COACH CINDY
I was a county level swimmer and a lifeguard in high school in the US and I also taught swimming through the Red Cross. Upon moving to the UK, I realised that my idea of good swimming lessons differed from what was on offer locally, so I requalified to teach in the UK, joined a swim teaching group at a nearby pool and worked at that venue on and off for over 15 years.
My daughter became an avid competitive swimmer and, to support her swim club, I began to teach the youngest squad and I am now the head teacher for the club, passing my swimmers on to the performance coaches for advancement. Through our swim club, I co-founded a disability swimming programme where we provide lessons for children with a wide range of physical and developmental disabilities, taught by competitive swimmers, teachers from other programmes, disability specialists, and augmented by students doing their Duke of Edinburgh volunteering awards. These activities have become my passion and focus. I also work with the Red Cross Refugee Destitution Centre and have offered several courses of swimming instruction for refugee women with absolutely no water experience in a sensitive and modest environment befitting their backgrounds and beliefs.
Swimming and water confidence are key life skills and I fervently believe everyone needs to gain these skills. Swimming is a sport that EVERY person can enjoy, no matter what their physical or mental state, and no matter what age. I see incredible improvements in swimmers’ happiness and health as they learn new skills and gain confidence.
I have learned several methods of swimming teaching and feel I have been able to combine them, over 20 years of active, in-the-water teaching and poolside coaching, to produce a sensitive, swimmer-reactive method of teaching and instilling confidence. Working with disabled children has been a key to this. My ways of communicating, explaining, demonstrating, and rewarding swimmers has become more considered and sensitive as a result. I speak to all swimmers in an age appropriate and not condescending way, and always engage with them individually.