Clubs have selected divers to attend the February Virtual Athlete and Coach Training Workshop and registrations are now open. The workshop will take place over Zoom on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th February, with 3 exciting presenters! Sam Hydes from Sheffield diving will run two sessions, both focussing on diving specific skills. Divers and parents are invited to attend a session with mindfulness coach Jessica (sessions split by age). Finally, Amy Bryant will run a flexibility session, using techniques adopted from Artistic Swimming training.
Jo Stalley
Extension of Sports England’s Return to Play: Small Grants Fund
Sport England has extended the Return to Play: Small Grants Fund until 30th June to help clubs survive the Covid-19 pandemic. Grants of up to £10,000 are available for clubs to assist with contributing to covering the costs incurred by having to deliver activity in smaller groups than normal, or having the correct hygiene and safety equipment. Funding could also be used for minor amendments to facilities, additional sports equipment, signage, sanitation and training courses to help you deliver your activities safely. We suggest contacting your local Active Partnership as they may be able to give some guidance with the application. Have a look at the Sport England website for further information.
National Para-Swimming Engagement Day
Join the England Para – Swimming Talent Team for a FREE, fun day of workshops and activities, designed to help athletes, coaches and parents / guardians gain valuable information about the development of Para-athletes.
Commonwealth Games 2022 Swimming Team announced
A total of 85 swimmers have been announced for the swim team for the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Congratulations to those from the East Region or those who started their journey in the East including:
Jessica Jane Applegate (City of Norwich) Jordan Catchpole (Team Waveney) Harry Constantine (Hatfield, Dunstable) Louise Fiddes (Hatfield, Welwyn Garden SC) Sophie Freeman (Colchester) Grace Harvey (Hoddesdon) Nathan Hughes (Hatfield, Luton, Biggleswade, Central Beds) Laura Stephens (Harwich, Colchester) Luke Turley (Stevenage, Hatfield)
Stewart and Gerry are named as FINA Swimming Officials
Congratulations to Stewart Murray (West Norfolk SC) and Gerry Metcalf (Biggleswade SC) , who have recently been appointed to the FINA Swimming Officials list until December 2024. Stewart, who has been appointed as a Referee and Gerry as a starter, join Tom Baster (Basildon and Phoenix SC) and Craig Hunter (Hatfield SC) who are already on the FINA Swimming Officials list.
FINA appointments are a huge honour for the individuals and and a recognition of the quality of the officials that we have in East Region. We look forward to seeing you all on poolside at International Meets as soon as possible.
Level 2 Open Water Swimming Coaching Course
Are you interested in becoming a Level 2 Open Water Swimming Coach? The region is investigating interest in the course, by asking any coaches keen to train up, to complete a Register of Interest form found on our coaching courses webpage. If enough coaches are interested, we will get a course booked in as we are able to. Please note, the prerequisite for the course is Level 2 or Full Swimming Coach Certificate.
Happy Christmas and a better New Year!
Thank you for all you have contributed to the sport over this last year, it has certainly been a challenging year for everyone. 2020 has seen our clubs, counties come together with the Region in ways we never have before, and has shown us possibilities we never anticipated.
As we near the end of this horrendous year we pay tribute to all our members for their dedication to swimming, and send our sincere festive wishes to them and their families. We sincerely hope that 2021 will see a return to normality and that this will include the competitions that drive our sport.
Although our staff will be taking leave over the festive period, with everyone returning to work on 4th January, if there is anything urgent you can send us an email at [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Best wishes for the year ahead and thank you again,
from the Swim England East Region President, the regional Management Board and staff.
Open Water Coaching course
The Institute of Swimming have recently outlined how the pathway for coaches to become Open Water qualified operates and how a course can be arranged. For the course to be viable there needs to be at least 8 (or more) participants from within the region. Less than this number would require the other spaces to be made up from participants from outside the region.
The delivery of the course will take place in the following way:
“Classroom”
Learners will be required to undertake on-line sessions delivered via zoom; most probably 2 x 3 hour sessions, though this is still to be finalised. In addition to these zoom sessions there is a requirement to complete self-directed online study and assessment within set time frames. The “classroom” phase of the course concludes with Learners expected to submit 6 session plans for different ranges of ability and to also complete an overview for a series of lessons.
