Use this structured approach as a strength in the swimming programme
Structure leads to self-disciplined athletes
Understand Self
Know my strengths
Plan to my strengths
Courage
Courage to do what I believe in
Not swayed by external pressures and ‘trends or fads’
Develop the Whole Swimmer
Apply the human ‘touch’ – the recognition that every individual is unique, bringing to the programme personality, emotionality, ambitions and aspirations, personal circumstances, athleticism, anatomy and physiology
Understanding that sport exists within a wider context
Recognise that an elite or aspiring elite athlete should have a balanced lifestyle enabling athletes to balance the demands of work/study, sport and social events
Provide the rationale to understand what we do, how and when we do it and why?
Science Based Approach
Utilise sports science and sports medicine
Skill the swimmers in knowledge of physiology and correct intensity of efforts, e.g. blood lactate testing and profiling to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the training programme
Musculoskeletal screening for injury prevention to identify strengths and weaknesses
High Standards
Expect high standards of self
Expect high standards from swimmers
Expect swimmers to use the knowledge
Passionate about the Sport and my Profession
Keep up to date with
Training principles
Trends in world swimming
Performances
Integrity
Strive to be true to myself and my coaching philosophy at all times
Practices Underpinning my Coaching Philosophy
Creating a learning environment
Development of swimming technique – all strokes, starts and turns, at an early age combined with on-going monitoring and refinement
Development of an aerobic base with emphasis on maintaining good skills throughout all stages of the training process
Awareness of the athlete’s long term development
Train the physiology, i.e. train the energy systems appropriate to age, maturation and development, and event specialisation
Application of sports science, e.g. blood lactate testing and profiling to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the training programme;
Application of sports medicine support, e.g. injury prevention through specific exercises derived from a muscular-skeletal screening to identify individual strengths and weaknesses
Educate the athlete in the history of the sport, sports nutrition and hydration, rest and regeneration, mental skills, etc
Coach the individual based on individual characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, maturation and development
Develop the team and team-spirit – Promote participation in relays, swim camps, tours, etc
Clear communication between all parties
Mentoring and development of the coaching staff and support group, e.g. parents, volunteers