COACH PROFILE

Having taken early retirement from swimming (aged 8) to focus on my Football Career, I returned to the sport in early 2014 when answering the Club call for volunteers whilst at Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club.

Having initially taken my Level 1 coaches course in the summer of 2014, I was encouraged to progress to level 2 which I passed in April 2015, and in season 2015/2016 was given the Development (Junior) squads at Hemel to look after.

A year later I was asked to lead the County Squad, producing all the training plans based on the Head Coaches ‘Team calendar’. During the next 2 years I was privileged enough to work with a number of County medallists, and Regional Qualifiers, some of which will progress to Nationals.

As swimming takes up a large proportion of time in our house, I have always found it more fun to be involved with the squads, than to be just a spectator. In my 5 years at Hemel, I was fortunate to watch some of the younger swimmers I coached mature into young adults and progress in swimming or other sports.

If people are to learn and perform at their best, they need to enjoy what they are doing. I returned to the pool myself in 2015, mainly to assist my coaching, and that summer became Hertfordshire Open Water Champion in my age category.

With 4 children (3 swimmers and a footballer), there is no spare time to pursue too many outside activities. I get a lot of enjoyment from being involved in youth sport with my kids, but I plan to swim more regularly, and to start cycling again, as well as get to more live sporting events.