COACH PROFILE

QUALIFICATIONS:

I have my Club Coaches qualification which I gained in 2004,having worked my way through all the qualifications leading up to it.

I also have my Teacher Rescue certificate, Safeguarding certificate I have also attended numerous Coaching Development days and seminars.

 

MY COACHING JOURNEY

I began my teaching and coaching journey with Brent Dolphins where I volunteered to coach the Development Squad,then in 2002 I became assistant head Coach at the City of St Albans SC where I coached all squads from width swimmers through to Masters.In 2004 I was lucky enough to move forward and I was offered the position of Head Coach,I remained in this position until 2008 when I decided that the group I really  enjoyed coaching the most was the younger swimmers and in 2008 I made the move to Watford swimming club as Head of Development a position I have enjoyed for 12 years and hope to continue for many more.

I am also Head Coach of St Albans Masters Swimming Club who I have coached since 2002 and again I love every minute of it

 

MY SWIMMING JOURNEY

I can not remember when I couldn’t swim,but the wonderful journey into competitive swimming began with Haringey SC when I was around 6 years old and my love for this wonderful sport was given to me by my first coach Jim Millbank,and at 9 years old I won Counties on Breaststroke.

At the age of 10½ wanting to increase my hours I moved to Mermaid and Marlin SC at Swiss Cottage and Highgate where under Al Richards I achieved not only Counties but Regionals on all strokes and distances.  

Then at 12, I moved to Hatfield SC and was coached by Kelvin Juba who took me one step further and I made Nationals on backstroke 3 years in a row,a stroke I have enjoyed swimming ever since.

My last club before hanging up my goggles was very small, it only had around 8 swimmers called West Herts Water Rats who swam at Hemel Hempstead outdoor pool in the mornings and Astley Cooper school pool in the evenings.

I did many years later dust of my goggles and hat and joined Brent Dolphins Masters and competed in a few local galas.

 

PHILOSOPHY / AIMS

  • I believe that all swimmers should be coached to their full potential on all 4 strokes and all distances whether it is to be a good club swimmer or a National swimmer while having fun reaching their goals.
  • I would also like all swimmers to continue swimming throughout their lives not give up due to being pushed too hard too soon when young,I believe in nurturing the swimmer through each
  • Stage of their swimming development,so their passion for swimming is never lost.

 

HOBBIES

  • I still swim when I can but only for pleasure – Water is in my blood 
  • Genealogy and I have managed to trace my paternal line back to 1625.
  • Reading especially Crime whether Fiction or True but I will read anything that is interesting.
  • Gardening – I find this so relaxing and to see a bud blossom in to a flower is magical.