As a Level 3 Hockey Coach, Level 2 Basketball Coach, and Level 2 Swimming Coach, my coaching journey has been a dynamic and fulfilling one. While I am currently not actively involved in swimming, I am coaching hockey and basketball, constantly seeking to make a difference in the lives of my athletes.
swimming
|
From 2007 to 2011, I delivered the Top-Up Swimming programme for the (now dissolved) Shepway School Sport Partnership. This involved working with Year 6 non-swimmers from local primary schools, giving them the opportunity to gain water confidence and ultimately, swim 25m non-stop. I found this programme intrinsically rewarding, seeing the children take pride in their achievements and appreciate what a valuable life skill they have learned, especially living in Folkestone with its beaches and military canal on their doorstep. |
 |
Basketball
|
I was a player/coach for one season at Folkestone Ladies Saints, but it was tricky to coach and play to the best of my ability, so we found a non-playing coach for the subsequent seasons, with myself as Assistant Coach. This role involves discussing the content and progressions to be used in each training session, and debating team tactics for the next game, taking into consideration our strengths and the susceptible aspects of our opponents. Last season, we won the 3rd place play-off in the East Kent Cup competition. This year, we went one further, just losing out to a strong Dartford team in the final. Hoping to take that next big step to the top of the tree next season. |
 |
Hockey
I was a player/coach/captain at New Romney Hockey Club in the early 2000s, but we were a grass pitch club and lost members (current and prospective) to other local clubs who had access to an astroturf pitch. When New Romney HC folded, I took a couple of seasons off from playing hockey but became one of Canterbury Hockey Club’s army of volunteers. I completed my Level 2 and 3 Hockey Coaching Awards there and became aware of how they work together to offer hockey and social events to people aged 6 to 86!
I do some coaching at the club (holiday camps and age-group teams) and for a while, I visited local primary schools to deliver hockey sessions on behalf of the club. I took a bag of equipment with me and made sure the sessions were fun and not overly competitive. This opportunity led to some of the participants joining the junior section and playing competitive matches against other clubs. The staff at the schools received coaching packs in the hope that hockey would continue to be offered after my sessions had finished.
At a regional level, I was Assistant Coach for the U15 then U17 Kent and South-East boys’ teams. I got involved in the selection process (never easy or pleasant for the ones who don’t make it), putting a series of training sessions together in preparation for upcoming matches/tournaments and game management during matches, some of which were hard-fought contests with qualification to the next level at stake. There were also selectors watching games, looking for future internationals, so part of my role was to keep players calm, composed and enjoying their hockey, regardless of the outcome. I was also responsible for organising social events before, in between and after games, to aid recovery and boost team cohesion. Ideas included pool tournaments, ten-pin bowling, mini golf and boat trips.
Just before the pandemic, I was coaching an after-school hockey club for a local girls’ grammar school. They used the pitch at Polo Farm (home of Canterbury HC) and they were able to borrow a stick if they didn’t own their own. For many, it was a first chance to try hockey, and many went on to purchase their own sticks and now play regularly for the school and club.
Summary
|
The thing I like best about coaching is the legacy element – knowing that my input into someone’s life has a positive impact on their long-term physical, social and mental health. |
 |