Five diving coaches selected for UK Coaching development programme

Five English diving coaches will benefit from one-to-one mentoring after being selected for the latest wave of UK Coaching’s Performance Foundation Coach Support Programme.

Plymouth Diving’s Ashley Hendrick, City of Sheffield duo Dale White and Sam Hydes, Southend Diving’s Shan Veasey and Luton Diving Club’s Stephen Hewat will join the development programme in 2020.

All five coaches nominated by Swim England and British Swimming were successful in their applications.

Over the next 18 months, they will work with a coach developer to support their progress within the club and national programmes.

Suzie Collins, Swim England Talent Development Officer for Diving, said: “We were allowed to nominate five coaches, but I didn’t initially expect that we would get them all onto the programme, so it was really exciting when I found out that all five coaches were going to be involved.

“I think it’s really important. At this stage in their coaching careers, they’re starting to make a break onto some of the junior international competitions, both with Swim England and British Diving.

“It’s a pivotal moment in their careers. Whilst they might have done a lot of coach development work in groups and coaching workshops, this gives them an opportunity to look at themselves as an individual, their own individual coaching style and look at their own strengths and weaknesses.

“It’s great that they’re getting the individual support from UK Coaching.”

Thinking outside of the box

The programme features coaches from a wide range of sports, including athletics, boxing, cycling, gymnastics and triathlon.

The diving coaches will be exposed to cross sport learning opportunities as they look to broaden their understanding of the various talent pathways around the country.

Suzie added: “I think it can be really beneficial for them to learn from coaches from a range of different team and individual sports.

“With all sports, it’s quite easy to stay within your sport, learn from your predecessors and do what’s always been done.

“I think this really encourages them to think outside of the box and challenge themselves, challenge the sport and challenge what we’re doing. That’s something I really enjoy.”

Nick Levett, UK Coaching’s Head of Coaching Nick Levett, said: “We are excited to welcome this new batch of coaches onto our programme, the aim of which is to provide talent coaches with outstanding coach support.

“At UK Coaching, we are here for the coach, so I am proud that this piece of work is helping some of the UK’s most promising coaches feel more confident and competent in their abilities to help our very best athletes achieve their goals and ambitions.

Once again, it is pleasing to have such a variety of coaches from different sports on the programme.”   

Seven swimming coaches and one water polo coach have also been selected for the programme.

Diving coaches selected for UK Coaching’s Performance Foundation Coach Support Programme

  • Ashley Hendrick – Plymouth Diving
  • Dale White – City of Sheffield Diving Club
  • Sam Hydes  – City of Sheffield Diving Club
  • Shan Veasey – Southend Diving
  • Stephen Hewat – Luton Diving Club
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