A Note From Craig Ross — What I’m Up To These Days

Every now and then I think back to that summer in 1991 when I came over from Karaka and spent a season playing in England. It was a brilliant time for a young bloke — good cricket, good people, and a simple, enjoyable way of life. Those early experiences, including the time at Torquay and the support from people like Roger Mann, gave me a real appreciation of how much influence the adults around a young player can have on their confidence and enjoyment of the game.

Fast forward a few decades and that idea has become the centre of my work. After playing for NZ U19s & U20s, a first-class stint with Northern Districts, and coaching roles across New Zealand — from NZC and CD to Hawke’s Bay Cricket and even specialist coaching with the White Ferns — I found myself increasingly drawn to the parent side of youth sport. No matter the level, it became obvious that kids thrive when the adults around them understand how to support them, especially through the ups and downs.

These days I run Brave & Beyond, a sports-education business that works directly with parents, schools, and clubs across New Zealand. My main programme, Helping Parents & Families Navigate Sport, is all about giving parents practical tools, self-awareness, and confidence to help their kids enjoy sport, stay in it longer, and feel a real sense of belonging. It’s part research, part storytelling, part lived experience — and it’s been great to see how much it resonates with families.

It’s funny looking back, because the seeds of what I do now were planted in those early playing days — simple environments, good people, and communities that wrapped around their young athletes. That’s the kind of culture I’m trying to help create here in NZ.

Would love to get back to England sometime soon, catch up properly, and share a few stories from both sides of the world.