes international umpiring.

How Does it Work?

Sport Development Consulting

Build lasting success in your organisation. I partner with clubs, associations, and national bodies to create clear, sustainable pathways, development programmes, and education that build stronger coaches, officials, and athletes - drawing on proven international and regional cross-code experience.

How I can Help

Workforce Development
and Training

Level up your team's skills without the guesswork. Custom training and resources that equip volunteers, staff, and high-performance groups with practical coaching, officiating, and leadership abilities - backed by international expertise and adult education best practices.

Supporting Your People

Recent Project Work

  • Performance Life Coach, High Performance Sport New Zealand (2026–present) - supporting national athletes (including cyclists and rowers) with personal and professional development, transitions, and wellbeing as part of the national Performance Life programme.

  • Coach Development Manager at Waikato Badminton (2025-present on contract via WILSS), building a full nationally and regionally aligned and coordinated coach development framework.

  • Programme Lead and Facilitator (2024-present) for the WILSS NZQA NZ Certificate in Sport Coaching L3. Educating over 80 community cross-code sport coaches every year across 20-hours of in-person coach education.

  • Led community engagement and design of officiating strategic plan, supporting documentation and governance restructure.

  • Designed and delivered an umpire coach national programme for the Oceania Hockey Federation and Hockey New Zealand.

  • Designed and developed a Centre-Wide Coach Development Plan for Hamilton City Gymnastics.

  • Led community engagement, design, and implementation of Code of Conduct, and umpire coach development project.

  • Trainer and Facilitator on Hockey NZ National Developer Programme 2024 and 2025.

  • Targeted workforce development workshop for senior umpires at Waikato Hockey Association.

  • Designed and delivered Mentor Development Programme at CookieTime New Zealand.

  • Facilitator in 2024 and 2025 on NZQA leadership training course for First Line Managers - NZ Certificate of Business - L4.

  • Co-Facilitator on FIH Level 1 Coach Course for Hockey New Zealand and Oceania Hockey Federation.

Let’s Start a Conversation