Nelson College’s Senior A volleyball team has continued its strong national record, finishing sixth at the National Secondary School Championships after a season defined by growth, belief and hard work.
A key figure behind that result is head coach Don Wai, whose journey with the school has come full circle – from international boarder, to student, to staff member, and now coach.
Don left his hometown of Hong Kong in 2010 and came to Nelson College as an international boarder. During his time as a student, Don did not play for the school volleyball team. Still adjusting to a new environment and managing injuries, he did not feel ready to commit. Volleyball remained part of his life, though, through friends and social play, and in Year 13 he joined a Monday night social league.
“I always hoped I could stay involved in volleyball in some way,” he says.
After leaving Nelson College, Don returned to Hong Kong, but soon found he struggled to readjust.
“After getting used to the pace of life in New Zealand, the pressure and lifestyle back home were hard to adapt to,” he says.
Don returned to New Zealand and contacted his former boarding house housemaster about helping out. Alongside assisting in the boarding house, he asked whether he could support the volleyball programme, initially hoping to work as an assistant coach.
In early January, the head coach resigned and the school asked Don to step into the role.
He admits he was unsure whether he was ready, but decided waiting for the perfect moment could mean never starting at all.
“I thought that if we always wait until we feel fully ready, we may never begin,” he says.
The season that followed exceeded expectations, with the team finishing sixth nationally and competing against some of the strongest school sides in the country.
“I’m very lucky to have a group of hardworking players. They always wanted to improve,” Don says. “Sometimes they showed their teenage side, but most of the time they trained seriously and worked hard to adapt to my coaching style.”
He says the team did not set results-based targets, instead focusing on daily improvement.
“We didn’t expect our results to be this good this year, but we just focused on doing our best every day. As people say, if you give everything, you will have no regrets. You never know where your limit is.”
At the national tournament, Nelson College faced last year’s top three teams, a challenge Don embraced.
“In sports, you never know what will happen. I told my players to fight for every point, every ball, and enjoy their time on the court.”
Asked what has driven the team’s improvement, Don points first to mindset and culture.
“I often share with the players how to keep a positive mindset in training and matches – to accept their weaknesses, accept mistakes, and then work to improve,” he says. “Although I am their coach, our relationship is also like friends.”
