Saturday, September 01, 2012
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH - BEN O’Brien-Leaf is at home in many settings. The rugby fanatic at local schoolboy, club or Heartland games is known to many. We hear his voice and exuberance being telecast across the Sky Sport or Rugby channels providing his audience with an insightful and entertaining commentary on the game.
What the general public might not see is the coach, umpire or referee spending an enormous amount of his time dedicated to the youth of our region in the sports of cricket and basketball. For this reason, Ben is the recipient of the Zest Cafe Volunteer of the Month Award for August.
In cricket, Ben has helped many young developing spin bowlers with his knowledge, colourful instruction and, most importantly, tireless commitment to improving technique and skill.
Since 2005, as a Northern Districts spin-bowling coach, he has travelled around the region providing specialist coaching to age-group cricketers. He has backed this up locally, supporting Poverty Bay age-group players, Gisborne Intermediate and Gisborne Boys’ High School teams.
Since 2009, he has coached the Poverty Bay boys’ representative team to travel to Hamilton for the annual Northern Districts primary school tournament.
Not only does Ben coach, he also contributes time to umpiring the game. Since 2008 he has umpired at age-group tournaments.
During summer, the cricket nets at Harry Barker Reserve are bustling with youth practising their bowling, batting and fielding techniques. Ben will be found there, sharing his knowledge and using his flamboyant coaching style to help kids of all abilities at a place that could almost be described as his second home. All this is done in a voluntary capacity and for the benefit of those wanting to be coached.
Basketball is also the benefactor of Ben’s voluntary contribution. A referee for the Gisborne Basketball Association, he has been running the sidelines of the men’s league since 2002.
Again, school teams have benefited from his coaching over the past 13 years.
One of his most memorable teams was from Gisborne Intermediate in 2003. He took under his wing a group of students who, under normal circumstances, would be the last expected to want to play basketball. They were considered troublesome in the school setting and could be described as a bunch of misfits.
Coach Ben O’Brien-Leaf built a team culture that provided a place where they belonged and where they enjoyed learning how to play basketball. They were proud to be known as the KFC Farmboys social basketball team.
Ben describes the three front-court players of this team as being bigger than the current All Black front row.
Being a member of this team entailed activities built around keeping Ben quiet, and compulsory dining at fast food outlets.
Ben’s verbal and written commentaries on basketball and rugby are always full of energy.
Listening to Ben’s commentary, it is easy to believe that every game is played in a finals atmosphere. He carries this off with the enthusiasm of a child on Christmas morning and he does it as a volunteer.
He credits his knowledge and commentating ability to the late John Heikell, whom Ben regarded as a mentor and point of reference in all things rugby.
“Ben is a true local sporting character and is an extremely worthy recipient of the Zest Cafe Volunteer of the Month Award,” Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti community sport adviser Debbie Hutchings said.
“We are lucky to have individuals like Ben, who continue to give their time on a voluntary basis and want to share their knowledge and skills in so many different environments.
“He is a genuine good guy and all-round sports volunteer and a deserving recipient of this award.”
To nominate your sports volunteer visit www.sportgisborne.org.nz