Although Janice Paap lives in Te Puke and is a member of the Te Puke Club, it is her extraordinary commitment as a roving coach throughout the Bay of Plenty that has earned her the title of Bowls New Zealand Coach of the Year in 2025.

Over the past season, as in many seasons before, she has poured heart and soul into being wherever and whenever her coaching skills have been needed across the Bay. The kiwifruit capital has simply been her home base.

But Janice’s coaching reach has extended far beyond the Bay. For the past 20 years, she has taken on assignments throughout New Zealand, and even across to Australia.

Her journey began in 2006 when she earned her Level One coaching certificate, followed by her Level Two certificate the very next year. In her early years in Auckland, she worked extensively with younger players, coaching the Auckland team at the National Secondary School Championships, leading Auckland Under 18 tours to Queensland and New South Wales, and coaching the New Zealand Under 18 team against Australia.

In 2014, Janice coached the New Zealand Under 18 team in the Trans-Tasman Series, as well as the New Zealand team at the World Youth Championships.

Her responsibilities gradually expanded into the open grades. She became Auckland Women’s High Performance Coach, and after moving to the Bay of Plenty in 2016, she took on the role of Selector Coach for the Centre.

Over this time, Janice has been recognised many times for her coaching achievements, including being named Auckland Coach of the Year three times.

The 2024/2025 season was no different. She continued her work as a development coach, a coach developer, and a coach/selector for the Bay of Plenty Under 5 representative squad. The Women’s Under 5 team won the Waioeka Shield, the Geddes Trophy and the Kidd Memorial, while also finishing runner-up in the Quadrangular in Auckland in September and second in the Octagonal in March.

But Janice’s focus has not been limited to teams. She has also guided individuals to success. Last season, she coached four Under 5 players into the Bay of Plenty Development team, which already included seven more players she had coached. Three members of the 2024/2025 Bay of Plenty Premier team also came through her coaching.

She has also become well known for her winter coaching programmes for Under 8 players, running sessions from Taupo to Whakatane to Tauranga. More than 120 players benefited from these programmes last season.

All this is only the beginning of what she contributes. Janice is always on the go.

“She epitomises the old saying ‘if you want something done, ask a busy person’,” says Bay of Plenty Selector/Coach Regg Martin. “It’s hard to believe she still has work commitments as a phlebotomist (google it!), and family commitments as a great grandmother.” (Yes, you read that right. GREAT grandmother!)

“She’s a really giving person … and nothing is too hard for her.”

Bowls New Zealand Board Member Scott Pickering is equally enthusiastic.

“Janice brings a rare and valuable combination of qualities to her role as a coach,” says Scott. “Her technical expertise, built over many years of coaching and playing, is outstanding.”

“Her generosity with time and knowledge reflects a deep passion for the sport and a genuine desire to help others succeed.”

We agree. Congratulations Janice on being named Bowls New Zealand’s Coach of the Year in 2025.