'If you know of any rowing coaches out there, please let me know.”

It's a constant with Phil Holland. One he could do without. His Tauranga Girls' College Rowing Club has boat sheds, boats, and rowing talent, but it desperately needs more knowledge, experience and leadership out on the chase boat.

He needs coaches.

'It's a real issue for us,” says Phil, the club president.

But not just an issue for Phil and not just for rowing. New Education Review Office research shows both schools and clubs are finding it increasingly difficult to get parents involved in coaching sports teams.

And principals have warned that kids could end up missing out on their favourite sport as working parents and time-poor teachers leave fewer people to coach and manage school sports teams.

According to the latest New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council census on participation, 53 per cent of 18,993 students in the Bay of Plenty are involved in sport, but only 28 per cent of 2555 school staff. That leaves a big void for parents and the wider community to fill.

'It's easy to say teachers should lift their game,” says Gareth Yates, Sport Bay of Plenty School Sport Team Leader.

'But the reality is I was a teacher two years ago so I know firsthand the work demands on a teacher.”

Generally, he says, the first priority for a teacher is the academic success of the kids; not creating a pathway to the 1st XV or filling a Saturday morning.

'I can't speak for parents, but I expect they have a similar problem… they don't have spare time to put into kid's sport.”

They may not have time, but they have expectations. One dad, who stepped up to look after his daughter's football team this season, says the other 10 sets of parents didn't or couldn't contribute, but they still expect their kids to have organised practice, their strip washed and organised every week, game schedules and transport organised – and above all, they want their kids to be good.

'Well that's not going to happen on half an hour's practice a week, a kick around in the backyard and a coach with only a smattering of football knowledge.

'Parents will still bitch and moan and question if something goes wrong, something doesn't happen or we lose. It's a thankless task. I just work towards giving the kids a positive, enjoyable experience in an environment of respect and friendship. And it seems to work on that level.”

Gareth is working where he can make a difference – in the schools with the teachers, supporting them to support sport by coaching, refereeing and managing.

'It's about us finding a balance for those teachers, fostering their support and developing their confidence and competence to assist sports teams.

But at the end of the day, it's their time and they already have schoolwork to do – their priority.

'There are a lot of sports and seasons can run up to 18 weeks – a lot of time, a big commitment,” says Gareth. 'It's great the demand for sport is growing and the ability of those participating, but there has to be support systems.”

Some schools can throw money at coaching – specialised coaches, professional coaches.

”But most schools don't have the discretionary dollars.”

Gareth says if he was a parent of a rower who turned up to a regatta and the opposition crews all had professional coaches, then he would feel intimidated. 'Most parents would.”

And it is the trend for well-funded schools to have paid coaches, according to Phil Holland of the Tauranga Girls' College Rowing Club.

'That makes it particularly difficult for us to compete because the school doesn't have the resources. And it's a fine juggling act to keep school fees affordable and to pay professional coaches.”

Short of money, but not short on support. 'We have a vibrant parent culture in our club which means our coaches get a lot of support and help at regattas and behind the scenes. That's a huge bonus.”

And Phil's not short on ideas either. 'I would love to see employers come to the party.”

He's suggesting a company employing someone who is also a rowing coach could help by giving that person extra time off so they can coach.

Phil isn't expecting something for nothing. 'As a club we would see that company as a sponsor and duly acknowledge it and support it.” So everyone's a winner.

At some schools, where teachers and parents couldn't coach, senior students stepped up to help juniors. Even the old boys even pitched in.

But coaching is about commitment and commitment is about time. One college football coach reckoned he put in five or six hours a week. But rowing is much more time hungry. A coach can be out on the water before dawn for an hour and a half, three times a week.

A regatta can invariably means travel and can gobble up a whole weekend.

'Rowing is a particularly demanding sport on coaches,” says Phil. 'And most are volunteers.”

Many are Dads who had the rowing bug and passed it on to their kids, so there is at least a shared passion and understanding and readiness to contribute.

'The demand and pressure on coaching within schools is huge,” says Gareth.

'So it's about upskilling, supporting and making them more confident and capable within the secondary school space.”

'Not so long ago there were just a few sports on a curriculum and everyone played everything. Now there are lots of sports – not just rugby and netball – and kids are specialising or focusing.”

For example, Tauranga Boys' College even has underwater hockey and they have a staff member looking after the interests of those kids.

'So it's about making sure everyone has a chance to play something. And at the end of the day it's about getting kids active and enjoying sport. But teachers are working all hours of the day and night and then committing themselves to coaching sport as well can be difficult.”

Some teachers find it really hard but others manage it really well.

'It's a case of making it work for everyone.”