A Tribute by Frank Dick OBE
President of European Athletics Coaches Association
“Tony Rice has been recently unanimously elected as an Honorary Life Member of the re-established Oceania Track and Field Coaches Association (OTFCA), an Association he established with Fletcher Mc Ewen, Bill Bailey, [AUS] and Steve Hollings [NZL] in 2002.
Tony graduated from Loughborough College of Physical Education with distinction in 1963 and taught Physical Education in England until 1975, when he travelled to Australia with his family. He joined ATFCA in the first months, while resuming Physical Education teaching. Having converted his U.K Senior Coaching Award to ATFCA Senior Coaching Award in jumps, he dedicated himself not only to practical coaching but to coach education and development of the ATFCA programme, which was already recognised internationally as a world leader in coach development.
Given this background of a life of dedication to the development of coaches and of coaching, Tony shared the interest of Fletcher McEwan and Steve Hollings in bringing the Oceania region of IAAF together as a Coaches Community committed to and engaged in sharing experience and expertise in coach and coaching development.
In 2002, IAAF President Lamine Diacke requested establishment of an Independent Coaches Associations in all IAAF Areas. These Associations were to be represented on the IAAF Coaches’ Commission which was established in 2005. Steve Hollings convened a meeting of coaches at the 2002 OAA Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand to formally create OACA. Tony was elected president; Fletcher McEwan as secretary. Bill Bailey, OAA secretary was in attendance and assured coaches of OAA support. Tony then represented OACA on the IAAF Coaches Commission as a much valued and respected contributor to discussion on Global Coaching and Performance related matters while informing the Commission of Oceania development and issues.
Tony ensured that Athletics Coaching in Oceania was clearly on the Global Coaching Map. Even through the darker days when the assurance of OAA support evaporated, Tony fought hard with Fletcher and Steve to keep OAA together and operative. It is to be noted that the OACA Title remained with the coaches as Tony and Fletcher declined to consider a vote of members to pass title to OAA. In effect, this established the platform to re-establish OACA/OTFCA as the original concept of an Independent Coaches’ Association in practice. The OTFCA Leadership Team has very effectively led a renaissance for Oceania coaches and coaching on that platform.
For his tireless devotion to coaches and coaching in Oceania, I am thrilled that OTFCA/OACA has voted Tony Rice as an Honorary Life Member.”
