Potters Bar Swimming Club
Club & Performance Head Coach
Organisation: Potters Bar Swimming Club
Job Type: Contract – Self-Employed
Working Hours: Part time – 20 - 25 hours per week
Rate: Dependent on experience
Location: Potters Bar and Borehamwood
Closing Date: 16th February 2023 (extended from 13th Jan)
Job Reference PBSC Performance Head Coach
Potters Bar Swimming Club in Hertfordshire has an exciting opportunity as head coach, to join our team and manage the Performance Programme in an expanding club with great potential for an ambitious coach.
Potters Bar Swimming Club is a competitive Club affiliated to Swim England. Established in 1968, the Club provides swimming opportunities for young children through to masters. Over the years the Club has developed swimmers to achieve success at club, county, regional and national levels. The club have squads that train regularly at two key locations (Potters Bar and Borehamwood), plus occasional sessions at The London Aquatic Centre at the weekend. Club performance results are improving consistently and there is the potential for a head coach to take the club to the next level, whilst also continuing to cater for all levels of performance standards.
The club now want to further establish itself as a centre of excellence, developing technically skilled swimmers from a young age, in preparation for a successful career in swimming if desired.
The Performance Head Coach will work with the dedicated coaching team in order to develop and drive the Club to perform at a higher level. The successful candidate will have excellent communication (written/ verbal) and management skills, the ability to positively inspire confidence and motivate the swimmers to be the best that they can be. Candidates will be ASA coach qualified and working towards their higher-level coaching qualifications. The hours are to be agreed but will include early morning and evening training sessions, weekend training, attendance at weekend competitions and necessary administration. If the successful candidate has skills and qualifications in dry-land training, we would look to see if that could also be incorporated into the programme.
The Performance Head Coach has a key role at the Club in supporting the Club ethos to encourage children, and young people at all levels of ability and achievement to enjoy and benefit from swimming. The position will require working within the coaching setup, reporting to the Committee, providing leadership to swimmers, coaches, volunteers and parents to facilitate swimmers reaching their full potential.
Main Responsibilities:
· To set direction and performance targets for all Performance Squads, specifically relating to the development of an effective squad structure in conjunction with the Junior Squad Head Coach) that feeds in to the Performance Squads.
· Provide a committed and professional approach towards coaching and supporting ALL swimmers to reach their full potential. Facilitate setting individual goals, outlining appropriate training and competition plans for those swimmers qualifying/aspiring to county, regional, and national competitions. Communication with parents / guardians to support the above.
· Actively encourage members to take part in competitions and put effective processes in place to monitor and understand the reasons for changes in participation levels.
· To construct a scientifically based annual training and competition programme based around the principles of long-term athlete development. Prepare or oversee the preparation of training session plans for the performance squads and allocate water time to the squads accordingly.
· Work with, support, and mentor all coaches. Develop an education strategy to enhance existing coaching skills, with specific focus on elite-level skills to align with the club vision.
· Ensure that the appropriate level of coaching and teaching is available for all Squad Sessions through managing the club rota. Some of this responsibility may be delegated to other coaches where appropriate.
· Along with other senior coaches, provide a swimmer/parent education programme focusing on a variety of swimming related topics and lifestyle issues.
· Create and manage events in the online system (Team Unify and Hytek), alongside the Gala Secretary and other administrative support.
· Attend all appropriate competitions (Open meets, Counties, Regionals etc) and training camps as detailed in the racing and training plan. Attend all club championships. Delegate appropriately to squad coaches and team managers where necessary.
· Monitor swimmers’ progress and co-ordinate swimmer transition within the squad structure (in conjunction with the other squad coaches), and relay information to relevant committee members in a timely manner.
· Working with the team manager, oversee the selection of swimmers for Club competitions (including relay events at county/regional championships) and ensure distribution of team lists giving ample notification to members. The Club Head Coach assumes ultimate responsibility for team selections and aligns to club policy.
· Perform a management role and organise regular meetings for all coaching staff. In conjunction with the other coaches, set performance targets for the entire Club as well as other areas of Club development including attending East Region meetings.
· Interact and consult with the Executive Committee and attend monthly Committee meetings as required.
· Liaise with the pool operators to plan the overall schedule at the facilities, i.e. pool bookings and land training.
· Attend to other such general duties associated with the post of Performance Head Coach including participating in the recruitment of the coaching team.
· Follow health and safety procedures and the Swim England Child Protection Policy. Be aware and understand the facility Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and Normal Operating Procedures (NOP).
· Work with the Learn-to-Swim coordinator to bring new swimmers into our academy, manage the teaching rota, and set the teaching plan.
· Provide coaching (setting sessions / developing skills & technique) to the Masters squad when there isn’t a clash with Performance squad duties. This includes setting the sessions aligned to the Masters competitive programme, detailed by the Chairman.
· Optional – manage the dry-land programme and manage the Learn-to-Swim (PBSC Academy) programme.
Skills and Qualities Needed:
· Swim England Swimming Coach qualifications (previously L2). Swim England Senior Coach preferred (L3), but not mandatory.
· Demonstrable experience in coaching to at least Regional level, with personal competitive swimming background preferred.
· Extremely self-motivated.
· Ability to coach, mentor and motivate others.
· High levels of technical knowledge across all strokes, the racing start and turns.
· Sports science knowledge with the understanding of how to implement successful cyclical training programmes for elite performance, including a strong understanding of tapering for peak performance.
· An understanding of the different requirements of sprinters, middle distance and distance swimmers and the creativity to implement specific training to those needs, whilst balancing the overall session.
· Reliable, with some flexibility to provide cover for other coaches at short notice.
· Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills –especially through communication to the swimmers and parents, including at some presentation style events.
· A strong level of administrative and management skill, and strong degree of IT literacy.
· A science-based knowledge and understanding of dry land strength, power, flexibility and injury prevention methods is desirable
This Job Description sets out the main responsibilities of the role but it should not be taken as a complete description of the role in its entirety.
Reporting to:
Potters Bar Swimming Club General Committee
Appointed by:
Potters Bar Swimming Club Executive Committee
All applications will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
Please note, candidates that apply and meet the criteria will be invited to an interview as soon as possible as there is an immediate position to fill.
How to apply
Applications should be made by submitting the following:
· Cover letter including a personal statement addressing the essential criteria and why you believe your skills, experience and values meet the requirements of the position.
· Comprehensive CV, including 2 references.
Contact email
