Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Approaching SWIMCON24 SCTA’s Brendon Ward charts success of Australian swimming

Approaching SWIMCON24 SCTA’s Brendon Ward charts success of Australian swimming
September 17, 2024

With SWIMCON24 - Australia’s premier conference for swim coaches and teachers, aquatic professionals and industry leaders - opening later this week, Brendon Ward, Chief Executive of event host SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia has shared his thoughts on Australia’s 2024 success in elite swimming and its future potential.

Speaking in the aftermath of the Paris 2024 Games, Ward advised “the Australia Dolphins Swimming Team have just completed an outstanding Olympic campaign hauling an impressive collection of medals. This is a massive credit to our athletes and equates to Australia having the best coaches and support teams in the world.

“In swimming, and sport more generally, the Olympic/Paralympic cycle is often referred to as the ‘quad’. Planning for the next quad begins before each campaign is over, and reviews are conducted to inform planning and preparations for the next quad.

“Planning for LA in 2028 is well and truly underway and this inevitably involves some coaches changing programs. There have already been pre-Olympic movements as swimming clubs and high-performance centres look to secure the best possible coach for their squads, or coaches seek a change to reinvigorate themselves.

“While I’m sure some of Australia’s top coaches are considering their future options, super coach Michael Bohl is taking extended leave to recover and reassess his next steps. His head coach role at Griffith University has been filled by Melanie Marshall from the UK. Melanie is the coach who took Adam Peaty from a 12-year old junior swimmer to Olympic champion and world record holder, and will undoubtedly bring fresh ideas and new energy to that program.

“With this in mind, let’s explore the biggest challenges for coaches in Australia right now. The first is the massive expectation on the Australian Dolphins team. This expectation comes from the public, funders, sponsors, parents and athletes. Like every sport, much of this expectation falls on the shoulders of the coaches, especially with a home Olympics on the horizon. Another challenge is ensuring we don’t lose our top coaching talent overseas. We’ve already seen top Australian coaches working with other international teams and swimmers to achieve outstanding successes over the past couple of Olympic campaigns. Coach retention requires significant investment to allow competitive salaries, good work conditions and appropriate recognition of achievement.

“Swimming Australia are doing a great job with the development of the top 100 or so coaches across Australia. A pathways program ensures coaches and athletes who demonstrate talent are developed and nurtured. More broadly, there is a focus on education, continuous professional development and compliance with coaching standards. There is a need to ensure coaches are properly trained and qualified, have opportunities to hone the ‘art of coaching’ and can ply their trade in training and competition settings. All the while ensuring an environment which is safe and positive for athletes.

“In short, greater professionalisation of a sport which is continuing to evolve.”

SWIMCON24
Taking place from Friday 20th September through to Sunday 22nd September at the Events Centre, Caloundra on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the SWIMCON24 program promises an immersive experience featuring insights from expert speakers, and engaging discussions aimed at shaping the future of swimming.

Looking forward to the event Ward noted that SWIMCON “provides an outstanding opportunity for our industry and sport to connect and network, create opportunity for learning and sharing, and celebrate the achievements and service of our best performers.

“It is estimated that across Australia there are about 4,000 swimming coaches. Collectively, Swimming Australia and ourselves are working collaboratively to ensure all coaches know and comply with their obligations, and have access to the very best education and professional development.

“In addition, there are tens of thousands of swim teachers delivering lessons each week. Our focus is to ensure that through those teachers and coaches, students and athletes build their confidence and competence in the water, becoming safer in the water and learning fundamental skills to propel themselves through the water. If this can be done in a way that gives them correct swimming technique, it will go a long way to creating lifelong swimmers who can thrive and succeed.

“You never know where the next Ariarne Titmus, Cameron McEvoy, Emma McKeon, Kaylee McKeown or Kyle Chalmers will arise.

“You can be confident though, that it will start in a swim school with a swim teacher instilling a love of water. From babies blowing bubbles to gold medals on the world stage, our swim teachers, swim schools and coaches will be there every step of the way.”

