Innovative coaching boost for swimming clubs in Alloa & Stirling

With the Commonwealth Games approaching in 2014, the focus on leaving a legacy of sporting excellence to inspire our young people is critical. The emphasis on coaches and coaching is now recognised as a fundamental component of this sporting pathway.

Each partner is contributing to enable each club to secure the services of a qualified coach to deliver poolside training for their club in conjunction with study for the MSc in Sports Coaching at the University of Stirling . The coaches also contribute to UG teaching programmes in Sports Studies.

The 2 year project will ensure that the two clubs continue to develop and strengthen the swimmer and coach pathway and link closely with the local authority swimming development programmes.

“This is exactly where the club wants to be, in a position of strength, supporting both the club swimmers and club coach to develop together” said Craig Rankine from Alloa Amateur Swimming Club.

Alan Lynn, from the University of Stirling added “this model is ideally placed to significantly contribute to the wider development of a professional coaching workforce and could easily be extended to other clubs and sports”.

“This is a prime example of successful regional partnership working, bringing together individual strength and resource to collectively make a significant sporting impact within clubs and coaching” said Rob Hardie, partnership manager of SportCentral.

“The continuity and experience of a performance coach in the club is invaluable, in addition there is a exciting edge to club session developed from experiences gained from the MSc in sports coaching” said Henriette Laidlaw , President of Stirling Swimming. 

For further information visit www.sportcentral.org.uk or call SportCentral Tel :01324 590720

Notes to Editors:-

SportCentral is a partnership consisting of the following key partners Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling Councils, Active Stirling, Central Scotland Institute of Sport, The University of Stirling, and selected Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport. The partnership is also supported by and works closely with sportscotland

Who are we
Sport Central is one of two pilot Sports Partnerships in Scotland .

What we do
Sport Central helps partners work together to improve opportunities for people to take part and progress in sports in the Forth Valley area.

How we do it
Sport Central co-ordinates and facilitate sports programmes and activities at a local and regional level, ensuring they are closely aligned to the national SGB plan for the sport.