Despite the awful weather conditions 50 coaches from around the region managed to make it to the Cambridge Belfry at Cambourne for the first ASA East Region Coaches Day.

The event was organised by the ASA East Region Technical Swimming Committee and funded from the Development budget which comes from the swimmers fees at Licensed Open Meets and the ASA Coaching Team. The aim was to improve the most swimmers possible by upskilling their Coaches rather than holding a camp for a limited number of swimmers.

There were two CPD’s in the morning, aimed at training those taking part in the skills needed to improve swimmers swim strength. The CPD’s included practical and technical instruction and swimmers would have been intrigued to see their coaches performing with Medicine Balls and Swiss Balls, which from the look of them they really enjoyed.

After a lunch Nick Juba (Hatfield SC) related his experiences in producing a highly successful club with Swimmers right up to Olympic standard and his philosophy in making swimmers and Parents part of the club and creating enthusiastic swimmers, and supporters.

The day finished with a talk by Nick Sellwood (Manager of the ASA English Talent Programme) who told the coaches about the aims of the ASA Talent Programme and how they and their swimmers can benefit from it. He also provided the latest guidance for land based exercises that can be used for swimmers up to 11 years that will improve their swimming and can be done with no equipment except a ‘Thera Band’. This was the first time this guidance had been released but it will shortly be available on request.