Workforce Development Update

Edition 15: 1 July 2008

Workforce Development have two new members of staff - Melissa Barlow, Workforce Development Manager and Paul Hipkins, Senior Administrator, Awarding Body. Both will be based at 35 Granby Street, Loughborough.

Leeds Metropolitan University was announced as the new UK Centre for Coaching Excellence by Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe last week.  The asa and other sporting Governing Bodies are fully supporting the development of the Centre, which is the first of its kind in the UK and will benefit up and coming coaches in swimming and a wide range of other sports to help them reach the top and help drive a legacy of sporting success for British athletes.  To read more click here.

Teachers and coaches can benefit from the expertise of two of America's most renowned coaches at an event in September supported by the asa, British Swimming and Kellogg's.  Frank Busch, Head Coach, University of Arizona Wildcats and Dave Marsh, CEO and Head Coach Mecklenberg Aquatics Club will be joined by fellow presenters Patrick Miley (Hannah Miley's father), Marc Spackman (who works with Lizzie Simmonds) and Bill Furniss at the 2008 British Swimming Coaches & Teachers Association Swimming Coaching Conference on 26-28 September at the Hinckley Island Hotel in Leicestershire.  Full details available at www.bscta.com

A new CPD has been added to the training directory.  The Adult & Child seminar aims to encourage teachers to pursue the Level 2 Adult and Child teaching qualification. Click here to read more.

Yet more positive feedback has been received from candidates over the past couple of weeks: A candidate who attended a Level 1 Certificate for Teaching Aquatics courses said 'Just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for a really enjoyable course. I learnt such a lot.... and still have such a lot to learn but really want to continue and get on practising now'.

Manchester coach Kevin Nuttall issued a ringing endorsement of the Level 3 Certificate for Coaching Swimming: 'I would like to take this opportunity to say the UKCC Level 3 course has been both informative and enjoyable. I would just like to say a big thank you to you [Colin Huffen] and Ian [Freeman] for all the support you have personally given me and other candidates on the course over the last 12 months and to also thank Ian Oliver for his support, not only through replying and answering my numerous emails, but also for his kind words of encouragement to myself and my young swimmer at our first Olympic Trials. He is a truly great coach and a wonderful man. The future of British swimming and the standard of swimming throughout England look healthier with you and your dedicated team providing these excellent courses, you are certainly raising the standard of knowledge to the next generation of coaches. Well done! Please circulate my gratitude to all your team.'

Harry Peacock, Swim Programme Manager at CADSART (Chester & District Sport and Recreation Trust) said 'thanks for excellent Mini-polo! CPD presentation. All staff enjoyed it!'  After they ran an NPTS Overview CPD in January, as well as Mini-Polo! CADSART also held sessions for Flip n fun and Aquafun at their staff training week with around 20 swimming teachers attending each session. CADSART are actively working towards Aquamark accreditation and also plan to transfer to the revised National Plan for Teaching Swimming later this year.

Thanks for reading,

If you would like future editions of this update emailed straight to you as soon as they become available, please send your contact details to claire.freeman@swimming.org

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