Gisborne’s advantages include its climate, good pitches, fast outfields and space for children to get outside and play.
A key disadvantage is its distance from other centres. That may flow on to more disadvantages if resources and facilities are concentrated in bigger centres and if rural talent lacks support and has fewer opportunities to shine.
Malcon said the Northern Districts Association strived to avoid that — while also avoiding emphasising age-group representative team results — preferring to support talent, wherever it may lie.
ND pathway programmes general manager Peter Zanzoterra said the association was mindful of the need to get out to the regions.
Location need not be an insurmountable obstacle to player development, he said.
Playing various sports while growing up helped young sportspeople develop a range of muscle movement, core strength, flexibility and co-ordination.
“The best thing we can do for the young is get them outside,” Zanzoterra said.
“It’s massively advantageous to be from Gisborne, and not Parnell.”
Malcon, who made his debut for Poverty Bay as a 15-year-old, said academies and flash facilities did not always produce optimal results.
Too much structure could be negative, too much coaching could negate players learning to think on their feet and over-doing certain drills could lead to a player coping only in predictable conditions.
“The higher you get in elite sport, the more you get thrown the unexpected.”
In cricket, that includes batsmen dealing with slower balls, unorthodox bowlers and unfamiliar pitch conditions.
Sports such as table tennis, golf and squash could help players become more adaptable. Swimming could boost a bowler’s strength.
Malcon said New Zealand captain Kane Williamson — now one of the world’s best batsmen and the 2019 Cricket World Cup player of the tournament — was “always too good for his age group”, so he played two years ahead of it.
“Players develop by being extended,” Malcon said.
“Taking them out of their comfort zones is extremely important.”
It was clear by the time Williamson was 11 that he had the makings of a “great” in the sport.
He debuted for Bay of Plenty when he was 15. Malcon said this generated discussion because of fears over crushing his confidence.
Williamson made a duck in his first innings for BoP, getting a nick on a turning wicket to Black Caps spinner Daniel Vettori, who was putting in a rare appearance for Hamilton.
The level-headed Williamson’s reaction afterwards was to tell Malcon how he (Williamson) could deal with such a situation next time.
Malcon also said it was important not to pigeon-hole players, as some might be late developers and success had many different pathways.
Zanzoterra said the people around players could influence their resilience.
Parents looking to protect their children from injustices or selectorial and coaching decisions could limit their growth.
He suggested a better approach was to support them through success and failure.
Support should also be holistic, having a positive impact on sportspeople’s lives.
Players wanting to make it to the top had to have a deep desire to get better and make incremental improvements.
“Ultimately, they do need to work hard.”
