TEAM GAINS EXPERIENCE AS IT SHADOWS WORLDS SQUAD
The next generation of elite coaches are being given a valuable
insight into the mechanics of Britain's World Championship
swimming squad as they closely monitor preparations ahead
of the Melbourne event later this month.
British Swimming is hosting an off-site team of coaches to
shadow the World Championship squad in order to gain more
experience and create a better understanding of the international
swimming environment.
And the coaches have been joined, off-site, by a team of
sports science staff who will use the next four weeks to put
together a complete catalogue of information on the swimmers
to be used to develop athletes ahead of next year's Beijing
Olympics.
The team will follow the British Swimming squad from the
first day of the Gold Coast preparation camp right the way
through to the final day of World Championship competition
a month later.
Head Coach Ian Turner welcomes the assistance and insight
the off-site team is providing to what is a busy team with
a total of 39 athletes utilising three 50m outdoor pools as
part of the Gold Coast camp.
"What we're trying to do is to give more world quality
experience to a larger number of coaches," said Turner.
" We have to recognise that 2012 is only five years away
and we need to ensure the coaches on the pool deck for Britain
in London have the right amount of experience."
The off-site team will meet everyday to discuss what they've
witnessed and learned, and opportunity will be provided to
offer feedback to members of the World Championship squad.
"It's about ensuring we give the right opportunities
to the right people to ensure we get the right result further
down the line," continued Turner. "Coaching is about
experience as well as knowledge and skills, and the more opportunities
we provide, the better coaches we will have coming through
the British system.
"The sports scientists are very much hands on and will
be used extensively to support the coaching staff. They'll
monitor lactate levels, stroke rates and take video analysis
of performances and relay take-overs.
"The sports science group have a comprehensive system
of analysing the well-being and recovery of athletes following
the 24-hour travel from the UK and 10-hour time difference
and that's vital.
"The temperature on the Gold Coast is 33 Celsius with
high humidity everyday. The outdoor pools we're using make
it essential that we monitor rehydration of the athletes at
the end of every session.
"The sports science group will put together an extensive
library of information that will help British Swimming when
it moves into China prior to the Beijing Olympics next year."
One of the group following the British squad is City of Leeds
coach Louise Graham. A member of the UK Sport Elite Coaching
development group, she is learning valuable lessons from her
time with the squad.
"For me I want to see how the team dynamics work on
the preparation camp. I want to see how the team goes into
the meet and how the coaches interact and cope with that.
"From a coaching perspective we've got the best coaches
in Britain here and I want to see how they deal with the pressures
they'll face at the World Championships and the decisions
they will have to take.
"It will provide a massive boost to me as a coach and
is an invaluable experience as I continue my development."
The British Swimming Off-site team comprises:
Sylvia Armiger - British Swimming Management
Stephen Hill - City of Glasgow coach
Russ Barber - City of Sheffield coach
Don Talbot - British Swimming coach
Louise Graham - City of Leeds coach
Graeme Antwhistle - Stockton-on-Tees coach
Jodi Cossor - Sports Science
Emma Deakin - Physiotherapy
The 12th FINA World Championships will take place in Melbourne,
Australia from 17th March until 1st April 2007.
Synchro takes place from 17th to 24th March
Open Water takes place from 18th to 25th March.
Diving takes place from 19th to 26th March.
Swimming takes place from 25th March to 1st April.
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