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Club Captains report 2009

What happened this year?

The level of swimming continues to improve which has been acknowledged by parents, other clubs, professional swimming coaches including the late Duncan Laing and Swimming NZ. This is verified by Alicia Mulligan (head coach) who was recently awarded the Otago University Blues Award for her contribution to swimming. Another contributing factor is the dedication of our coaches whose skills are also higher due to the reflexive attitude the committee and coaches have adopted over the last three years. This has resulted in the introduction of the following initiatives:

• coaches to attend higher skilled courses
• Coaches meetings to exchange ideas and support each other.
• Coach sessions run by ourselves
• Use of the flume and the dive world (snorkeling skills) to enhance coaching skills.
• Water safety – the use of life jackets (new).
• Participation at swim carnivals
• Mentoring coaching programme – a new coach is paired with an experienced coach.
• Use of note books by coaches to record their reflection and the swimmers progress.
• Use of Swimming NZ lesson plans and DVD as guides
• Re-introduction of the Club Champs
• Endurance swim
• Introduction to other aquatic sports.

Recent success: Since 2007 the club has helped produce 20 competitive swimmers who now swim for the elite swimming clubs (Waves 4, OSCA 14 and outside clubs 2). These are our future coaches with a wealth of knowledge (11 swim at national level). 4 ex-swimmers play water poll at regional level, 1 does Synchronise swimming (national competition) and under-water hockey. Most use swimming to keep fit for non-aquatic sports.

Learner Pool: The swimmers confidence, good behaviour and positive attitude towards swimming is very commendable and a reflection of the ability and personality of the coaches. This group of coaches set the foundation for those in the main pool. Special mentions for the young coaches who do not have parenting experience but yet are doing a great job. They are a valuable resource, especially for the future of the club.

Shallow Pool: Over the last several years the ‘breast stroke’ was poorly taught and the ‘butterfly stroke’ was non-existence. This was not a reflection of the coaches, but a result of the shortage of coaches, limited experience (no ex-competitive swimmers) and goals of the members at that time. We have just started to rectify this problem which will be a slow process as the priority is to develop the many new and young coaches. However, due to the changes in the learner pool and coaching development initiative over the last year, the standard of swimming in the shallow pool is even superior to 6 months ago.

Deep Pool: Although the breast stroke and fly still require plenty of work, we must consider that 4 years ago a majority of swimmers in the main pool were 12 years and over, and now the majority are under 12 with the youngest being 8 years of age. There are even more boys today and these swimmers swim greater distances.

Committee: A very dedicated and supportive group, they are the backbone of the club liaising between the coaches, and between the coaches and the parents.

Karini Wallace
Club Captain
Dunedin Swimming Club