Swimming coaches selected for nationwide development programme

Five swimming coaches have been selected to take part in the second wave of UK Coaching’s Performance Foundation Coach Support Programme.

They are among 45 coaches from 19 summer and winter Olympic sports that have been chosen by UK Coaching’s Talent and Performance team.

The programme’s inaugural 18-month run saw 49 coaches taking part.

Now swimming’s James Clarke (assistant swimming coach at Millfield School), Dave Painter (age group lead coach at Royal Wolverhampton School), Josh Atkins (lead performance coach at Wycombe District Swimming Club), Joe Stanford (Nova Centurion) and Dan Cocking (age group coach at City of Sheffield Swim Squad) are all being supported for the next 18 months through a blended learning approach, which involves:

  • one-to-one coach developer support
  • cross-sport communities of practice and learning
  • online social learning environments to connect coaches and workshop delivery

Wycombe District’s Josh said: “I’m immensely honoured to have been invited and selected onto this programme. 

“Having recently completed Swim England’s Pathway Coaches Programme, I believe this next opportunity is the ideal progression in my coaching development. 

“I look forward to delving deeper and understanding more the coaching theory that underpins my coaching practice and how I can continue and adapt my coaching practice for the better of the athletes I work with day to day. 

“To have a coaching developer from outside of the swimming world is a fantastic chance to solely focus on the art of coaching practice. And to also have the opportunity to network with coaches from a range of different sports will be a great sharing and learning platform.”

Extremely proud

Nova Centurion’s Joe added: “I am very looking forward to starting this programme, specifically working with a group of coaches outside my current sport. 

“I hope to improve my non-sport specific coaching skills.”

And Millfield School’s James said: “I am extremely proud to have been accepted as part of cohort two on the performance foundation coaches support programme. 

“I am really looking forward to sharing ideas and experiences with coaches from other sports to ultimately enhance my own practices going forward.”

City of Sheffield’s Dan added: “I am delighted to be selected for the UK Sport Performance Foundations Programme. 

“It is a great opportunity to learn from leading coaches from across different sports, acquire and build new skills both technical and psychological. 

“I hope that being selected for this programme will have a very positive impact on my own coaching journey and personal development.”

Nick Levett, UK Coaching’s head of talent and performance, said: “We are really pleased to have grown the breadth and depth of the programme to support coaches from such a wide variety of sports.

“This will add huge value to the cross-sport element of the coaches’ work and provide some rich learning opportunities. We are excited to see what opportunities this presents us with and support the coaches accordingly as they travel their different development journeys.”

A further five aquatics coaches in diving and water polo have also been selected for the programme.

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