Coaches for swim club

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 425, 25 February 1992, Page 12

Coaches for swim club

Five volunteers from the Waiouru Swim Club attended a two day coaching clinic for adults in Linton Camp recently. "Our previous coaches had left the area, and we had no fully qualified coaches in the club,"

said Mike Dench, one of the students from the course. The club is one of Waiouru's more popular having over 100 paid-up members. The club caters for school -aged children at all levels from beginners to the more confi-

dent members who compete in local carnivals. The coaching clinic was held over 10-11 February and was conducted by Linton Camp's chief physical training instructor, Warrant Officer Class Two Wayne Cooper. The volunteers who attended the course were Senior Sergeant Mike Dench, Corporal Paul, Sergeant Tanou and the pool supervisors Peter Kalivati and Toots Brown. Mike said the main aim was to increase coaches' knowledge on all aspects of swimming, coaching and club organisation. "The course taught us how to coach swimmers at all stages and how to reeognise a fault and ways to rectify it." Other subjects taught included mechanical principles of swimming and coaching and principles of conditioning. This covered ways of conditioning a swimmer for either competitive or endurance swimming using weights and training aides. The coaches were taught the correct techniques for the four strokes, how to encourage non-confident swimmers and dealing with pre-schoolers in the water. The managerial side of a club was also learnt. This included how to organise a swim club, carnival, and how to pre-

pare a programme for all stages of swimming abilities. Presentations were given by professional coaches Andrew McNearnie (ex RSM of Waiouru) and Margaret Nicholas. Officials from the Palmerston North Amateur Swim Club also explained their committee roles in their club. Mike also holds an adult swimming class for all levels of ability. "Whether it be to improve a stroke or speed, anyone is welcome, on Wednesdays from 6.30 - 7.30pm." The pool has been closed for two weeks for re-painting and cleaning and was due to re-open yesterday.