Click here for more information on SWIMCON24 

Images: Kaylee McKeown, who won five medals in Paris, including two golds, at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre earlier this year (top, credit: Delly Carr/Swimming NSW) and Brendon Ward (below).

Related Articles

5th September 2024 - ASC spotlight their Paralympians’ support team in Paris

31st August 2024 - City of Wollongong names promenade in honours of swimming legend Emma McKeon 

27th August 2024 - Australian Swim Schools Association’s National Award Winners announced at Gold Coast conference

23rd August 2024 - Aquatic and recreation industry stakeholders come together to consider united industry representation

12th August 2024 - ASC congratulates Australia on best ever Olympics in Paris

19th July 2024 - AIS Education Scholarship recipients include Paris bound Olympians and Paralympians

21st June 2024 - Australian Swimming Trials draw the crowds to the Brisbane Aquatic Centre

18th June 2024 - Swimming Australia partners with global sports agency SPORTFIVE

11th June 2024 - Swimming Australia launches Pool for Purpose legacy initiative

5th June 2024 - Leading national swim coaches associations combine to form new International Federation of Swimming Coaches Associations

10th May 2024 - SWIMCON24 program launched and available for viewing

2nd May 2024 - Swim Coaches and Teachers unveils revolution in swim teacher qualifications

26th January 2024 - Emma McKeon named Young Australian of the Year

4th January 2024 - Griffith University’s Swim Coach Michael Bohl explains importance of trust

10th November 2023 - David Elliott and Emma McKeon among Queensland’s 2024 Australian of the Year Award recipients

9th October 2023 - Dean Boxall named Australia’s top swimming coach for a record fourth time

9th August 2023 - Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia’s SWIMCON23 to return in September

21st April 2023 - Swim coaches welcome $3.9 million funding boost for women in coaching

20th September 2022 - Olympic Gold Medal Winning Coaches and McKeon Family recognised at Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia Awards

20th June 2022 - Details announced for Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia’s SWIMCON22

14th April 2022 - ASCTA adopts new identity as SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia

1st February 2022 - City of Launceston renames pool in honour of Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus

29th April 2020 - ASCTA advocacy highlights the value of swim coaching and teaching

11th September 2014 - Emma McKeon joins the Swim Australia team


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

Click here to view our subscription options.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

State Wide Pool Services

Known as Hydrilla since September 2020 - see www.ausleisure.com.au/suppliers/hydrilla-pty-ltd

read more

Aquatics

 
 

TPEC Pool Enclosures

TPEC Pool Enclosures provide a large range of premium commercial and residential retractable swimming pool, spa and terrace enclosures throughout Australia, servicing residential, local government…

read more

Aquatics / Design / Recreation / Venues

 
 

iDwala Pty Ltd

iDwala is the Community Sports Facility Specialist offering the highest quality designs and technical expertise to Councils, Schools and Sporting Clubs looking to create sporting…

read more

Consultants / Design / Recreation / Sport / Surfaces

 
 

SimplySwim

    SimplySwim is a school management solution that helps swimming school owners and managers optimize operations by automating functions such as managing class schedules, billing and…

read more

Aquatics / Education / Recreation / Safety / Technology

 
 

COMMERCIAL AQUATICS AUSTRALIA

Commercial Aquatics Australia provides aquatic solutions nationwide and is one of the largest and most experienced companies specialising in the design, construction, renovation, service, maintenance…

read more

Aquatics / Design / Play / Waterparks

 
 

TICKETSERV

As of 2018, TicketServ operates as SeatGeek Asia Pacific Pty Limited, part of international ticketing platform SeatGeek. Click here to contact SeatGeek Asia Pacific via their entry in…

read more

Attractions / Entertainment / Events / Sport / Ticketing

 
 

Ausfit

Ausfit began in 1992, providing software services to the health and fitness sector including ClubWise, a fully hosted web-based product which combines state of the art club management software,…

read more

Billing / Finance / Fitness / Technology

 
 

Sportybots

We are the leading providers of kids fun multi-sports programs for Sport and Recreation Centres. Programs cover twelve common sports as well as Gross Motor Skill Development and suit children from as…

read more

Fitness / Play / Recreation / Sport / Wellness

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business