“Practical”
Participants will require to attend practical training and assessment days. This usually involves one session in a pool delivering open water skills and one in the lake showing how to progress these skills from the pool to open water. COVID restrictions may require adjustments to how this part is delivered, however it is hoped that any delay in taking this part would be minimal.
So Coaches, if you are interested in taking this course to expand your skills to include Open Water as a qualification please make your intentions known by completing the form
Swim England National Junior Squad Begins
The team of 71 swimmers met online at the weekend, supported by a strong team of coaches from around the country, including Daniel Fogg (Hatfield SC). Further online camps will take place in the new year until coronavirus restrictions have been lifted which allows for the resumption of competitive activity.
Swim England’s talent team has engaged with more than 600 youngsters during the coronavirus pandemic and has chosen the squad from these swimmers.
Grant Robins, Swim England Head of Talent – Swimming, said: “The selections have been made with inclusion in mind. These unusual times and our method of delivery has also allowed us to be more flexible with numbers and criteria.”
Athletes selected from the East region include;Beth Dennis (City of Peterborough), Angharad Evans (West Suffolk), Reese Housden (Hemel Hempstead), Sara Kalawska (Hatfield), Michael Klimaszewski (Hatfield), Abbie Low (Chelmsford), Amelia Monaghan (City of Peterborough), and Samuel Perks (Basildon Phoenix).
Ian Mackenzie to Continue as Swim England President for a Further Year
Ian Mackenzie (Hoddesdon SC) is the current President for Swim England, but has had little chance to carry out his duties during the coronavirus pandemic. It has now been announced that the Swim England President is to stay in the role for a further 12 months until May 2022.
Ian said: “I am very appreciative of the regional chairs in allowing me to have this extension of my Swim England presidency to May 2022.
“My presidency so far has been unusual to say the least, but life has been unusual for everyone, in particular our athletes.
“I look forward to meeting the athletes again on the poolside and seeing them in competition.
“My thanks also go to Vice President Doug Whitlam for postponing his move to the office of President, not just for a year, but for two years, as the President for the Commonwealth Games year, 2022, Jim Wilks has already been appointed.
Tremendous job
“I am really looking forward to meeting our volunteers again around the country.”
“They do a tremendous job in ensuring that the competitions happen and that the athletes have the best possible experience in our sport.”
Jane Nickerson, Swim England chief executive, appreciated the suggestion made by the regions to extend Ian’s presidency.
“It’s always a great honour to be named Swim England President and everyone relishes the chance to go around the country to watch our fantastic sports and meet the people who make them happen,” she said.
“Unfortunately, the pandemic means Ian hasn’t been able to carry out his role as he would like and I wish to express my thanks to the regions for suggesting he continue in the post for an extra year.
“I’d especially like to thank Doug as well for agreeing to postpone his presidency for two years. It’s a thoughtful gesture which I know is very much appreciated by Ian.”
Dan Pilbrow Selected as Head Coach for the National Event Camp
Congratulations to Dan Pilbrow (Head Coach, West Suffolk SC), for being selected as one of three coaches to head up the National Event Camp. This year over 90 swimmers had been selcted for the online camp.
Some of the key aims of the National Event Camp include developing technical and tactical areas for races, enhancing athletes’ understanding of nutrition, physical and mental wellbeing, and utilising video analysis when pool access is permitted.
British Swimming Launch Innovative Tool For Coaches
British Swimming have recently launched a great tool to help coaches offer even more support to athletes. The innovative CharEQter survey is now live.
The charEQter survey has been developed as a tool for coaches to help quantify the status of their athlete’s characteristics and attributes in line with the Optimal Athlete Development Framework (OADF).
For more information please login to your ‘Off The Blocks’ account. If you are yet to register for this free platform as a swimmer, coach or parent, please head to www.offtheblocks.info
In order for a club to register for the survey, the head coach just needs to send an email [email protected] and British Swimming will send them a form to complete.
