The Swim Wales Coach Development Pathway is designed to support the holistic development of coaches across Wales and provide appropriate learning opportunities for coaches from Development level through to High Performance.
The Pathway is progressive by nature, aligning to the Swim Wales National Squad Pathway and Skills Academy, and encompasses three programmes to complement the athlete performance level each coach is primarily coaching at.
Swim Wales
National Team Coach Programme
To enable Wales’ highest performing swimmers and para-swimmers to realise their goals and aspirations we need a dedicated group of coaches who will be prepared to immerse themselves into a shared learning experience and passionately deliver coaching of the highest standards throughout the Swim Wales National Squad Programme.
The selected team of coaches will help Swim Wales bring the National Squad Programme to life by sharing their knowledge, skills and experience at the pinnacle of the athlete pathway in Wales.
Selected coaches will be encouraged to demonstrate their willingness to develop new skills and be a student of the sport enabling them to enhance their home club programmes and the wider Swim Wales pathway.
The National Team Coach Programme is aimed at High Performance and Performance coaches working with athletes who have been selected to the Swim Wales Elite, Elite Transition, Senior Performance and Youth Performance Squads and will offer a range of exciting opportunities to the selected coaches including:
- Opportunities to coach Wales’ best swimmers and para-swimmers
- Experiential learning at Swim Wales domestic National Squad camps
- Experiential learning at Swim Wales International competitions
- Access to online and in person workshops led by the Swim Wales Performance Team, Sport Wales and invited experts
- Opportunities to network and develop relationships with Swim Wales Performance Team Staff, Swim Wales High Performance Coaches, and other Performance Coaches from across Wales.
Selections to this Programme will be made on an annual basis in September by the Swim Wales National Performance Director, Swim Wales National Coach, and Swim Wales Performance Development Coach and Pathway Manager.
For further information about this programme please contact Swim Wales National Coach Graeme Antwhistle at [email protected]
Swim Wales
Performance Foundations Coach Development Programme
Setting a solid foundation of performance knowledge, skills and behaviours is critical to enable Wales’ most talented young swimmers and para-swimmers to fulfil their potential.
The Performance Foundations Coach Development aligns to, and supports, the Swim Wales Performance Foundations Programme, the introductory step on the Swim Wales National Squad Pathway.
Coaches selected to the Performance Foundations Coach Development Programme will be invited to attend the Swim Wales National Squad Programme activities in line with the Performance Foundations Squad. Within these activities, coaches will work directly with Swim Wales High Performance Coaches, actively supporting their delivery of technical masterclasses throughout the season.
The Performance Foundations Coach Development Programme is aimed at Performance Club Assistant Coaches and Development Club Head Coaches working with athletes who have been selected to the Swim Wales National Squad Pathway and will offer exciting opportunities to the selected coaches including:
- Opportunities to coach Wales’ most talented young performance swimmers and para-swimmers
- Experiential learning at Swim Wales Performance Foundations camps, including technical masterclasses from Swim Wales High Performance Coaches
- Access to online and in person workshops led by the Swim Wales Performance Team, Sport Wales and invited experts
- Opportunities to network with Swim Wales Performance Team Staff, Swim Wales High Performance Coaches, and other coaches from across Wales.
Selections to this Programme will be made on an annual basis in September by the Swim Wales National Performance Director, Swim Wales National Coach, and Swim Wales Performance Development Coach and Pathway Manager.
For further information about this programme please contact Swim Wales Performance Development Coach and Pathway Manager Alys Thomas at [email protected]
Swim Wales
Skills Academy Coach Development Programme
Launched in September 2024, the Swim Wales Skills Academy is an initiative designed to increase both the quality and quantity of swimmers and para-swimmers entering the Performance Pathway across the country. By providing a comprehensive development programme for swimmers, coaches, and parents, the academy creates opportunities to nurture talent and support progression during the important transition from development to performance.
The Skills Academy Coach Development Programme will provide learning opportunities relating to the following areas:
- Pathway Education – Workshops on navigating the Swim Wales pathway, including detailed guidance on how the National Squad Programme integrates with club-level pathways.
- Winning Behaviours – Introduction to the behaviours and habits essential for long-term success in the sport.
- Technical Development – Participation in technical masterclasses delivered by leading Performance and High performance Coaches linked to the Swim Wales Drill Progression Frameworks, with particular focus on starts, turns and underwater phases.
- Strength and conditioning guidance tailored to pre and post-pool routines.
The Skills Academy will be delivered through a flexible, roadshow-style format across various counties in Wales and the Skills Academy Coach Development Programme is open to professional and volunteer coaches from all clubs across Wales working with swimmers aged 11-14 and para-swimmers aged 11-15 (Maximum of 2 coaches per club).
For further information about this programme please contact Swim Wales Performance Development Coach and Pathway Manager Alys Thomas at [email protected]
