Swim England
Tickets now on sale for Swim England Pathway Coach Conference 2021
18 August 2021Tickets are now on sale for the inaugural Swim England Pathway Coach Conference 2021.
The conference will feature reflections from coaches who have represented Great Britain at key international junior events through summer 2021, a breakdown of each discipline pathway and working with parents in sport.
It takes place virtually on Sunday 19 September between 9.30am and 4.15pm and is open to coaches from all aquatic disciplines.
Lindsay Trimmings, Swim England coach development manager, said: “We’re thrilled to be hosting the first Swim England Pathway Coach Conference.
“We have a packed programme featuring all aquatic sports and a number of speakers who are experts in their disciplines.
“It promises to be an extremely informative day and we’re really looking forward to seeing many coaches benefit from the wide-range of sessions available.”
The Swim England Pathway Coach Conference is aimed at the following:
- Swimming: Targeted at coaches typically working with age group/early youth competitive swimmers in their early to mid- adolescence years (aged approximately 11-16 years of age) competing at County level and upwards.
- Para Swimming: Targeted at coaches typically working with age group/early youth para-swimmers aged 12-16 years.
- Artistic Swimming: Targeted at coaches typically working with National Age Group and Championship athletes.
- Diving: Targeted at coaches typically working National Age Group or Elite level athletes.
- Water Polo: Targeted at coaches engaged with players typically aged 14-16 years, competing at regional level or involved in the National training programme.
Tickets are priced at £20 and can be booked by clicking here before the closing date of Thursday 16 September.
Links to the sessions will then be sent out to delegates by Saturday 18 September. If you don’t receive these, email [email protected] but please check your junk mail box before getting in touch.
Pathway Coach Conference 2021 programme
All delegates will attend the first three workshops and then choose which sport-specific sessions they sign up to for the afternoon. Click on the drop down menus to find out more about the workshops.
A welcome to attendees and how the day will work.
International Junior Representation as a platform for senior success
Reflections from our cross discipline panel of coaches who have represented Great Britain at key international junior events throughout the summer of 2021.
Led by:
- Swimming – Danielle Brayson (City of Glasgow)
- Para-Swimming – Jacquie Marshall British Swimming)
- Diving – Tom Owens (City of Sheffield)
- Water Polo – Claudio Palumbo (GB U17s coach) and Craig Figes (City of Bristol Water Polo)
- Artistic Swimming – Katie Clark (Swim England)
The Swim England Talent Pathway: 2021-22 Season
Swim England National Talent and Coaching staff from across the disciplines will talk through the pathway delivery plans and coach development opportunities for the 2021-22 season as we look to recover and rebuild from the Covid pandemic.
Led by:
- Swimming and Para-Swimming – Richard Blackshaw, Mike Parker, Tom McManus and Carl Cooper
- Diving – Suzie Collins
- Artistic Swimming – Karen Thorpe and Katie Clark
- Water Polo – Norman Leighton
Working with parents to support key transitions for pathway athletes
As athletes develop, they make numerous transitions both in terms of their sporting and non-sporting lives. This purpose of this session will be to explore the ways in which coaches can work alongside parents to ensure that athletes are fully supported during these often difficult times in their careers.
Led by Gordon MacLelland (Working with Parents in Sport).
2pm-3pm Discipline-specific session one
This session will explore the current science underpinning key training priorities for developing swimmers; taking an approach that allows athletes to reach their long term potential. The speakers will specifically consider ways in which coaches can concurrently develop technical skills alongside physical and physiological attributes when training diversifies and increases during adolescence.
Led by Andy Wallace (Loughborough National Centre), Craig Robertson (City of Leeds and Glenn Smith (Nova Centurion).
Learn the basics drills and techniques in and out the pool for developing lifts that are appropriate to age group athletes. Learning these skills will enhance the quality and best practise to achieve the optimal lift, avoid injuries and develop key skills ready for the athlete to progress.
Led by Karen Thorpe and Katie Clark (Swim England).
This session will cover Periodisation for diving. Looking at why planning is so important, Providing tools of how to best plan a season, enabling coaches to maximise the likelihood of a diver achieving peak performance when it matters most.
Led by Adam Sotheran (British Diving).
Essential skills for U15s, embedding the Fundamentals early doors is the key to a successful future for your player on the talent pathway.
Led by Norman Leighton (Swim England).
3pm-4pm Discipline-specific session two
Linked to our first swimming specific session earlier in the afternoon, this second session will provide an opportunity to discuss key mechanisms for testing and monitoring swimmer progress. Consideration will be given to both ‘in pool’ and ‘out of pool’ protocols for testing/ monitoring, linked to the development of the Future Performance Potential swimmer.
Led by Paul Woodley and Andy Bullimore (Derwentside SC), Chris Alderton (Aquae Sulis) and Steve Bachelor (consultant S&C coach for Swim England para-swimming).
This topic will cover the routine skills that all age group athletes should know. From developing the basic foundation technical routines skills to the development of a high-level age group routine. Covering solo, duets and teams.
Led by Karen Thorpe and Katie Clark (Swim England).
An insight into nutrition from a coach’s perspective. Looking at good habits, best practice and some key dos and don’ts.
Led by Adam Sotheran (British Diving) and Suzie Collins (Swim England).
Periodisation is a crucial to a Water Polo coaches toolbox. As we develop the Water Polo Great Britain and England Programmes, this will be a critical ask of coaches at all levels of the performance pathway to understand, apply and evaluate its impact. Although young athletes are often competing in matches and tournaments, the goal should always be long-term progression and periodisation and this session aims to help you develop quality performances from your players as well as quantity.
Led by Norman Leighton (Swim England).