NXT Play Perspective was founded by Shawn Schwartz and Anita Hains, united by a shared belief that sport has the power to shape far more than athletic performance. Together, they have dedicated their time to developing athletes, empowering coaches and creating environments where children and young adults can thrive both on and off the field.

Their combined experience brings together elite coaching, sports science, child development, movement analysis and injury prevention – creating a unique perspective that bridges grassroots participation with high-performance sport. Having worked with athletes from their very first introduction to movement through to international competition, they understand that lasting success is built on strong foundations rather than shortcuts.

Shawn brings more than four decades of experience in baseball and years of involvement in cricket, action cricket and golf – having represented South Africa as both a player and coach in baseball. As Head Coach of the South African U12 Baseball Programme, he has led athletes onto the world stage while remaining deeply committed to grassroots development. Alongside his successful career as a Financial Director, Shawn has developed a leadership philosophy that blends the disciplines of business and sport – where planning, accountability, resilience and teamwork are the cornerstones of sustainable success. Having overcome a lifelong stutter through the confidence and opportunities that sport provided, he is passionate about helping young athletes discover the same belief in themselves and equipping coaches to become mentors who shape lives, not just sporting results.

Anita is a paediatric physiotherapist with more than 24 years of clinical experience in South Africa and the United Kingdom, specialising in neurodevelopment, youth athletic development and sports physiotherapy. As a qualified Pitching Biomechanics and ArmCare Specialist, she combines evidence-based movement science with practical coaching experience to help athletes move efficiently, reduce injury risk and maximise long-term development. Previously have been an Assistant Coach, Physiotherapist and Head of Delegation for the South African U12 Baseball Team at the 2025 World Cup, Anita is passionate about child development, supporting women in sport, safeguarding and creating sporting environments where every athlete feels supported, challenged and valued.

Together, Shawn and Anita have experienced youth sport from every perspective – as athletes, coaches, parents, healthcare professionals, educators and national representatives. Between them, they have guided children from their first experiences in sport to provincial, national and international competition, while raising their own families through the joys and challenges of youth sport. These experiences have reinforced their belief that the greatest measure of success is not found in medals or trophies but in the confidence, resilience, character and life skills that young people develop along the way.

This shared vision inspired the creation of NXT Play Perspective.

NXT Play Perspective exists to help athletes, coaches and sporting communities build a stronger future through movement, education and intentional coaching. Whether delivering athlete development programmes, coach education, movement and agility training, injury prevention strategies, practice planning or sport-specific performance clinics, every programme is designed to strengthen both performance and personal growth.

At the heart of everything they do is the belief that coaches are educators, mentors and role models. By coaching the coach, Shawn and Anita equip coaches with the knowledge, practical tools and confidence to create environments where children feel safe, challenged and inspired to reach their potential. In doing so, they are able to positively influence far more athletes than they could ever reach on their own, creating a ripple effect that extends across clubs, schools and sporting communities.

Their philosophy is built on a simple belief: Movement is Medicine and Passion Fuels Purpose. Success is not defined solely by the scoreboard but by what every athlete learns through the journey. Every training session, every victory and every setback presents an opportunity to develop resilience, confidence, accountability, communication, leadership and character. Sport is one of life’s greatest classrooms, providing opportunities to teach lessons that extend far beyond the boundaries of the field. By embracing the positives in every sporting experience – whether winning or losing – athletes develop the mindset, habits and perspective to succeed not only in sport, but in life.

At NXT Play Perspective, every movement has purpose, every challenge is an opportunity to grow and every athlete, coach and team has the potential to shape something greater than the game itself.