Aspire Pathway Coach Programme 2022-2023

Swim England’s Pathway Coach Programme 2022-2023 provides a unique coach development opportunity specifically aimed at coaches who are predominantly working with age-group and early youth level athletes within the Swim England Talent Pathways for Swimming, Para-Swimming, Diving, Water Polo and Artistic Swimming.

This is an exciting and innovative 12-month coach learning journey comprising of workshops, immersive fieldwork and an opportunity to create cross sport communities of practice within our aquatics coaching family.

The programme content will include a seamless blend of technical and non-technical information, delivered through both online and face to face interactions.

Each coach will be assigned a mentor from our Swim England Coach Developer team who will work with the coach to provide bespoke, in situ support guided by the creation of an Individual Development plan.

MonthTime frameDelivery method/content
13 September11:00-13:00Online Workshop
Programme Induction and Creation of an Individual Development Plan
14 September10:00-16:00Face to Face Workshop (Loughborough)
Developing Self- Awareness and Reflective Practice
21 NovemberEveningOnline Workshop
Creating and Nurturing an Effective Talent Development Environment
November*Half dayFace to Face Immersive Fieldwork (Various Locations)
Cross Sport Peer Visit
10 JanuaryMorningOnline training course
Promoting a Positive Mental Health Environment
12 JanuaryAfternoon (TBC)Online workshop
Fostering Resilience: Caring for Ourselves whilst Supporting Others
15 March*MorningFace to Face Workshop (Leeds)
Planning your Session: The Coaching Practice, Planning and Reflective Framework
15 March*AfternoonFace to Face Immersive Fieldwork (Leeds)
Visit to Talent Development Environment
18 May10:00-16:00Online Workshop
Effective Leadership
11 July10:00-14:00Face to Face (Lougborough)
Graduation

*Dates TBC , therefore some dates may be subject to change due to speaker availability. As much notice will be provided as possible.

Coach Developer Support

In addition to the programme above you will also receive mentoring support from your assigned Coach Developer as outlined below:

MonthTime frameDelivery method/content
September90 minutesCoach Developer Sessions (individual/ mentoring group)
OctoberHalf dayCoach developer visit to your programme
November90 minutesCoach Developer Sessions (individual/mentoring group) including first quarterly IDP review
December90 minutesCoach Developer Sessions (individual/mentoring group)
January90 minutesCoach Developer Sessions (individual/mentoring group)
FebruaryHalf dayVisit to your Coach Developer’s programme or another appropriate Talent Development Environment.
Including second quarterly IDP review.
March90 minutesCoach Developer Sessions (individual/mentoring group)
April90 minutesCoach Developer Sessions (individual/mentoring group)
May90 minutesCoach Developer Sessions (individual/mentoring group) including third quarterly IDP review
June90 minutesCoach Developer Sessions (individual/mentoring group)
July90 minutesCoach Developer Sessions (individual/mentoring group)
August90 minutesCoach Developer Sessions (individual/mentoring group) including fourth quarterly IDP review

Criteria for consideration

  • Aimed at coaches who are predominantly working with age-group and early youth level athletes within the Swim England Talent Pathways for Swimming, Para-Swimming, Diving, Water Polo and Artistic Swimming.
  • Qualified as a Swim England Coach (Level 2) or equivalent at minimum.
  • Coaches who are proactive, open-minded and have a strong appetite for learning; demonstrating a willingness to engage with coaching peers and make an active contribution to the group discussions.
  • Be able to commit to the full learning programme over the 12-month period.

Swimming:

  • Targeted at coaches typically working with age group/early youth swimmers aged 12-16 years, who are competing at Regional level or above.
  • Coaches who have worked within the talent pathway as a skills coach on either the Regional or National Development programme as a minimum.

Para Swimming:

  • Targeted at coaches typically working with age group/early youth para-swimmers aged 12-16 years, who are competing at Swim England National Summer Meet level or above.
  • Coaches who have worked within the Para-talent pathway as a skills coach on either the Regional or National Development programme as a minimum.

Artistic Swimming:

  • Targeted at coaches typically working with National Age Group and Championship athletes.
  • Coaches who have placed an athlete on an England Artistic Swimming Squad.

Diving:

  • Targeted at coaches typically working National Age Group or Elite level athletes.
  • Coaches who have an athlete on an England Talent Team Z programme.

Water Polo:

  • Targeted at coaches engaged with players typically aged 14-16 years, competing at regional level or involved in the National training programme.
  • Coaches who participate in or engage with the Regional and National training programme/squads as per the age groups outlined above.

Further information

  • 24 coaches will be selected from across the aquatic disciplines. These will be divided as follows: 12 Swimming/Para Swimming, four Diving, four Water Polo and four Artistic Swimming.
  • Applications will be reviewed against the above criteria, together with insight gathered by the Swim England Head of Coaching, Coach Development Manager, Talent Leads/Officers and Regional Officers from across the aquatic disciplines.
  • This programme is charged at £200 per coach but 10% and 20% discounts are available for coaches that join the Swim England Coach and Coach Plus membership after the 11th August 2022.
  • Some regions will offer full or partially funded programme places. Successful candidates will be informed of the extent of this support when asked to confirm their place on the programme.
  • Swim England are fully committed to providing an inclusive Coach Development offer. Whilst we have set a cost of £200 for this programme, we ask that you contact us directly, in confidence, if this fee is presenting a barrier to your application.
  • Coaches will be responsible for paying their own travel/accommodation and subsidence costs.

Apply now

Applications are now closed.

Coaches will be notified of their place on the programme by 5pm on Wednesday 7 September 2022.

If you would like and informal chat about this programme or any other coach development opportunities please contact the Swim England Head of Coaching lindsay.trimmings@swimming.org.

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