Bread and Butter uses sport and the B.R.E.A.D book to encourage kids to read, connect, and learn the basic principles of being a good person.
The B.R.E.A.D book stands for: Balls Books; Read; Enjoy; Achieve; Dreams.
Nolan, who played professional rugby in England, coaches the C Pups, an under-six Christchurch rugby team.
What began as the team reading for 15 minutes before training morphed into a new way of coaching, connecting and teaching kids some important life lessons.
With Bread and Butter, Nolan endeavours to go beyond just coaching rugby skills. It’s about teaching kids the foundations of being a good person – the ‘bread and butter’ of life.
The C Pups, who all attend Heathcote Valley School, spend 15 minutes before training reading a book of their choice with their parents and caregivers.
They present it to the team the following week and then pass the book onto the next player of the day.
"It’s something that keeps them involved longer than say just half an hour after the game, something to be proud of,” Nolan, who works for Lyttelton Port Company, said.
Bread and Butter is not just for rugby.
"It’s just the principles of being good people.
"In rugby, they say good people make good rugby players.
"But don’t wait until they’re 20, why don’t we start putting this to the kids when they’re young.
"If they get their bread and butter right, they can go from there. It’s giving them the opportunity from a young age."
The programme isn’t just for the kids – it also connects parents and caregivers.
Jenna Timoti’s six year-old son, Mason Boyd, has played two seasons for the C Pups.
Timoti said Mason is a very capable reader, but getting him to read was a chore.
Timoti said she has seen a difference in her son’s behaviour since he has been coached by Nolan.
"Mason is someone who is easily distracted and needs structure. I can see a difference in his confidence, he’s so determined and the values he has learned have made him more empathetic. He’s a lot more caring," she said.
Similarly, Heathcote Valley School principal Bruce Ellison said he has seen a change in the kids since they have been coached by Nolan.
"I’ve seen them grow as people and I’ve seen their relationships with each other grow," said Ellison.
"It’s a no brainer, why haven’t we been doing something like this all along?"
Nolan said a programme like this would have made him look at rugby differently.
"When I was playing, it was just about showing up and playing the game, but I think this is more of a deeper connection."
Nolan wants that connection to be fostered.
"It teaches kids to care for the area, the grounds, care for the opposition and each other. It’s contagious and its something that needs to be nurtured," he said.
Nolan wants to break down the club versus club mentality, and connect coaches as well.
Mainland Football interim chief executive Martin Dodgson loves the idea of Bread and Butter and believes most sports face the same challenges.
"We love the concept and the story behind it ... the concept of giving kids ownership over what they do,” he said.
Dodgson thinks Bread and Butter captures the essence of sport.
"Sport teaches us lessons and those lessons can be hidden deep but [Brendan] brings these lessons to the surface," he said.
"The scoreboard would suggest who the winner or loser is, but this teaches kids what a real ‘winner’ is and what success looks like."
Nolan now hopes to take the coaching programme Canterbury-wide and has had positive feedback from clubs and other sports organisations.
