Talent ID Programme

Thirty-five swimmers from 11 Dorset  clubs arrived at Dorchester Sports Centre on Sunday 2 April for the inaugural England Programmes Dorset County Pathway Programme with Lead Coach Barry Alldrick (Poole). The day started with a brief to both parents and swimmers after which the swimmers met with their group Skills Coaches – Becky Brown (Poole), Richard Brocklehurst (North Dorset), James Cameron (Poole), Colin Cracknell (West Dorset), Trevor Keep (Blandford) and Jeff Sandley (Wareham). Also invited to attend and observe were any Level 1 and Level 2 coaches from Dorset clubs, an opportunity taken up by Tracey Walburn of Tornadoes of South Dorset.

The morning was spent working on Streamlining, Freestyle and Backstroke followed by an outdoor land training session involving a nine station circuit at which the swimmer would gain scores and with all exercises related to movements in the morning pool session. The afternoon began with a workshop for both parent and swimmers on basic stroke techniques using a presentation set by Fred Furness and using video footage from Rio to emphasise and reinforce home key points. This was followed by a final pool session of Underwater transitions, Breaststroke and Butterfly.

Organisation of the day was undertaken by Lead Team Manager Jacquie Broyd (BCS) assisted by Sean Duffy (Poole) who ensured the day went as smoothly as possible. The next camp will be on Sunday 25 June.

Dorset England Programmes swimmers are as follows: BCS – George Mahon, Sophia Malmyha, Tiasha Michelo; Blandford – Amelia Chaffey, Grace Chaffey; Bridport Barracudas – Isabelle King, Kirron Wheeler; Clayesmore – Joeleen Charlery; Poole – Grace Camm, Holly Chandler, Hannah Dean, Liam Duffy, Tilly McHugh, Charlie Meek, Sam Russell, Alyssa Sanders-Jones, Marley Smalling, Zoe Steele, Zack Studley, Xavier West; Seagulls – Naomi Ellis, George Gillet, Lara Hancock, Thomas Massie; Swim Bournemouth – Angus Corbin, Jenson Harris, Georgina Hawkins, Eryn Holderness, Anthony Leung, Millie Sleeman, Arohi Singh; Tornadoes – Ellissa Walburn; Wareham – Antonia Bourne; West Dorset – Jessamy Fursman; Lauren Osgood; Weymouth – Ruby Cartwright.

Dorset County ASA has signed up to the pilot scheme of the England Programmes Pathway initiative which aims to provide a consistent nation-wide programme for the development of swimmers, coaches and team managers together with education opportunities for parents. The County Pathway project replaces the County’s current Talent ID scheme, which has been in place for seven years, and will focus on the development of the 11 years age group and club-level skills coaching. The programme will include three one-day camps held in-County, co-ordinated by a County Lead and supported by a Lead Coach, four to six skills coaches, and a Lead and Assistant Team Manager. England Programmes will appoint coaches and team managers in conjunction with County Associations. For the 2017 Dorset Programme, County Lead is Di Gibbs and Barry Alldrick has been appointed Lead Coach. Application forms requesting expressions of interest in Skills Coach and Team Manager posts have been circulated to all clubs via Club Secretaries and Head Coaches. Closing date for applications are 6 January for Lead Team Manager and 10 February for Skills Coaches and Assistant Team Manager. A total of 24-36 swimmers will be selected using short-course ASA Rankings from 1 September 2016 to 26 February 2017 inclusive for each County Championship event for the 11 years age group (age as at 31 December). Swimmers will be selected for the programme in the week immediately following the end of 2017 County Championships and notified by 10 March 2017. Proposed camp dates in 2017 are Sunday 2 April, Sunday 25 June and Sunday 1 October. A meeting to provide further information on the programme is to be held for parents of 11 years olds at this year’s County Championships during the second warm-up of the day on Sunday 19 February in the cricket pavilion at Littledown.