Swim England
Why this year’s One Swim England Summit is a must for coaches and athletes
5 March 2026If you’re a coach, athlete, volunteer or parent supporting young people in the water, this year’s Summit has been designed with you firmly in mind.
Across our Learn, Lead and Inspire themes, we’re bringing together experts from Swim England, ICOACHKIDS, elite sport, medicine, neurodiversity and youth development to help you build positive, high‑performance, and inclusive environments for every swimmer.
Below is a snapshot of some standout sessions that will shape your practice and elevate the experiences of the young athletes you support.
Guiding growth: Supporting swimmers through the junior-to-senior transition
This session explores how coaches can best support junior swimmers as they transition into senior athletes. Led by Swim England’s Physical Preparation Lead, Gemma Hathaway, it outlines the key physical, psychological and social factors that underpin long‑term athlete development. It also covers wider needs such as emotional maturity, nutrition, communication and lifestyle changes.
Opening up the conversation on female health and wellbeing: Puberty, periods and participation
This panel will explore how puberty, body changes, and stigma affect girls’ confidence in aquatic environments, offering clear guidance on supportive conversations about periods, body image, wellbeing and performance. Combining lived experience and medical expertise, it helps coaches, teachers, parents and male allies create safe, inclusive, and stigma free spaces for girls.
Putting children at the heart of coaching
This session will explore what truly child centred coaching looks like in aquatic environments, focusing on meaningful long term development rather than early performance. This session highlights age appropriate competition, children’s voices, and engaging methods like games, guided discovery, and deliberate practice.
Adapting aquatics for neurodivergent participants
This workshop will explore how sensory overwhelm affects neurodivergent swimmers and shows how small, intentional adaptations can transform their experience in the water. Led by experts and neurodivergent voices, it highlights practical ways to build confidence, competence and joyful, inclusive participation.
You don’t want to miss these sessions. Join us at The Vox, Birmingham on Thursday 19 March 2026 and be part of the conversation shaping the future of aquatics.