SWIMMING
ESF Swimming News

Updated 31 May 2010

Introducing….Randy Simon, ESF Squad Coach Swimming

American Swimming Coaches Association, Level 2 Coach
Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association, International Bronze Coaching License

Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, USA, Randy started competitive swimming at the age of 6 and eventually achieved National qualifying times.

After graduating from High School Randy joined the U.S. Marines and started coaching the following year. Starting as an Assistant Coach for his old High School team, Randy soon moved on to what he feels has been his biggest challenge as a coach, the “adapted aquatics” Buckeye Wheeler Swim Team. While working with the team, Randy coached one swimmer to two US records in the 100m I.M. and the 50m Butterfly. After two short years with the Wheelers, Randy was forced to move on after switching from the U.S. Marines to the U.S. Air Force. His new assignment led him to new coaching challenges working with a Y.M.C.A. team and his Air Force Base Swim Team. After leaving the service in 1991, Randy settled in Wisconsin and was soon back coaching, this time with the local team. After a few years with the team, Randy was approached and accepted a position as an Assistant Coach for the Ripon College swim team. He took over as Head Coach a year later and was successful at coaching his team to 10 women’s school records and 3 conference champions. In 2003 Randy began work with the South Mississippi Surf Swim Team and led his team to producing 9 State Champions, 2 State High Point Award winners, 2 State Records, 1 Age Group Sectional Champion (2 events), and a 2nd place finisher (Age Group) in the 2003 Beacon Realty International 5K Open Water competition in Grand Cayman. Moving teams in 2005, Randy produced 5 more State Champions in 38 events, breaking 10 more State records, and qualifying 2 swimmers for the YMCA National Championship, and 1 USA Swimming Top-16 swimmer, and 2 YMCA National Top-16 swimmers.

While in Mississippi Randy also served as the States Coaches Representative to USA Swimming from 2004-2006 and served on the Mississippi Swimming Board of Review for 2005 and 2006.

Moving abroad to Brisbane, Australia, in 2008, Randy worked as Head Coach with a developing squad, and continued to produce quality swimmers in what is arguably the most competitive swimming region in the world. Growing the team from 60 members to 207 in a year and a half, Randy also coached the team to 5 Queensland State Championship qualifiers, 1 Australian Primary School National Championships swimmer (placed 3rd), two Queensland State Primary School Championship swimmers. One additional swimmer was selected for the Queensland Junior Development Squad, and 22 team members were awarded Australian Junior Excellence Awards.

In addition to coaching swimming, Randy counts his 9 months as the Shaw AFB (Deployed) volleyball coach as one of the most fascinating and rewarding experiences he has had. Through this Randy was able to compete as a player/coach against the United Arab Emirates Olympic Volleyball Team in 1990 while deployed to the country during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Randy has since enjoyed success in another sport as well, winning a USA National Championship in 2001 as a member of the Battleship Rugby Football Club (Union) in Mobile, Alabama.

Randy is a member of the American Swimming Coaches Association, Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association, and the Positive Coaching Alliance.

 
Development of Competitive Swimming in the ESF Programme

The squad development section of the swimming programme will be undergoing some changes in the lead-up to the new academic year commencing August 2010.

Those swimmers in Barracudas, Killerwhales and Sharks will form one squad under the leadership of Randy Simon and will train together at their respective swimming pools.
The squad sessions will use 6 lanes of the pool, with up to 8 swimmers of similar training ability in each lane. Having other swimmers to train with promotes competition and stimulates further improvements.

There will be two regular coaches at each site who will deliver the programme set by the Squad Coach; this will ensure consistency throughout the squad.
The programmes will concentrate on improving stroke technique, be set around specific targets for improving swimmers’ times and focus on certain competitions during the year.
All squad swimmers will be encouraged to train more than once a week, should they wish to do so.

There are currently a number of swimmers who have already achieved Hong Kong ASA Division II and Division III qualifying times, which is highly commendable. The vision is to progress those swimmers into the next Division and ensure other swimmers achieve those qualifying times also.
It is with this in mind that we would like to encourage all squad swimmers to register with the Hong Kong ASA.

Other objectives include the development of the website as a more useful resource for information on the competitive programme; the implementation of a dry land programme and further education for coaches, swimmers and parents.

We hope to introduce a more interactive, fun swimming environment for our swimmers to enjoy their swimming experience!
 

Updated 20 May 2010

Swimming Coaching Course ~ UK ASA Level 1 Aquatics
ESF Sports has recently been approved as an Education Centre for UK Amateur Swimming Association which will allow ESF to run accredited Swimming Teaching and Coaching courses. We are pleased to announce that the first ASA Level Aquatics will be held in June 2010.

The ASA Level 1 Aquatics course introduces candidates to ‘how to teach’ and ‘what to teach’, covering the fundamentals of swimming and key underpinning skills through games and activities which offers the opportunity for any interested adults over the age of 16yrs to learn how to teach / coach swimming.

If you would like to consider becoming a swimming teacher / coach, please click here for more details and download the Application Form.


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