Coaching

Setting measurable goals for a novice swimmer is one of my favourite parts of coaching — it’s where hope meets structure, and small changes turn into real progress. Over the years at Bishopsworth Swimming Club I’ve seen how a clear, measurable plan transforms nervous beginners into confident swimmers who turn up to their first race ready to perform. Below I share the approach I use with new swimmers and parents, answers to common...

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Giving feedback is part of coaching — and yet it’s one of the trickiest skills to get right. I’ve been a swimmer, coach, and club editor long enough to know that the same words can lift one athlete and deflate another. Over the years I’ve developed a toolbox of conversation starters that help me give precise, actionable feedback without denting confidence. Below I share those phrases, the thinking behind them, and practical ways to use...

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One of the most enjoyable headaches of coaching club swimming is setting a relay order. Get it right and the team looks like a well-oiled machine; get it wrong and you can lose more than a few tenths — sometimes the race. Over the years with Bishopsworth squads, I’ve tested plenty of orders, argued with parents and swimmers, and learned a few reliable rules that I now use every time I pick a four-person relay.Why relay order matters (more...

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Designing training sets that keep swimmers of different abilities engaged and getting better is one of my favourite — and trickiest — parts of coaching. At Bishopsworth Swimming Club I see wide ranges of speed, technique and training history in every session. If you’re running a mixed-age or mixed-ability session, you don’t want anyone standing around bored or, worse, being pushed so hard they lose confidence. Below I share the practical...

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